The Noble Horses and Rowdy Donkeys: A Lesson in Self-Discipline

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was a wise advisor to a king. One day, after returning from a successful campaign to quell a rebellion, the king decided to give his five hundred war horses a special treat. The horses were tired from their long journey, so the king had his men feed them some grape wine to refresh them. The horses drank the wine eagerly and, after a short while, they stood quietly in their stalls, calm and serene.

The stable boys, noticing the horses’ abundance of droppings, turned to the king and asked what they should do with it all. The king, in his wisdom, instructed them to mix the dung with water, strain it, and then feed it to the donkeys who had been responsible for hauling the wagons carrying the horses’ food. The donkeys, after drinking the strange concoction, quickly became intoxicated. They ran around braying loudly, causing a commotion in the royal palace grounds.

The king, perplexed by the strange behavior of the donkeys, turned to the Bodhisatta and asked, “Why is it that the fine horses, after drinking strong alcohol, remain calm and composed, while the donkeys, after drinking a weak mixture, become wild and uncontrollable?”

The Bodhisatta answered with deep insight: “Your Majesty, the difference lies in the nature of the animals. The thoroughbreds, being of noble lineage, possess the strength of character and self-control, while the donkeys, being of lower birth, lack such restraint.”

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

Many years later, in the time of the Buddha, a group of five hundred dedicated lay followers lived together, each with a servant. The lay followers were peaceful, quiet, and self-disciplined, always maintaining calm in their daily lives. Their servants, on the other hand, behaved differently. They were rowdy, often wrestling and shouting, and their actions seemed to reflect a lack of restraint.

The Buddha, noticing this behavior, told this story to his disciples. He explained that the horses and donkeys in the tale were not just animals, but were symbolic of the lay followers and their servants. The horses represented the disciplined and composed disciples, while the donkeys were a reflection of the servants, who had not yet learned to control their impulses.

The Buddha’s story revealed that, just as the horses’ noble nature allowed them to remain calm in the face of intoxication, so too do those of higher character and discipline maintain composure in difficult situations. On the other hand, those of lesser training and self-restraint, like the donkeys, often lacked the control needed to manage their emotions and actions.

Moral of the Story

This story teaches the value of self-discipline and inner strength. It reminds us that true composure and calmness come from cultivating inner virtues, not from external circumstances. Just as noble horses maintain their peace in the face of challenges, we too should strive to develop self-control and patience in our own lives.

The Moral

True strength lies not in external circumstances, but in the cultivation of inner self-discipline and restraint.