Maha-Dhamma-Pala Jataka: Virtue, Wisdom, and Longevity

In the Maha-Dhamma-Pala Jataka, the Bodhisatta was born as a student studying under a world-renowned teacher in Taxila, a famous center of learning. He was at the top of his class, admired for his wisdom and dedication. However, when the teacher’s eldest son died at a young age, all the students mourned, except the Bodhisatta. This intrigued his peers, and they asked him why he wasn’t sad.

The Bodhisatta explained that, according to his family tradition, death only happens after a person has lived to an old age. He firmly believed that the young boy couldn’t truly be dead. His perspective was shaped by his family’s unique belief that death was reserved for the elderly, not the young.

The Teacher’s Visit and the Truth Revealed

The teacher, intrigued by the Bodhisatta’s explanation, traveled to the Bodhisatta’s village to learn more. Upon meeting the Bodhisatta’s father, the teacher introduced himself and explained why he had come. He asked the Bodhisatta’s father if it was true that his son believed young people did not die. The father, in turn, laughed and dismissed the teacher’s concerns, saying that his son was too young to die.

To prove his point, the teacher produced a bag of goat bones, claiming they were the remains of the Bodhisatta. The father, however, still laughed at this and called the teacher a liar. He insisted that his son could not be dead because he was too young, just as the Bodhisatta had explained.

Now certain that the Bodhisatta’s words were true, the teacher asked the father about the secret to his family’s extraordinary longevity. The father explained that it was due to their commitment to living a virtuous life:

• Never lying,
• Avoiding bad company,
• Giving alms,
• Being faithful to their wives, and
• Educating their children.

These actions, he said, fostered happiness, good health, and prosperity. The teacher, impressed with the father’s wisdom, asked him to write down these principles so others could follow them.

The Bodhisatta’s Wisdom and Influence

The Bodhisatta’s virtuous upbringing and his family’s commitment to righteous living played a crucial role in his extraordinary wisdom and maturity. After finishing his studies in Taxila, the Bodhisatta left the city, gathering many followers along the way. His reputation for wisdom and his family’s virtuous way of life had a lasting impact on those around him.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

In the Buddha’s time, after attaining enlightenment, the Buddha returned to his family home to visit his father, King Suddhodana. The Buddha’s father shared a memory from when the Buddha was in his early years, practicing extreme self-denial before his enlightenment. At that time, some gods came to announce that the Buddha had died from starvation. However, King Suddhodana, believing his son would not die before attaining enlightenment, refused to believe the gods.

The Buddha then told his father this very Jataka story, explaining that in a past life, the same thing had happened when his father had not believed him to be dead. This was a way for the Buddha to show that his father had also been part of the same spiritual journey in a previous birth.

Characters in the Lifetime of the Buddha

• The teacher in this Jataka was an earlier birth of Sariputta, one of the Buddha’s foremost disciples.
• The Bodhisatta’s followers in this past life were earlier births of some of the Buddha’s other disciples.

Moral of the Story:

The Maha-Dhamma-Pala Jataka illustrates the profound influence of virtuous living on both spiritual development and the well-being of an individual. The family’s adherence to truthfulness, generosity, and moral conduct not only ensured their physical longevity but also contributed to the wisdom and righteousness of the Bodhisatta in his future lives. The story encourages us to lead lives of integrity, compassion, and education, which not only bring happiness but also contribute to spiritual progress.

Ultimately, the Jataka teaches that the virtues we practice today shape the future of our lives and our spiritual journey, fostering harmony, good health, and wisdom.