Upāli’s Kind Choice

 Upāli’s Kind Choice

A simple Buddhist story for children (ages 6–12)

Long ago in ancient India, there lived a man named Upāli.

Upāli was a kind and thoughtful person. Before he met the Buddha, he followed another teacher and respected him very much. His teachers had helped him learn how to live a good life.

One day, Upāli went to see The Buddha.

He listened carefully as the Buddha spoke about kindness, wisdom, and helping others. Upāli felt peaceful and happy when he heard these teachings. Slowly, he decided that he wanted to follow the Buddha.

But Upāli had a problem in his heart.

He thought,

“My old teachers were kind to me. If I follow the Buddha now, am I being ungrateful? Should I forget them?”

This made Upāli feel worried and sad.

So Upāli went to the Buddha and told him honestly how he felt.

The Buddha listened quietly and kindly. He did not get angry. He smiled gently and said something very wise:

“Upāli, being grateful is very important. Even though you follow me now, you should still respect and care for your former teachers. Help them when they need help. Speak kindly about them.”

Upāli felt relieved and happy.

He understood that learning something new does not mean forgetting kindness from the past.

From that day on, Upāli followed the Buddha’s teachings and continued to show respect and gratitude to his former teachers.

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What Can We Learn from This Story?

🌱 1. Gratitude is Always Good

Even when we learn new things or meet new teachers, we should remember those who helped us before.

🌱 2. Kindness Has No Limits

The Buddha taught that kindness should be shown to everyone, not just people who agree with us.

🌱 3. It’s Okay to Feel Confused

Upāli felt unsure and worried—and that’s okay. When we are confused, we should ask questions and speak honestly.

🌱 4. Respect Others’ Paths

People may believe or learn differently, but we can still respect them.

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A Simple Message for Children 🌼

You can:

* Learn new things

* Make new friends

* Follow new teachers

Without being unkind or ungrateful to the past.

Being a good person means having a kind heart, a thankful mind, and respect for everyone.

🌸 That is the Buddha’s gentle teaching through Upāli’s story. 🌸