The Bodhisattvas Live & Die for Us

Here’s a re-telling of a Jataka Tale, with additional commentary at the end… Once upon a time, the Bodhisattva (future Buddha) was walking in a forest with his disciple, when he saw from atop a cliff, that a weak and hungry tigress was about to devour one of her also starving cubs. Moved by great compassion, he aspired to swiftly sacrifice his own body to feed the tigress and save the cubs.

Thus, he sent away his disciple to search for some food for the tigress, though what he wanted was to distract the disciple from preventing him to make his timely sacrifice. No sooner after the disciple left, the Bodhisattva hurled himself from the precipice towards the tigress. This the Bodhisattva did willingly, with neither any second thoughts or regret. The noise of his tumbling fall caught the attention of the hungry tigress, who in no time scooped him over, tore him into pieces and feasted upon them with her cubs.

When the disciple returned, he could not find his teacher where he left him. Looking around, he was surprised to see that the tigress no longer looked hungry. Her cubs were also frolicking in play. To his greater shock, he saw the blood stained rags of his teacher’s robe scattered among the animals. This was how he came to know that his teacher had offered his body to feed a hungry tigress, and to protect her young ones as an act of great charity. Realising why he was sent away, he bowed in reverence for this last great lesson from his teacher, who had exemplified the supreme selfless sacrifice.

Fellow Buddhists too aspire to perfect their practice of generosity one day. However, this doesn’t mean they are expected to sacrifice their lives to other beings straightaway. They learn to be more and more giving, so as to stretch their ‘limits’ of generosity – till it is eventually perfected. The perfection of giving need not be fully realised in one lifetime though, but practice over many lifetimes does make perfect.

Generosity is also practised in terms of giving time, energy, comfort, wealth and the truth. When Bodhisattvas willingly practise giving up of their lives to benefit other beings, they know they will be reborn in future lives with better karma, thus with even greater means to be able to help others more efficiently. Such sacrifices are made not just once, but time and again. As such, the Bodhisattvas with perfect compassion live and die for the welfare of all beings endlessly.

3 thoughts on “The Bodhisattvas Live & Die for Us

  1. It’s not easy to be a Bodhisattva…
    Had tried helping friends and realise that much compassion & wisdom is required on my own end to continue the process.
    Imagine Great Bodhisattvas have to help millions, I really feel appreciative of their great compassion…

  2. The good news is that as long as we do not give up practising, we will make it 🙂

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