Sanjay Mohindroo
Explore the dramatic, often symbolic assassination attempts on Gautama Buddha—unfolding timeless lessons about ego, jealousy, and the unshakeable power of calm awareness.
What happens when the most peaceful man in history becomes the target of murder plots? Well… let’s say calm was the real superpower. The story of the Buddha isn’t just one of serene enlightenment under the Bodhi tree — it’s also filled with jealousy, betrayal, and danger.
Today, we’ll ride through the stormy chapters where Gautama Buddha’s teachings threatened egos and power, and in response, the shadows tried to silence the light. They failed, of course. But oh, what a story!
1. Enter the Antagonist: Devadatta’s Fall from Grace
Let’s meet the villain of the tale: Devadatta — cousin, disciple, rival.
At first, he walked the noble path, full of potential. Devadatta was bright, skilled in meditation, and carried a powerful charisma. But as Gautama Buddha's fame grew, so did the burning envy in Devadatta’s heart. He began to desire not just the robes, but the throne of the Sangha.
Devadatta petitioned to lead the monastic order with a stricter regime. When the Buddha denied him, Devadatta snapped. He would no longer be content with discipleship. He would rule — or destroy.
In many ways, Devadatta represents the spiritual ego: that dangerous illusion where one believes they’ve outgrown the teacher. The fall wasn’t just his — it’s a warning etched into Dharma.
2. Assassins, Rocks, and Elephants — Oh My!
The First Attempt: Assassins for Hire
Devadatta’s opening act was dramatic: he hired professional killers to murder the Buddha.
But something unexpected happened. As each assassin approached the Enlightened One, they were disarmed not by weapons but by wisdom. The Buddha's presence, his words, and his clarity melted their aggression into insight. The would-be murderers ended up bowing before him, some even joining the Sangha.
Karma: 1. Ego: 0.
The Second Attempt: A Boulder on the Path
Devadatta wasn’t done. He rolled a massive boulder down a hill as the Buddha passed below. The rock shattered. A fragment struck the Buddha’s foot, said to be the only physical injury the Tathāgata ever endured.
And how did he react?
No anger. No fear. Just a smile and a teaching about impermanence. Even pain, he said, is a messenger, not an enemy.
The Third Attempt: The Mad Elephant, Nāḷāgiri
Devadatta’s final major move: he unleashed a wild, intoxicated elephant — Nāḷāgiri- in a crowded street where the Buddha was walking.
People screamed and scattered. But the Buddha? He stood still, radiating metta, loving-kindness. The elephant charged, slowed, then bowed.
The crowd gasped.
The elephant bowed again.
It’s one of the most iconic scenes in Buddhist lore. A beast, driven mad, turned gentle under the gaze of unconditional peace.
3. Poisoned Offerings and Black Magic Shadows
Buddhist folklore is full of additional dangers: plots to poison the Buddha’s food, to curse him through black magic, or to trap him with collapsing halls.
Every one of them failed. Not because he dodged them, but because his sheer presence, a mind unshaken by gain or loss, disrupted every attempt.
Whether it was sorcery or spite, the storms couldn't touch him. Because he wasn’t fighting them. He understood them.
4. Calm Amid Chaos: The Real Power of Presence
The Buddha didn’t counter hatred with hate. He didn’t fight fire with fire. His shield was awareness, his weapon was compassion.
And this is where the real teaching lies. When betrayal comes from family, friends, or society, the path isn’t to retaliate. The path is to transcend.
Mindfulness in chaos is not passive. It’s power under control.
These stories are reminders that spiritual maturity isn’t about avoiding confrontation. It’s about responding to it with grace so powerful that even madness bows before it.
5. Devadatta’s Fate — And the Ultimate Redemption
Devadatta’s end is dramatic. He’s rejected by the Sangha. He falls ill. And in one version, he’s swallowed by the earth itself — a chilling symbol of the ego that tried to ascend but sank instead.
But here’s the twist: the Buddha, even then, declared that Devadatta would, in a future life, become a Buddha himself.
Wait, what?
Yes. Even the one who tried to kill the Enlightened One is not beyond redemption. That’s the Dharma — it doesn’t hold grudges. It holds space.
Be the Stillness in the Storm
If you think walking the spiritual path means a life of ease, think again. Gautama Buddha was nearly assassinated multiple times by his cousin!
But he didn’t flinch. He didn’t fold. He just kept walking. Because when you carry peace inside, the storms outside lose their power.
So next time life throws a boulder at you, or an angry elephant, or betrayal from someone you once called brother — remember: you’re not here to fight it. You’re here to ride through it.
With presence. With purpose. With peace.
#Buddha #SpiritualWisdom #BuddhistStories #Devadatta #InnerPeace #KarmaAndDharma #MindfulnessInChaos #GautamaBuddha #SacredHistory