Love, lust, and enlightenment are three profound forces that shape human existence. A Buddhist monk passing through a path encountered a city’s most beautiful woman, a courtesan, who was mesmerized by his presence. This story unfolds the deeper essence of love beyond physical desires and the transformative power of true compassion.
The Encounter: A Moment of Fascination
A Buddhist monk passing through the path caught the eye of a renowned courtesan. In ancient Bihar, during the time of Buddha, the most beautiful woman in town could be a courtesan, embodying the city’s socialist perception of beauty and desire.
She was used to emperors and nobles knocking at her palace, yet for the first time, she felt drawn to someone in a way beyond lust. She ran towards the monk, grabbed his robe, and pleaded, “Stay with me tonight.”
The Monk’s Compassionate Response
The monk, being a saint, did not react with rejection or anger. Instead, he shed tears. When the courtesan asked why he was crying, he responded, “I weep for your ignorance, not for myself. Today you are beautiful and sought after, but time is fleeting. One day, no one will knock at your door, and that day, I will come.”
The Illusion of Beauty and Desire
The courtesan could not understand his words, for lust is blind. She lived in a world where beauty dictated worth, and she had yet to grasp the transient nature of physical attraction. The monk, however, saw beyond—he foresaw a time when she would no longer be desired, when society would abandon her.
Love has eyes; lust does not. People say love is blind, but only lust is truly blind.
A Lesson in Impermanence
Twenty years passed. The courtesan, once the most desired woman in town, now lay outside the village, rejected and suffering from leprosy. Her body, once adorned and admired, now emitted a foul smell. She was abandoned, with no one to knock on her door.
But that night, a Buddhist monk sat beside her head. As she drifted between consciousness and oblivion, he whispered, “Listen, I have come. The crowd is gone, but I still love you.”
The Gift of True Love
The monk offered her not physical companionship, but a deeper form of love—a path to inner peace. “What you once desired, I could not give you. But what I offer now is more valuable—a way to find true satisfaction in life.”
At that moment, the courtesan understood. Love was never about possession; it was about awareness, compassion, and enlightenment. She passed away, not as a beggar, but as someone who had finally found peace.
The Ultimate Realization
A Buddhist reflection on this story teaches that love is not about indulgence but about attention. The courtesan had spent her life being admired yet never truly seen. In the end, she received the only thing greater than desire—true, unconditional love.
Love, lust, and enlightenment define our journey. The question remains: Are we seeking temporary pleasure or eternal peace?
