The Buddhist Healer

For National Doctors’ Day, SARA BUBBER shares a Buddhist tale about a healer who cared for both patients and society, bringing prosperity through love.    

Once upon a time, there was a king who was very active. He loved to go horse riding, see how the people of his country were doing, and practice marching drills. One day, the king noticed he was feeling lethargic, but he brushed it off. The lethargy grew over time, and he wondered what was wrong. He called his physicians, who gave him doses of herbal medicines. Nothing worked.

The king was sad as he could no longer engage in the activities he loved. Allopathic doctors gave him antibiotics for his symptoms. Ayurvedic doctors attended to his inner body, and priests prayed for his well-being. There was no improvement.

After giving up hope, he heard from his courtiers of a monk in a remote area of the kingdom who was a great healer. The king thought he had already tried so much that there was no harm in trying one more thing before giving up completely.

He told his courtiers to summon the monk, and a letter was dispatched with a messenger. But the response came back in the form of another letter from the monk. He told the king that if he desired treatment, he would have to go to the monastery. The courtiers were very angry. What nerve to call the king to a suburb!

The king, however, was untroubled by this and went to meet the monk. The seat bearers carried the king to the monastery, where he stayed with the monk. The monk was hospitable and gave the king a simple diet. With this simple fare and herbal formulas, the king got better. The monk advised the king to live simply in a natural environment, as the best medicine comes from there. The king was amazed by this simple wisdom and left pondering the lifestyle he had lived and its potency. He decided to let his health minister come and learn the natural way of life from the learned healer.

As he was ready to leave, the monk gave him a note and told him to read it to himself only when he reached the palace. He also advised the king to ride back on his own horse as he was now fit to ride. The king started off and soon realized that his horse was walking very slowly and with difficulty. The pebbles on the streets made it difficult for the horse to keep its balance.

The king had not visited this area before. He was shocked at the state of affairs in this part of the kingdom. The roads were in poor condition and lined with garbage. When the king arrived home, he read the note from the monk. It stated that most people in the kingdom could only afford the natural treatment that the monk provided, as their quality of life was not good. As the king, it was his duty to see this and become aware, and that is why the monk insisted that the king ride the horse and see for himself.

The king wondered what had happened to the years of taxation and money taken for prosperity by ministers and contractors. He now personally ensured that the road was repaired, people were included in the development, and prosperity grew. He was amazed at how one person inviting him into a new world could have such an impact. He realized that health was connected to well-being and prosperity. He also discovered that a good doctor not only knows the practice but also possesses a deep sense of compassion, like the monk.