King Brahmadatta's horse
This is a story from the life of Buddha. This story is about fighting. Supposing somebody is not nice to you, is it OK to punch their face? What should you do? But what if you feel scared? If you are brave, and be smart nd use your mind, you can win even if you dont fight! Well, lets see what the story says about fighting.
Buddha was born in one of his earlier lives as King Brahmadatta's horse. He was a lovely big strong horse. When his rider sat on him, the horse knew exactly where the rider wanted to go. He was so smart that he seemed to know everything. So the people in the king's palace decided to call him 'The Knowing One'.
One day King Brahmadatta was in the palace and a rider from a different city came riding. He said "Hey king! 6 kings of all the neighboring 6 cities have decided to fight with you. If we defeat you, then you and yor citizens will have to leave the city and go away'.
King Brahmadatta was very worried. He called all his noblemen and asked what to do. The nobelmen said, "well, we have to fight. Otherwise all the citizens in the city will love their homes". But they thought and said "We have a plan. Ask the Champion of the city to go and fight with the champions of the other cities". So they asked the Champion to go and fight. The Champion needed the best possible horse to fight. Whom do you think he chose? The Knowing One ofcourse!
The Knowing One realised what was happening. He did not want to fight and hurt the other Kings. But he wanted to take of of his people also. He did not want the people of the city to lose their homes! So he told the Champion. "Now listen to me. I can help you win. I can run very fast and jump very high. I will run very fast and go near one of the kings. You just pick up the King and hold on tight". So the Champion did just as the horse told him. The Knowing One galloped fast and went to the field. There were big strong soldiers with big swords. But the horse was not afraid. He ran fast near one king. The Champion grabbed hold of the enemy king and the horse turned around and jumped over the soldiers and ran to his city. The soldiers in King Brahmadatta's palace city trapped the first enemy King.
Then the Knowing one galloped again with the Champion and they got the second enemy King. Then they got the third King. And the fourth King and the fifth King. When they were running back with the fifth King, one of the soldiers managed to hurt the beautiful horse. When they got back, the noblemen felt very sad. They did not want the horse to suffer. But the horse would not stop! Even though he was bleeding and very very tired, he was as brave as ever. He was just not scared. Besides he knew his job was important and he would not give up. He ran again and brought the last 6th enemy King to the city palace. King Brahmadatta was so pleased with the horse. He said "How can I reward you". The horse said, "Give a reward to the Champion. He was so good. And then, I want one big reward. Go to the 6 enemy Kings and make friends with them. Tell them that you will release them and let them go home but only if they promise never to fight again. If one of the other Kings bothers them, they should talk to the King and solve the problem. They cannot fight anymore".
King Brahmadatta went to the other 6 kings and made friends with them and let them go home. From that day onwards, they did not fight wars anymore. Because of that, all the people in all the cities lived happily ever after.
Buddha was born in one of his earlier lives as King Brahmadatta's horse. He was a lovely big strong horse. When his rider sat on him, the horse knew exactly where the rider wanted to go. He was so smart that he seemed to know everything. So the people in the king's palace decided to call him 'The Knowing One'.
One day King Brahmadatta was in the palace and a rider from a different city came riding. He said "Hey king! 6 kings of all the neighboring 6 cities have decided to fight with you. If we defeat you, then you and yor citizens will have to leave the city and go away'.
King Brahmadatta was very worried. He called all his noblemen and asked what to do. The nobelmen said, "well, we have to fight. Otherwise all the citizens in the city will love their homes". But they thought and said "We have a plan. Ask the Champion of the city to go and fight with the champions of the other cities". So they asked the Champion to go and fight. The Champion needed the best possible horse to fight. Whom do you think he chose? The Knowing One ofcourse!
The Knowing One realised what was happening. He did not want to fight and hurt the other Kings. But he wanted to take of of his people also. He did not want the people of the city to lose their homes! So he told the Champion. "Now listen to me. I can help you win. I can run very fast and jump very high. I will run very fast and go near one of the kings. You just pick up the King and hold on tight". So the Champion did just as the horse told him. The Knowing One galloped fast and went to the field. There were big strong soldiers with big swords. But the horse was not afraid. He ran fast near one king. The Champion grabbed hold of the enemy king and the horse turned around and jumped over the soldiers and ran to his city. The soldiers in King Brahmadatta's palace city trapped the first enemy King.
Then the Knowing one galloped again with the Champion and they got the second enemy King. Then they got the third King. And the fourth King and the fifth King. When they were running back with the fifth King, one of the soldiers managed to hurt the beautiful horse. When they got back, the noblemen felt very sad. They did not want the horse to suffer. But the horse would not stop! Even though he was bleeding and very very tired, he was as brave as ever. He was just not scared. Besides he knew his job was important and he would not give up. He ran again and brought the last 6th enemy King to the city palace. King Brahmadatta was so pleased with the horse. He said "How can I reward you". The horse said, "Give a reward to the Champion. He was so good. And then, I want one big reward. Go to the 6 enemy Kings and make friends with them. Tell them that you will release them and let them go home but only if they promise never to fight again. If one of the other Kings bothers them, they should talk to the King and solve the problem. They cannot fight anymore".
King Brahmadatta went to the other 6 kings and made friends with them and let them go home. From that day onwards, they did not fight wars anymore. Because of that, all the people in all the cities lived happily ever after.
