The Stag and Doe: Lessons from the Bodhisatta

Once, in a time long past, the Bodhisatta was born as a tree fairy, living among the tall, ancient trees in a forest that surrounded a village. During the growing season, when the crops of the farmers flourished, the deer that lived in the area would retreat deep into the forest to avoid the dangers of traps, hunters, and watchful guards set by the villagers. But one year, a stag who had lived in the forest throughout the year fell in love with a doe who dwelled near the village.

The doe, familiar with the perils of village life, warned the stag not to follow her when the harvest season ended and she returned home. She knew the dangers that awaited him there—hidden hunters, traps, and the scent of human beings that would lead to his death. However, the stag, overwhelmed by his passion and love for the doe, chose to ignore her advice. His desire to be with her clouded his judgment, and he insisted on accompanying her when she left the safety of the forest.

As the time for the deer to return to the village approached, the villagers would often sit in wait, concealed, ready to shoot any deer that came into view. One day, the doe and the stag were walking along a familiar road when the doe, with her keen senses, detected the scent of a human. She immediately suspected that a hunter lay hidden ahead. In an instant, she decided to act to save herself.

Realizing the danger, the doe quickly pushed the stag ahead of her, letting him walk further down the path. She remained behind, concealed from the hunter’s sight. As the stag walked into the open, a hunter’s arrow found its mark, and the stag was killed instantly. The doe, heartless in her desire to save herself, fled to safety, leaving the stag to die alone.

Later, the Bodhisatta, in his role as a tree fairy, discussed this event with the other fairies. He explained that passion, although it may begin as a source of bliss and joy, inevitably leads to suffering. He compared the stag’s fate to that of a man who falls under the sway of a woman’s charm without considering the consequences. The Bodhisatta pointed out that such men, driven by passion, are foolish and blind to the dangers that lie ahead. The doe, in her selfishness, had caused the stag’s death, showing the destructive power of uncontrolled desire.

Moral:

This story teaches the dangers of unchecked passion and the consequences of acting impulsively under the sway of desire. The stag’s love for the doe, though pure and strong, ultimately led him to his demise because he ignored the wise advice given to him and failed to consider the risks. The doe’s actions reveal the selfish nature of acting solely for self-preservation, without regard for the consequences of one’s actions on others. The Bodhisatta’s lesson emphasizes that passion, when not tempered by wisdom, can blind a person to the reality of their situation, leading them to make foolish decisions that result in suffering.

In contrast, the Bodhisatta’s wisdom teaches that true happiness comes not from fleeting desires, but from understanding the impermanence of life and the consequences of our actions. The story encourages individuals to act with foresight, consideration, and a sense of responsibility, rather than being driven by momentary passions or desires.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha:

In the Buddha’s time, a story unfolded that mirrored the lessons of the stag and the doe. One of the Buddha’s junior disciples had been receiving poor food from the monastery—lumpy gruel with stale or rotten ingredients, and dried or burnt sprouts. As the disciple struggled with his weak health, he began to long for the delicious meals he had once shared with his wife. She had always provided him with nourishing rice, curry, and sauces, and her care and attention made him miss his former life. Encouraged by his wife’s affection, he began to entertain the idea of leaving the Sangha to return to her.

This disciple’s longing for his wife and the comforts of his former life reflected the same emotional entanglement that led the stag in the Bodhisatta’s story to his demise. The disciple’s yearning for worldly comforts clouded his judgment, leading him to consider abandoning his spiritual path.

When the Buddha learned of this, he told the disciple the story of the stag and the doe, explaining that in a past life, his wife had also caused his death, just as the doe had caused the stag’s. The disciple realized that his attachment to his wife had led to his ruin in the past, just as it would in the present if he allowed his desires to control his actions. The story helped him see the danger of letting his passion for worldly attachments overrule his commitment to the path of enlightenment. With newfound clarity, the disciple chose to remain in the Sangha, committed to his spiritual practice.

Moral:

This story illustrates the power of attachment and desire in leading a person away from their spiritual path. Just as the stag’s blind passion for the doe led him to his death, the disciple’s attachment to his wife threatened to pull him away from his spiritual progress. The Buddha’s teaching is clear: one must not be swayed by fleeting desires or attachments, for they only lead to suffering. True wisdom comes from recognizing the impermanence of worldly things and focusing on the pursuit of enlightenment, free from the bonds of desire and attachment.

The story serves as a reminder that love and desire, when not tempered by wisdom and understanding, can be destructive. It encourages individuals to reflect on their attachments and to seek a deeper, more lasting happiness that comes from spiritual fulfillment, not from the temporary pleasures of the world.