Yesterday I reviewed the new Jātaka Tales of the Buddha by Ken and Visakha Kawasaki, which has just been published in Sri Lanka by BPS. Today they have very kindly given me permission to reproduce one of the stories.
The one I choose illustrates very well, not only the good English style of the translators, but the moral lessons that can be taught in story form, and provide memorable lessons for students.
The first lesson it gives is that actions will not furnish the result that is required if they are motivated by ignorance. Killing animals in sacrifice to the gods cannot help the dead. It is an immoral act that is against the precepts.
It also teaches about the natural law of kamma-vipāka, deeds and their results. Bad actions like killing can only bring about bad results like suffering, and the thought that one can escape from the consequences of one’s actions is itself a dangerous delusion that leads to further wrong-doing.
Similarly, refraining from wrong-doing and doing wholesome actions also will have a suitable reward. The generations who understand the tree god’s instruction and abode by it, ended up in Heaven. In one short story the basis for right and wrong action has been illustrated – and without the need of a pulpit.
Matakabhatta Jātaka
It was while staying at Jetavana that the Buddha told this story about a Feast for the Dead.
One day, some bhikkhus asked the Buddha whether there was any benefit in sacrificing goats, sheep, and other animals as offerings for departed relatives.
“No, bhikkhus, replied the Buddha. “No good ever comes from taking life, not even when it is for the purpose of providing a Feast for the Dead. Then he told this story of the past.
Long, long ago, when Brahmadatta was reigning in Bārānasi, a brahmin decided to offer a Feast for the Dead and bought a goat to sacrifice. “My boys,” he said to his students, “take this goat down to the river, bathe it, brush it, hang a garland around its neck, give it some grain to eat, and bring it back.”
“Yes, sir,” they replied and led the goat to the river. While they were grooming it, the goat started to laugh with a sound like a pot smashing. Then, just as strangely, it started to weep loudly.
The young students were amazed at this behavior. “Why did you suddenly laugh,” they asked the goat, “and why do you now cry so loudly?”
“Repeat your question when we get back to your teacher,” the goat answered.
The students hurriedly took the goat back to their master and told him what had happened at the river. Hearing the story, the master himself asked the goat why it had laughed and why it had wept.
“In times past, brahmin,” the goat began, “I was a brahmin who taught the Vedas like you. I, too, sacrificed a goat as an offering for a Feast for the Dead. Because of killing that single goat, I have had my head cut off four hundred and ninety-nine times. I laughed aloud when I realized that this is my last birth as an animal to be sacrificed. Today, I will be freed from my misery. On the other hand, I cried when I realized that, because of killing me, you, too, may be doomed to lose your head five hundred times. It was out of pity for you that I cried.”
“Well, goat,” said the brahmin, “in that case, I am not going to kill you.”
“Brahmin!” exclaimed the goat. “Whether or not you kill me, I cannot escape death today.”
“Don’t worry,” the brahmin assured the goat. “I will guard you.” “You don’t understand,” the goat told him. “Your protection is weak. The force of my evil deed is very strong.”
The brahmin untied the goat and said to his students, “Don’t allow anyone to harm this goat.” They obediently followed the animal to protect it.
After the goat was freed, it began to graze. It stretched out its neck to reach the leaves on a bush growing near the top of a large rock. At that very instant, a lightning bolt hit the rock, breaking off a sharp piece of stone, which flew through the air and neatly cut off the goat’s head. A crowd of people gathered around the dead goat and began to talk excitedly about the amazing accident.
A tree deva had observed everything from the goat’s purchase to its dramatic death, and, drawing a lesson from the incident, admonished the crowd. “If people only knew that the penalty would be rebirth into sorrow, they would cease from taking life. A horrible doom awaits one who slays.” With this explanation of the law of kamma, the deva instilled in his listeners the fear of hell. The people were so frightened that they completely gave up the practice of animal sacrifices. The deva further instructed the people in the precepts and urged them to do good.
Eventually, that deva passed away to fare according to his deserts. For several generations after that, people remained faithful to the precepts and spent their lives in generosity and meritorious deeds, and many were reborn in heaven.
Having concluded his story, the Buddha identified the birth: at that time, I was that tree deva.
The complete three volume set can be ordered from the authors’ Buddhist Relief Mission‘s website. I would recommend a visit to the latter, where you can also learn about the Kawasaki’s good works aiding the poor and needy in S.E. Asia; and their educational works amongst the monastic community.