The Bodhisatta was once a wealthy merchant. One day, while returning home from collecting money in a village, he saw thieves on the road. He had his oxen run as fast as they could, and he reached home without being robbed and was able to relax.
In the Lifetime of the Buddha
One day Anathapindika, a wealthy supporter of the Buddha known for his extreme generosity, was returning from a village and saw thieves on the road. He urged his oxen to hurry home, and he got there without being robbed. Later, he told the Buddha about his experience, and the Buddha told him this story so he knew that in the past the same thing had also happened to he himself.
The Buddha did not identify any earlier births other than his own.
