Many eons ago, the Dharma was not widely available. Based on the Karma, merit and aspirations of the sentient beings of a certain period, the Dharma also flourishes, declines and ends.
There is this story.
Many eons ago, a king hungered for the Buddhadharma without success. He called near and far his kingdom for someone who could teach the Dharma. Sensing that the Dharma was in its last stages in their land, he made a decree.
“Whoever can teach me the Dharma, I shall give whatever he asks.”
ANYTHING IN EXCHANGE FOR THE DHARMA
One day, a Brahmin came to the palace and said, “The Dharma which I will teach is not easy to learn, nor can it be cheaply obtained. If you desire it, offer your own body, have it pierced with a thousand iron poles and burn with torches. Then, I will teach you the Dharma.”
The King agreed, “so be it.”
All of his citizens cried and wailed. They convinced the King to abandon this sacrifice. They argued that they needed a leader, like an infant who needs a mother, like a blind person who needs a guide.
But the King was stubborn, “Do not obstruct me! When Perfect Enlightenment has been obtained, I shall without fail, deliver you!” The king made such a dedication.
When the time had come, the King told the Brahmin, “Brahmin, I am ready. Pierce my body!” The Brahmin then got a pole, and pierced the King’s body. The pole went through the King’s body. When the people saw this, they collapsed to the ground out of grief and sadness.
HEARING THE MOST PRECIOUS DHARMA
The emperor then spoke, “Teacher, teach first the Dharma. If you pierce me with a thousand spokes, I will surely die and I will not hear the Dharma anymore.” Upon hearing this, the Brahmin agreed and spoke these verses,
“All compounded things will disintegrate.
What rises must fall.
All meetings end in separation.
What is born must die.”
After having spoken, the Brahmin pierced the king with the 999 remaining poles. Then all the poles pierced through his body were burned with torches.
The King made no regrets and dedicated every single pain and sacrifice so that he may achieved Enlightenment. Then, he promised to teach this same Enlightenment to all his subjects and citizens in the future.
That king was one of the past lives of Buddha Shakyamuni. Due to his great dedication and sacrifice, he accumulated great merit to slowly lead him to Awakening.
This is only one of the hundreds of aspirations that Buddha Shakyamuni accumulated along the path.
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Adapted version. Sutra of Wise and Foolish. Translated by Stanley Frye