Jataka Tales 36: Sakuna

Sakuna Jataka While in residence at Jetavana the Buddha related the story about a monk whose dwelling place was burnt down. Tradition says that a monk had been given a subject for meditation after which he left Jetavana and went to Kosala.

There he dwelt in a forest very near to a village.

During the first month of his stay there his dwelling was burnt down. He mentioned this to the villagers who said they would attend to it after they had watered their fields as a drought was prevailing then. After irrigating their fields they said they had to sow seeds, and when this was over they said they had to put up fences.

When the fences were put up they said they had to do weeding, then the reaping and threshing of grain. So this went on till three months had passed. In the meantime this monk had to live in the open.

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After three months the monk had made some progress in his meditation but could go no further. So after the end of the Rainy Season he went back to the Buddha. After greeting the Buddha respectfully he sat on one side.

After some kind words of greeting the Buddha asked: "How is it brother have you lived happily during Vassa? Did your subject of meditation end in success?" The monk told him all that had happened during his retreat. He added: "For I had no shelter to suit me and my subject of meditation did not end in success."

The Buddha said to him: "In olden times even animals knew what was suitable for them and what was not. How is it that you did not know?"

Then he told this story from from the past.

Story of the past Once long ago in the time Brahmadatta was king in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born as a bird.

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He lived in a giant tree with numerous branching boughs and he led a company of birds. One day the wind was high and two boughs of the tree rubbed against each other hard. Dust began to fall and soon this was followed by smoke.

When the Bodhisatta became aware of this he thought: "If this goes on, these two boughs will produce fire; the fire will fall among the dried leaves on the ground and this will set fire to the tree as well. We cannot live here. It is proper for us to quickly go somewhere else to live." So he spoke to the birds:" Birds, fly away. This tree, we turned as our home is about to burn."

The wiser birds listened and together with the Bodhisatta rose up in the air and flew away.

However the foolish ones laughed and said: "He's always like this. He sees crocodiles in a drop of water." So they ignored his warning and remained.

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As the Bodhisatta had foreseen the sparks flew and a great fire started below the tree. Blinded and overcome by smoke the foolish birds were unable to escape but dropped into the fire and perished.

End of story of the past The Buddha added: "Thus it was brother that animals dwelling in the tree-top knew what was good for them and what was not. How is it you do not know?" His lesson ended He discoursed on the Truths and at the end that brother won the Fruit of the First Path.

Then the Buddha showed the connection and identified the Births. He said: "The Tathagata's disciples were the birds that listened to and followed the Bodhisatta, and I myself was the good and wise leader."

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