InnerDhamma

The Bodhisatta Monkey Who Overcame Every Enemy

At the time of the Blessed Buddha…
while residing at Veluvana Monastery…
the Buddha observed how Devadatta
still harbored jealousy and hatred toward Him.

Again and again…
Devadatta sought ways to harm the Buddha.

Seeing this…
the Blessed One gathered the monks
and began to tell a story from a distant past.

The Buddha said:

“Monks…
this is not the first time Devadatta
has tried to destroy the Tathagata.

Even in lives long ago…
he acted the same way.”

And so…
the Buddha revealed a story
from the ancient Himalayan forest.

Long ago…
there lived a powerful king monkey…
leader of a great monkey tribe.

But he ruled with fear and suspicion.

Whenever a young male monkey grew strong…
he would attack or cripple them…
afraid they might one day challenge his power.

That cruel king monkey…
was Devadatta in a former life.

One day…
a mother monkey became pregnant.

Knowing the king monkey’s cruelty…
she fled deep into the forest
to protect her unborn child.

Hidden among the mountains and sacred trees…
she gave birth to a remarkable son.

That young monkey…
was the Bodhisatta.

As he grew…
he became strong… wise… calm… and fearless.

One day, he asked his mother:

“Mother… where is my father?”

She answered with sorrow:

“Your father is king of the monkey tribe.
But he is dangerous.
He destroys any son who may one day replace him.”

Yet the young Bodhisatta replied gently:

“Still… I wish to meet him.”

So his mother finally brought him back to the tribe.

The king monkey saw the child…
and fear immediately arose in his heart.

“If this child grows stronger…
he will surely take my throne.”

Pretending to be loving…
the king monkey embraced his son tightly…

But secretly…
he intended to crush him to death.

He squeezed with all his might.

Yet the Bodhisatta possessed immense strength.

Calmly…
he squeezed back.

At once…
pain shot through the king monkey’s body.

Fear entered his heart.

“This child will destroy me one day…”

So he devised another plan.

Deep within the forest
lay a mysterious lotus pond…
haunted by a deadly water spirit.

Anyone who entered the pond
never returned alive.

The king monkey said:

“My son…
today I shall make you leader of the tribe.
But first… bring me lotus flowers from that sacred pond.”

The Bodhisatta accepted peacefully
and journeyed alone into the forest.

When he arrived at the pond…
he did not rush into the water.

Instead…
he carefully examined the ground nearby.

Then he noticed something strange…

There were footprints leading into the pond…

…but none leading out.

Immediately…
he understood the danger.

“There is a deadly being living beneath these waters.
My father wishes me dead.”

But instead of panicking…
the Bodhisatta used wisdom.

Leaping skillfully from stone to stone…
from root to root…
he gathered the lotus flowers
without touching the water even once.

Beneath the dark pond…
the giant water spirit watched in amazement.

Never before
had anyone escaped its trap.

Suddenly…
the spirit burst forth from the water.

Towering above the lotus pond…
it gazed upon the Bodhisatta with deep respect.

Then it declared:

“One who possesses three qualities…
diligence… courage… and wisdom…
will always overcome enemies.”

The spirit bowed before the Bodhisatta…
and even carried the lotus flowers behind him.

Far away…
the old king monkey saw them approaching.

Terror filled his heart.

He had sent his son to die…

Yet now…
even the spirit honored him.

Overcome by fear and jealousy…
the king monkey collapsed and died.

The monkey tribe gathered together…
and chose the wise Bodhisatta
as their new king.

He ruled not through fear…
but through wisdom… compassion…
and inner peace.

Then the Buddha finished the story
and revealed the truth to the monks:

“The cruel king monkey of that time…
was Devadatta.

And the wise monkey son…
was I myself.”

