user-1: I'm looking for a story in the Jataka wherein the Buddha talks about mindfulness and the importance of not living in the past or future. He compares the mind living in the past or future to grass that has been cut off from its root. When that happens the grass will dry out and the same thing happens to the mind that does not live in the present moment.
It was asked how monks who only eat 1 meal a day or sometimes don't eat at all can still retain such radiant complexion. That's where the Buddha taught the above grass simile.
Here's a link to the video where Bhante talks about it. It's mentioned at 6:45 into the video.
Can anyone help me find the Jataka story?
Thank you for your time.

user24087: That was a fun search, thank you.
I found it in 538. Muga-Pakkha Jātaka, quoted below.

At that moment the queen Candadevi, surrounded by the royal ladies,
came up, and after clasping her dear son’s feet and saluting him, sat
on one side with her eyes full of tears. The king said to her, “Lady,
see what thy son’s food is,” and put some of the leaves into her hand
and also gave a little to the other ladies, who took it, saying, “O my
lord, dost thou indeed eat such food? thou endurest great hardship,”
and sat down. Then the king said, “O my son, this appears wonderful to
me,” and he spoke a stanza:

“Most strange indeed it seems to me that thou thus left alone
Livest on such mean food and yet thy colour is not gone.”

The prince thus replied:

“Upon this bed of leaves strewn here I lie indeed alone,—
A pleasant bed it is and so my colour is not gone;
Girt with their swords no cruel guards stand sternly looking on,—
A pleasant bed it is and so my colour is not gone;
Over the past I do not mourn nor for the future weep,—
I meet the present as it comes, and so my colour keep.
Mourning about the hopeless past or some uncertain future need,—
This dries a young man’s vigour up as when you cut a fresh green reed.”



-1: <p>I'm looking for a story in the Jataka wherein the Buddha talks about mindfulness and the importance of not living in the past or future. He compares the mind living in the past or future to grass that has been cut off from its root. When that happens the grass will dry out and the same thing happens to the mind that does not live in the present moment.</p>
<p>It was asked how monks who only eat 1 meal a day or sometimes don't eat at all can still retain such radiant complexion. That's where the Buddha taught the above grass simile.</p>
<p><a href="https://youtu.be/QEbbpUs94bA?t=405" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><em>Here's a link to the video where Bhante talks about it. It's mentioned at 6:45 into the video.</em></a></p>
<p>Can anyone help me find the Jataka story?</p>
<p>Thank you for your time.</p>
 24087: <p>That was a fun search, thank you.</p>
<p>I found it in <a href="https://suttacentral.net/ja538/en/cowell-rouse" rel="nofollow noreferrer">538. Muga-Pakkha Jātaka</a>, quoted below.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>At that moment the queen Candadevi, surrounded by the royal ladies,
came up, and after clasping her dear son’s feet and saluting him, sat
on one side with her eyes full of tears. The king said to her, “Lady,
see what thy son’s food is,” and put some of the leaves into her hand
and also gave a little to the other ladies, who took it, saying, “O my
lord, dost thou indeed eat such food? thou endurest great hardship,”
and sat down. Then the king said, “O my son, this appears wonderful to
me,” and he spoke a stanza:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“Most strange indeed it seems to me that thou thus left alone<br />
Livest on such mean food and yet thy colour is not gone.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The prince thus replied:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“Upon this bed of leaves strewn here I lie indeed alone,—<br />
A pleasant bed it is and so my colour is not gone;</p>
<p>Girt with their swords no cruel guards stand sternly looking on,—<br />
A pleasant bed it is and so my colour is not gone;</p>
<p>Over the past I do not mourn nor for the future weep,—<br />
I meet the present as it comes, and so my colour keep.</p>
<p>Mourning about the hopeless past or some uncertain future need,—<br />
This dries a young man’s vigour up as when you cut a fresh green reed.”</p>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
