The Buddhist Podcast for Stories to Inspire, Mindfulness, and Spirituality
One day, King Prasenajit went to visit the Buddha at Anathapindika’s Park at Jetavana, near the city of Sravasti. After paying his respects, King Prasenajit sat down, breathing heavily. He said, “Buddha, I have come...” and trying to catch his breath, then continued, “...to seek the Dharma.”
The Buddha saw King Prasenajit was breathing heavily and said, “My dear King, you have gained too much weight.”
Embarrassed, King Prasenajit replied, “Yes Buddha, being overweight troubles me day and night. It feels like a huge burden on my shoulders. I feel ashamed that I let myself get so fat. I’ve realized that my body is the root cause of my suffering.”
The Buddha then told King Prasenajit the following verse,
“Be mindful of the following always:
Regulate food intake during every meal;
In doing so, all senses will become clear,
Good digestion and longevity shall also follow.”
The Buddha went on to explain, “What this means is that we need to remind ourselves to always control our daily intake of food. We must not overeat so that we can stay healthy, keep a light body, and live a long life.”
Having heard what the Buddha said, King Prasenajit was determined to follow his advice and lose weight. The King turned to a young man nearby and asked him, “Can you please recite this verse for me every time I am having my meals? I am willing to give you one hundred thousand dollars each time you recite this verse.”
“Your highness, my name is Uttara. I would be honored to recite this verse to you during mealtimes.” Uttara replied.
From that day onward, every time King Prasenajit ate, Uttara respectfully recited the verse, reminding the King he must eat in moderation.
After two months, King Prasenajit gradually lost weight, feeling lighter and healthier. Now, he was able to carry out his daily tasks with ease. Extremely pleased with his progress, he visited the Buddha again and told him, “Dear Buddha, look at me now, I can now move around much easier. Thank you for your guidance. I changed my eating habits and this means I can control my craving for more food. I have the benefits of an improved lifestyle. I am sure my life will be much happier from now on.”
The Buddha replied, “Well done your highness, success lies within your diligence and perseverance.”
King Prasenajit nodded in agreement. Feeling happy, the King prostrated to the Buddha and left.
This story teaches us that the Buddha’s way of helping King Prasenajit lose weight explores the root cause of his weight issue. Once the root cause is known, the right cure can then be prescribed. In the case of King Prasenajit, he had to work hard to end his habit of eating too much so that he could live a healthy life both physically and spiritually.
It is human nature to love all things beautiful. In today’s world, most people think being overweight is ugly and unattractive. To appear slim and attractive, people often try different types of weight-loss techniques such as dieting, medication, and surgery. However, these strategies may not be ideal for everyone.
Losing weight not only requires us to eat in moderation but also to exercise regularly. Maintaining one’s mind in a joyful and cheerful state is just as important. Through understanding the cause of being overweight and working hard to reach one’s goal, we can lose weight in a healthy way.
Just as Venerable Master Hsing Yun says,
“Health is about sound body and mind, not power and strength.
Longevity is about prolonging wisdom, not days and years.”
附：原经文（出自《杂阿含经》卷四十二）
如是我聞：
一時，佛住舍衛國祇樹給孤獨園。
時，波斯匿王其體肥大，舉體流汗，來詣佛所，稽首佛足，退坐一面，氣息長喘。
爾時，世尊告波斯匿王：“大王身體極肥盛。”
大王白佛言：“如是，世尊！患身肥大，常以此身極肥大故，慚恥厭苦。”
爾時，世尊即說偈言：
人當自繫念，
每食知節量，
是則諸受薄，
安消而保壽。
時，有一年少，名欝多羅，於會中坐。時，波斯匿王告欝多羅：“汝能從世尊受向所說偈，每至食時，為我誦不？若能爾者，賜金錢十萬，亦常與食。”
欝多羅白王：“奉教當誦。”
時，波斯匿王聞佛所說，歡喜隨喜，作禮而去。
時，欝多羅知王去已，至世尊前，受所說偈，於王食時，食食為誦，白言大王：“如佛世尊、如來、應、等正覺所知所見，而說斯偈：
人當自繫念，
每食知節量，
是則諸受薄，
安消而保壽。
如是，波斯匿王漸至後時，身體𦟛細，容貌端正，處樓閣上，向佛住處合掌恭敬，右膝著地，三說是言：“南無敬禮世尊、如來、應、等正覺，南無敬禮世尊、如來、應、等正覺，與我現法利益、後世利益、現法後世利益，以其飯食知節量故。”