Lives of the Buddha: Vessantara the Charitable Prince

Abstract

Knowledge about the past lives of the Buddha is essential to understandingBuddhistpractice inTheravadaBuddhist countries.Althoughnotwell knownor emphasized in theWest, the stories provide a richnarrativeunderpinning about how to attain the virtues necessary for a meaningful life. Mural paintings of thepast lives of theBuddhahave illuminated thewalls of Buddhist temples in countries practicing Theravada Buddhism(Doctrineof theElders) inSoutheastAsia forcenturies.2,3 Particular attention is paid to the last 10 lives (incarnations) of the Buddha because in them, he perfected the cardinal virtues that were requisite to being reborn as a Buddha. The last of these lives celebratesPrinceVessantara’smasteryof thevirtue of generosity. Generosity is a virtue celebrated in theWest at the endof eachyear; perhaps this ancientBuddhist talewill resonate with the upcoming holiday season. According to Buddhist tradition, Vessantara’s quest began 4 countless eons ago, when a young man resolved to become a fully awakened Buddha after encountering Dipankara, the Buddha of the past age.1 Inspired by Dipankara, he prostrated himself before him. Over more than 500 ensuing lifetimes, he gradually attained the 10 perfections, the qualities necessary for the supreme rebirth, and was enlightened. Unselfishly,he finds the resolve topersist inhisgoalovermany lifetimes. In these last 10 lives,moral integrity, patienceor forbearance (restraintwhenprovoked), truthfulness, lovingkindness (the foundation of dealing with others), equanimity (an imperturbablemind), andwisdommustbeattainedbefore the final virtue of generosity can be fully incarnated.1 Following enlightenment, the Buddha returned to his parental home to share this attainment, but arrogant older relatives did not accept his new status. Only when his father, the king, was convinced and bowed down to acknowledge the teachings did they join in the rejoicing. At that moment, rain clouds appeared and red drops of rain began to fall. The Buddha explained that rain like this fell in his last lifetime.2 In that lifetime,hismother,Phusati, chief consortofSakka, kingof thegods,descended to thehumanworldwhere shewas born in thecourtof akingand latermarriedKingSanjaya.Their sonVessantarawasakindandgenerouspersonwhofromchildhood on gave gifts and belongings to others. His parentswere delighted by their son's character. Hemarried PrincessMaddi and had 2 children: Prince Jali and Princess Kanhajina.When he reached maturity, his father retired, and Vessantara was crowned king.2,3 Oneday, inhisgenerosity, thenewkinggaveawaytheroyal white elephant to aneighboring kingdomthatwas experiencing a drought. The royal white elephant was known by all to ensure prosperity, and the people of the kingdomwere horrified at his indiscretion. They demanded that the old king return and thatKingVessantara be banished. Vessantara agreed to go and gave the kingdom back to his father. King Sanjaya resumed the throneand, findingnootheroption, banishedhis son and his son’s family from the kingdom. Before departing with his wife Maddi and their 2 children, Vessantara donated all hiswealth to the people of the kingdom. The family left on a horse-drawn chariot, but soon afterward, Vessantara gave away the horses. Deities appeared in the form of stags to pull the chariot, but he gave away the chariot. Now, on foot, the family arrived in theneighboringkingdomofCeta,whereVessantara’s uncle and Maddi’s parents resided.3 The local king greeted them and, touched by their story, offered his throne to Vessantara. Vessantara declined and proceeded to the forest, where he and his family resided in huts provided by the gods,onefor the formerkingandtheother for the formerqueen and children. They lived a simple ascetic life, and each day, Maddi went to the forest and gathered food for her family. As a safeguard, the king of Ceta assigned a hunter to guard the forest and keep intruders away. Jujaka, an old mean-spirited Brahmin, lived nearby with his beautiful hardworking youngwife, Amittada,whowent to the villagewell and brought her husbandwater and provided for his every need. The other village women resented her industriousness for it put them to shame, and so they attacked her.After that, sheadamantlydemandedthatherhusbandfind her servants to help her to combat the women’s ridicule. She and Jujaka plotted to take advantage of Vessantara’s generosity by demanding that Vessantara’s children be given to him as servants forher.Obtainingentry to the forest by tricking the hunter who was guarding it, Jujaka waited until Maddi was away andmade his request. Vessantara obliged, but the childrenwere shocked, ran away, andhid in a lotus pond.Vessantara found them and convinced them to go with Jujaka (because it would help their father to be perfect in generosity), and so they agreed.Vessantara, notwanting the children tobe slaves, proposed that Jujaka take the prince and princess to their grandfather the king, where Jujaka would be richly rewarded for their return. Jujaka refused, insisting they would be his wife's servants, and tied the children with vines and dragged them away, beating and scolding them. Vessantarawas furious and couldnot tolerate Jujaka’s behaviorandreachedforhisweaponwith thoughtsofkillinghim. However, he controlledhis anger (exhibiting forbearance) and