Thus the Blessed One taught:

Those who possess
effort… courage… and wisdom…
will overcome every danger…
without hatred…
without violence…
and without fear. Part 11

The Bodhisatta Monkey Who Overcame Every Enemy

At the time of the Blessed Buddha…
while residing at Veluvana Monastery…
the Buddha observed how Devadatta
still harbored jealousy and hatred toward Him.

Again and again…
Devadatta sought ways to harm the Buddha.

Seeing this…
the Blessed One gathered the monks
and began to tell a story from a distant past.

The Buddha said:

“Monks…
this is not the first time Devadatta
has tried to destroy the Tathagata.

Even in lives long ago…
he acted the same way.”

And so…
the Buddha revealed a story
from the ancient Himalayan forest.

Long ago…
there lived a powerful king monkey…
leader of a great monkey tribe.

But he ruled with fear and suspicion.

Whenever a young male monkey grew strong…
he would attack or cripple them…
afraid they might one day challenge his power.

That cruel king monkey…
was Devadatta in a former life.

One day…
a mother monkey became pregnant.

Knowing the king monkey’s cruelty…
she fled deep into the forest
to protect her unborn child.

Hidden among the mountains and sacred trees…
she gave birth to a remarkable son.

That young monkey…
was the Bodhisatta.

As he grew…
he became strong… wise… calm… and fearless.

One day, he asked his mother:

“Mother… where is my father?”

She answered with sorrow:

“Your father is king of the monkey tribe.
But he is dangerous.
He destroys any son who may one day replace him.”

Yet the young Bodhisatta replied gently:

“Still… I wish to meet him.”

So his mother finally brought him back to the tribe.

The king monkey saw the child…
and fear immediately arose in his heart.

“If this child grows stronger…
he will surely take my throne.”

Pretending to be loving…
the king monkey embraced his son tightly…

But secretly…
he intended to crush him to death.

He squeezed with all his might.

Yet the Bodhisatta possessed immense strength.

Calmly…
he squeezed back.

At once…
pain shot through the king monkey’s body.

Fear entered his heart.

“This child will destroy me one day…”

So he devised another plan.

Deep within the forest
lay a mysterious lotus pond…
haunted by a deadly water spirit.

Anyone who entered the pond
never returned alive.

The king monkey said:

“My son…
today I shall make you leader of the tribe.
But first… bring me lotus flowers from that sacred pond.”

The Bodhisatta accepted peacefully
and journeyed alone into the forest.

When he arrived at the pond…
he did not rush into the water.

Instead…
he carefully examined the ground nearby.

Then he noticed something strange…

There were footprints leading into the pond…

…but none leading out.

Immediately…
he understood the danger.

“There is a deadly being living beneath these waters.
My father wishes me dead.”

But instead of panicking…
the Bodhisatta used wisdom.

Leaping skillfully from stone to stone…
from root to root…
he gathered the lotus flowers
without touching the water even once.

Beneath the dark pond…
the giant water spirit watched in amazement.

Never before
had anyone escaped its trap.

Suddenly…
the spirit burst forth from the water.

Towering above the lotus pond…
it gazed upon the Bodhisatta with deep respect.

Then it declared:

“One who possesses three qualities…
diligence… courage… and wisdom…
will always overcome enemies.”

The spirit bowed before the Bodhisatta…
and even carried the lotus flowers behind him.

Far away…
the old king monkey saw them approaching.

Terror filled his heart.

He had sent his son to die…

Yet now…
even the spirit honored him.

Overcome by fear and jealousy…
the king monkey collapsed and died.

The monkey tribe gathered together…
and chose the wise Bodhisatta
as their new king.

He ruled not through fear…
but through wisdom… compassion…
and inner peace.

Then the Buddha finished the story
and revealed the truth to the monks:

“The cruel king monkey of that time…
was Devadatta.

And the wise monkey son…
was I myself.”

Thus the Blessed One taught:

Those who possess
effort… courage… and wisdom…
will overcome every danger…
without hatred…
without violence…
and without fear. Part 10