True Purity: The Brahmin’s Lesson on Inner Virtue

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was an ascetic living in the serene solitude of the Himalayas. One day, an elderly brahmin, wise yet steeped in traditional beliefs, instructed his son on his deathbed. He told the son that when he passed away, his body should be cremated in a place where no untouchables had ever been burned. Such a place, the father insisted, would maintain the purity of his soul. The son, understanding the difficulty of finding such a spot, deferred to his father, who, after much thought, chose a place between three hills, deep in the mountains, near where the Bodhisatta lived.

As the father and son descended the mountain, they encountered the Bodhisatta, who was walking up the path. After exchanging greetings, the father and son explained their mission. The Bodhisatta, with his wisdom and insight, invited them to follow him back up the mountain, where he would assess the purity of their chosen spot.

When they arrived at the site, the Bodhisatta revealed that the spot they had chosen had been the location of countless cremations, including those of the brahmin himself in fourteen thousand of his past lives. The Bodhisatta then explained the futility of seeking physical purity through such means, teaching them instead about the true path to spiritual purity: kindness, honesty, justice, moderation, and self-control. He showed them that purity lies not in the physical space or rituals, but in the cultivation of virtues that lead to a pure mind and soul.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha:

In a future life, the brahmin and his son were reborn in the time of the Buddha. The brahmin, now elderly, once again instructed his son to find a cremation site where no untouchables had ever been burned. The son, unsure of where to find such a place, told his father to choose the location himself. Together, they ventured up into the mountains, where the father pointed out a spot between three hills, just as he had in their previous life.

The Buddha, knowing that the father and son were close to a spiritual awakening, had divined their situation the evening before. The next morning, he waited for them at the base of the mountain. When they arrived, the Buddha greeted them warmly and inquired about their journey. After hearing their story, he asked to see the spot they had chosen.

As they made their way back up the mountain, the Buddha, with his profound wisdom, explained that it was not the first time the father had selected that very location. He then told the story of the past life, revealing how the same brahmin had chosen the same spot for his cremation in many lifetimes. With this realization, the father and son understood the Buddha’s teachings, and they accepted the dharma. The Buddha explained that true purity is not found in external rituals, but in the cultivation of inner virtues that purify the heart and mind.

Moral of the Story: Purity is not found in physical locations or external rituals but in the cultivation of virtues such as kindness, honesty, and self-control. True spiritual purity comes from within and is reflected in our thoughts, actions, and intentions.