Kosiya’s Transformation: A Tale of Generosity and Greed

Long ago, in the heavenly realms, the Bodhisatta was born as Indra, king of the gods. Before his divine life, he had been a king’s treasurer on earth, a man of immense wealth. But as he pondered the meaning of prosperity, he realized that his fortune was not merely the result of his efforts—it was the fruit of living virtuously. He decided to take his generosity to the next level, giving away all his wealth to the poor and the needy.

The Bodhisatta’s acts of charity were immense. He built six alms halls around the city, where he gave away money every day to the less fortunate. He continued this practice for the rest of his life, teaching his children and their children to do the same. His legacy of generosity passed down through four generations, and for their virtuous deeds, each of these men was reborn in heaven as one of the gods: Chandra, the moon god; Surya, the sun god; Matali, Indra’s charioteer; and Pancasikha, one of the top musicians in heaven.

But in the fifth generation, there was Kosiya, a man who took a different path. Known later as Maccharikosiya, the “Millionaire Miser,” he saw his ancestors’ generosity as foolishness. Kosiya hoarded his wealth, spending as little as possible and helping no one. He wore coarse clothes, lived in a crumbling house, and drove a rickety old chariot drawn by worn-out oxen. He was a man who cared only for his own wealth, refusing even the simplest pleasures for fear of “wasting” his money.

One day, Kosiya saw his assistant eating sweetened rice porridge, and he was struck with an overwhelming craving for it. But he refused to join his assistant, knowing that to do so would mean he would eventually have to return the favor. Days passed, and his desire only grew stronger. Unable to resist any longer, Kosiya instructed his wife to prepare the porridge in secret. He left his home in disguise, taking his food to a forest, where he could cook and eat without anyone finding out. He even stationed a slave nearby to keep watch, ensuring that no one would ask for any of his food.

At that very moment, the Bodhisatta, now in his heavenly realm as Indra, looked down upon his descendants. He saw that the previous generations had ascended to heaven, but Kosiya, his great-great-great-grandson, was living a life of greed and selfishness. The Bodhisatta was filled with compassion for Kosiya, knowing that this path would lead him to hell. The Bodhisatta gathered his four divine relatives, and they descended to earth in the guise of humble brahmins to help Kosiya change his ways.

The Bodhisatta, disguised as a brahmin, approached Kosiya first, asking for a share of his porridge. Kosiya, still steeped in greed, rudely turned him away. But the Bodhisatta spoke kindly, offering wisdom about how generosity leads to salvation. Kosiya grudgingly agreed to give him a little porridge. One by one, the other four brahmins approached Kosiya, each asking for a portion of the porridge. Each time, Kosiya was reluctant, but in the end, he allowed them all to share in the meal.

When the porridge was ready, Kosiya, still unwilling to part with much, suggested that the brahmins use small leaf bowls, thinking there wouldn’t be enough to go around. But, to his amazement, the leaves of the bowls grew to the size of shields, and still, there was porridge left over after everyone had eaten their fill.

Then, in a surprising turn of events, the brahmin who had been Kosiya’s father transformed into a dog and urinated into the pot of porridge. Kosiya, enraged, grabbed a stick to strike the dog, but the dog transformed into a magnificent horse, which chased Kosiya through the forest. As Kosiya ran in fear, he cried out, “Who are you people?” At that moment, the Bodhisatta revealed their true identities, explaining that they were his ancestors and had come to show him the way to salvation.

The Bodhisatta sat down with Kosiya and patiently explained the path of generosity and righteousness. He spoke of how heavenly glory is earned through kindness and the giving of one’s wealth to help others. Kosiya, now deeply moved by the lesson, promised to change his ways. He vowed to be generous, as his ancestors had been, and to give away his family’s riches to the poor.

Once Kosiya had been established in righteousness, the Bodhisatta and his divine relatives returned to heaven. Kosiya kept his promise, meeting with the king to arrange for the family wealth to be distributed to the poor. He then retired to the forest, living as an ascetic by the banks of the Ganges River.

In heaven, the Bodhisatta had four beautiful divine daughters, each with a unique gift. One day, a brahmin ascetic visited Indra’s realm, carrying with him a magical paricchattaka flower, which he used as a parasol. The four daughters all desired the flower and asked the ascetic to give it to them. The ascetic, detached from worldly desires, said he would grant it to whichever daughter was most virtuous.

Indra, not wanting to choose among his daughters, sent Kosiya to decide. Kosiya, though once miserly, had now become a man of great wisdom and virtue. He met each of the daughters at the four corners of heaven and, after brief conversations, chose the one who seemed most virtuous. He shared his special food with her alone, explaining to Matali, Indra’s charioteer, why he had made his choice. Moments later, as Kosiya explained his reasoning, he passed away, his life coming to an end.

But Kosiya’s transformation was complete. He was reborn in Indra’s heaven, and the Bodhisatta, pleased with his newfound virtue, gave Kosiya his chosen daughter to be his chief wife.

The Moral of the Story:

The tale of Sudhabhojana teaches us the power of generosity and the dangers of greed. Kosiya’s transformation from a miserly man to a virtuous being illustrates that even the most stubborn hearts can be changed through wisdom and compassion. By embracing the path of giving, Kosiya was not only redeemed but was granted a place among the gods. The story also emphasizes that true wealth is not measured by the amount one hoards but by how much one is willing to give for the benefit of others.