The Story of Venerable Rāhula – The Truthful Little Monk
A long time ago, in the city of Kapilavatthu, there lived a little prince named Rāhula. He was the only son of Prince Siddhattha and Princess Yasodharā. But when Rāhula was still a baby, his father left the palace in search of the truth, determined to find the way to end all suffering.
Years later, Prince Siddhattha returned—not as a prince—but as the Buddha, the Enlightened One. One morning, he came to the palace to see his family. Little Rāhula, now a curious and bright boy of seven, ran up to him.
“Father,” he said with a smile, “I want something from you.”
“What do you want, dear Rāhula?” asked the Buddha.
Rāhula whispered, “I want my inheritance.”
The Buddha looked at him kindly. “Ah, Rāhula, I will give you a treasure far greater than gold or silver—a treasure that will never fade.”
And so, the Buddha asked his disciple Venerable Sāriputta to ordain Rāhula as a novice monk. From that day on, young Rāhula lived in the monastery, wearing simple robes, carrying his alms bowl, and learning the Dhamma from the Buddha himself.
⸻
Rāhula’s Lesson in Truth
One day, Rāhula was sweeping the floor when the Buddha came to visit. Sitting down beside him, the Buddha poured a little water into Rāhula’s small water pot and asked:
“Rāhula, do you see how little water is in this pot?”
“Yes, Venerable Sir,” said Rāhula.
“In the same way, little is left of a person who tells lies.”
Then the Buddha poured the water out.
“Just as this water is thrown away, so too is a liar thrown away by the wise. A liar is like this pot—empty and useless.”
Rāhula understood. He promised himself from that day forward, never to lie, even in small matters. He became known for his honesty, humility, and eagerness to learn.
⸻
The Moral
Rāhula grew up to be a wise monk, respected by all. The treasure he received from his father was not gold or jewels—it was the treasure of truth, wisdom, and kindness.
Moral:
* Always speak the truth, no matter how small the matter.
* True wealth is wisdom and virtue, not gold or silver.
* Learning from good teachers helps us grow into good people.
