Vessantara Jataka
Once upon a time, there was a prince named Vessantara. He was a very kind and generous prince who loved helping others. One day, he gave away everything he owned, even his magical white elephant, to help some poor people in his kingdom. This made his family and advisors very upset with him because they thought he gave away too much.
So, Prince Vessantara and his family were banished from the kingdom and had to live in the forest. While they were living there, an evil creature named Jujaka came and asked the prince to give him his two children as servants. The prince, thinking this was just another opportunity to be generous, agreed.
Jujaka took the children and treated them very badly. The children were so unhappy that they ran away from Jujaka and back to their parents in the forest. When Jujaka found out what happened, he was very angry and went to the prince to demand his white elephant as payment for taking care of his children.
The prince, still wanting to help others, gave Jujaka his elephant. This made the gods very happy, and they returned the prince and his family back to their kingdom. Once they were back in the kingdom, the prince continued to help others and became known as a great king.
The story of Prince Vessantara is an important Buddhist tale. It teaches us the value of generosity and selflessness, even if it may not always be easy or popular.
So, Prince Vessantara and his family were banished from the kingdom and had to live in the forest. While they were living there, an evil creature named Jujaka came and asked the prince to give him his two children as servants. The prince, thinking this was just another opportunity to be generous, agreed.
Jujaka took the children and treated them very badly. The children were so unhappy that they ran away from Jujaka and back to their parents in the forest. When Jujaka found out what happened, he was very angry and went to the prince to demand his white elephant as payment for taking care of his children.
The prince, still wanting to help others, gave Jujaka his elephant. This made the gods very happy, and they returned the prince and his family back to their kingdom. Once they were back in the kingdom, the prince continued to help others and became known as a great king.
The story of Prince Vessantara is an important Buddhist tale. It teaches us the value of generosity and selflessness, even if it may not always be easy or popular.