The Patient Ascetic (Khantivadi Jataka)

The Bodhisattva was an ascetic known as Khantivadi, the Preacher of Patience. He lived in the royal park of Varanasi. One day, the cruel and arrogant King Kalabu entered the park with his dancing girls. After the King fell asleep under a tree, the girls wandered off and found Khantivadi meditating. Drawn by his serene presence, they sat down to listen to his teachings.

When the King woke and found his entertainers listening to a ragged ascetic, he flew into a psychotic rage. He drew his sword and stormed over. 'What do you preach, monk?' he snarled.

'I preach patience (Khanti), Your Majesty,' the ascetic replied calmly. 'The state of mind that does not get angry when abused or struck.'

'Let us see your patience!' the King sneered. He ordered his executioner to beat the ascetic with a thorny whip. Khantivadi's body was torn open, but his face remained perfectly tranquil.

'What do you preach now?' the King mocked.

'Patience, Your Majesty. My patience is not in my skin; it is deep in my heart.'

Furious, the King ordered the ascetic's hands and feet chopped off. Blood poured onto the grass.

'What do you preach now?!' the King screamed.

'Patience, Your Majesty. My patience is not in my limbs; it is in my heart, where you cannot reach it.'

Driven entirely mad by the ascetic's unshakable peace, the King kicked Khantivadi in the chest and stormed away. As he left the park, the earth split open and swallowed the cruel King into the hell realms.

The King's general rushed to the dying ascetic, weeping, and begged, 'Please, holy one, do not curse our kingdom for what the King has done!'

Khantivadi, with his last breath, smiled and said, 'Long live the King who mutilated me. May he find peace. Pure beings like me never feel anger.' He then passed away, a supreme master of equanimity.