The Tree Fairy and the Devoted Man: A Story of Reward

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was a tree fairy, residing in a Judas tree. A poor man, who lived near the tree, began tending to it with great care. Every day, he swept the ground around the tree, pulled the grass from its roots, and offered flowers, perfumes, and incense. Before leaving, he would greet the tree with a respectful “Peace be with thee.”

The Bodhisatta, noticing the man’s devotion, wondered why he showed such respect to the tree. One day, when the man came to tend to the tree, the Bodhisatta appeared before him in human form and asked him why he worshiped the tree.

The man replied that he respected tree spirits, believing they guarded hidden treasures. Pleased by the man’s sincerity and respect, the Bodhisatta revealed his true identity as the spirit of the tree. He told the man that, as a reward for his devotion, he would grant him the treasure buried beneath the tree. Rather than asking the man to dig for it, the Bodhisatta magically transported the treasure directly to the man’s home. Before leaving, the Bodhisatta reminded the man to live a moral life and to be generous by giving alms.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

In a future life, the poor man was reborn as Ananda, one of the Buddha’s closest and most devoted disciples. As the Buddha lay on his deathbed, Ananda, feeling that he had not yet attained arahantship despite his years of service, became overwhelmed with sorrow. He feared his dedication would be in vain.

When the Buddha learned of Ananda’s distress, he called for him and reassured him. He reminded Ananda that his unwavering service had not gone unrewarded. To comfort him, the Buddha told Ananda this story from his own past, explaining how, despite his efforts in a previous life, his hard work and devotion had eventually been rewarded in due time.

Moral: Consistent good deeds, no matter how small, lead to great rewards. Even when one feels their efforts are fruitless, they are often recognized in ways they may not immediately see. Patience and perseverance, combined with generosity and moral living, bring fulfillment and eventual success.