Gains of an Ascetic – A Zen Buddhist Spiritual Story

Once upon a time, the Bodhisattva was born as a famous teacher of the Vedas. Nearly five hundred pupils were his disciples.

One day, one of his students who still could not conquer his desire for worldly life asked his teacher, “O holy being, how can one gain happiness in this world? What does an ascetic gain at the end of his life?”

Bodhisattva smiled and said, “My dear, at the end of his life an ascetic feels happy to have acquired knowledge and wisdom and receives the blessings of God. In this world of fools where men have forgotten the path of virtue, the man who slanders, changes colors with changing situations and talks evil things succeeds in gaining material prosperity. But at the end of this mortal life he suffers endless torture in hell.”

His words had a deep impression on the student and he decided to become an ascetic.

The author of this Buddhist story is unknown and greatly appreciated!