Once upon a time, the Bodhisatta was born into a merchant family. As he grew up, he devoted himself to trade. He possessed a grand fleet of five hundred ox carts. Loading them with valuable merchandise, he traveled far and wide to conduct his business.
On one such journey, he had to cross a vast, treacherous desert. The sand in this desert was extraordinarily fine. It was so delicate that if one tried to hold it, it would easily slip through the fingers. As soon as the sun rose, the sand would turn blistering hot, as if on fire. Walking upon it during the day was absolutely impossible.
The Harsh Desert and the Guide
Therefore, like all seasoned travelers, the Bodhisatta would set up camp to rest during the scorching daylight hours. They only journeyed under the cool cover of the night. Much like mariners navigating the vast oceans, these desert voyagers relied on the stars to find their way. The ones skilled in reading the stars were known as guides. Every caravan traversing the desert had to have such a guide.
The Bodhisatta’s caravan also had a capable guide. By gazing at the night sky, he would direct the caravan along the right path. One evening, the Bodhisatta calculated that they would be able to cross the desert entirely by that very night.
A Grave Mistake and Despair
However, a terrible misfortune struck. Sitting in the front cart, the guide eventually succumbed to a deep slumber. Without his direction, the oxen wandered off course, and the carts ended up traveling in the exact opposite direction.
Meanwhile, believing that the desert would be crossed before dawn, the Bodhisatta had instructed his men to throw away their excess water and firewood after dinner, thinking them to be an unnecessary burden.
The caravan traveled backward through the night. At the break of dawn, the guide finally woke up with a start. Realizing his grave mistake, he frantically shouted, “Turn the carts around! Turn the carts around!” But it was already too late. The sun had risen. To their utter dismay, they found themselves at the exact spot from where they had begun their journey the previous evening.
Panic swept through the men. “We have thrown away all our water and firewood!” they cried in despair. “How will we survive now?” Wailing in hopelessness, the men unyoked the oxen and collapsed under the carts, awaiting their doom.
A Ray of Hope Beneath the Rock
Yet, in the face of this dire peril, the Bodhisatta remained incredibly composed. His patience was boundless. He knew that if he surrendered to despair like the others, hundreds of lives would perish untimely. With unwavering resolve, he began to wander around, searching for any sign of water.
After walking a short distance, he spotted a tuft of Kusa grass growing from the sandy earth. He realized immediately that there must be a water source beneath it, for grass could never sprout in a barren desert without moisture.
Filled with hope, he ordered his men to dig a well at that exact spot with their spades. They dug down to a depth of sixty cubits, but there was not a single drop of water. Instead, they hit a solid layer of rock. Their spades merely bounced off the hard surface without making a dent.
The Bodhisatta then climbed down into the deep pit. Pressing his ear against the cold rock, he listened intently. Soon, he heard the faint, unmistakable rushing sound of an underground stream. He knew for certain that a current of water flowed right beneath that stone.
The Triumph of Perseverance
He quickly climbed back up and called for a strong, young servant. “Take a heavy iron sledgehammer and go down into the pit,” he instructed. “Strike the rock with all your might. There is a stream flowing right beneath it. If you lose your spirit now, we shall all perish.”
The young man was robust and spirited. While the others sat defeated, he took up the task with fierce determination, following his master’s order. He struck the rock repeatedly until, with a loud crack, the stone split apart. Immediately, a fountain of crystal-clear water burst forth into the air!
The joy of the men knew no bounds. They bathed in the cool water and filled all their containers to the brim. Then, they prepared a meal, splitting some extra wooden spare parts of the carts to use as firewood.
After dining and resting, they resumed their journey as evening fell. They finally reached their destination safely. There, the Bodhisatta sold his goods for double and quadruple the profit. Having achieved great success, they returned joyfully to their homeland.
Moral of the Story
When faced with temporary failure, the wise do not sit idle in despair. Through perseverance and unyielding effort, they forge their own path to success.