{"id":304,"date":"2021-08-08T07:19:38","date_gmt":"2021-08-08T07:19:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/qsconsultants.in\/blog\/?p=304"},"modified":"2021-08-08T07:19:40","modified_gmt":"2021-08-08T07:19:40","slug":"the-jatakas-birth-stories-of-the-bodhisatta-the-kusa-grass-story-translated-from-the-pali-by-sara-shaw","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/qsconsultants.in\/blog\/the-jatakas-birth-stories-of-the-bodhisatta-the-kusa-grass-story-translated-from-the-pali-by-sara-shaw\/","title":{"rendered":"The J\u0100TAKAS \u2013 Birth Stories of the Bodhisatta \u2013 The Kusa Grass Story – Translated from the P\u00e3li by Sara Shaw"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Namaste, Welcome to SAM-VAD (Together In Conversation), This week let me bring to your attention another monumental work, \u2018The J\u0100TAKAS \u2013 Birth Stories of the Bodhisatta<\/em><\/strong> (the one bound for, or to, enlightenment). A J\u0101taka<\/em><\/strong> is a story about a birth, and this collection of tales is about the repeated births \u2013 and \u2013 deaths of the Bodhisatta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Sara Shaw <\/em><\/strong>only a selectionof 26 stories have been included in this current translation out of the 547 stories with at least one story linked in one ancient source to each perfection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ten Perfections (p\u0101ramis<\/strong>)<\/em> are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Generosity (d\u0101na<\/em><\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Virtue (s\u00edla<\/em><\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Renunciation (nekkhamma<\/em><\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wisdom (pa\u00f1\u00f1\u0101<\/em><\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Effort (viriya<\/em><\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Forebearance (khanti<\/em><\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Truth (sacca<\/em><\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resolve (adhi\u0163\u0163h\u0101na<\/em><\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Loving Kindness (mett\u0101<\/em><\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Equanimity (upekkh\u0101<\/em><\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The characters in J\u0101takas inhabit an intricately meshed network of almost familial relationships. They are constantly interacting with each other, discussing their problems and giving advice on how to live. Links between characters extend far back into the past; events tend to recur as old habits are repeated in later lifetimes. Underneath it all is the assumption of the J\u0101takas that each being lives as an independent locus of consciousness, capable of choice and of finding enlightenment for him or herself.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Kusa Grass Story<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once upon a time in Varanasi, during the reign of King Brahmadatta, the Bodhisatta was born in the king\u2019s pleasure grove as the spirit of a clump of kusa grass. Now in the same pleasure grove, by the auspicious regal stone, there was a beautiful tree, also called \u2018Mukkhaka\u2019, the foremost, that was greatly honoured by the king. It stood up straight and its branches and forks made a canopy. Here a certain king of the Gods, who was a great friend of the Bodhisatta, had taken rebirth. Now, at that time the king had only a single pillar to support his palace and that pillar started to wobble; so people informed the king about it. The king had carpenter\u2019s summoned and said, \u2018Good sirs! My lucky palace has only one supporting pillar and that pillar is wobbling. Take the heartwood of a tree and make one that is steady.\u2019 They said, \u2018Very good sire,\u2019 and obeyed his order. They hunted out a tree that was suitable, and, not seeing any other around, they went into the pleasure grove and spotted the Foremost tree. They went to the king and, when asked if they had seen a suitable tree, replied that they had. \u2018But, sire, we don\u2019t dare chop it down,\u2019 they said. \u2018Why?\u2019 asked the king. \u2018We did not see any other tree and went into the pleasure grove. We didn\u2019t see any other, except for the \u2018good luck\u2019 tree. We don\u2019t dare chop down a lucky tree.\u2019 The king ordered, \u2018Go and cut it down and make the palace firm. We\u2019ll institute another lucky tree.\u2019 They agreed and, carrying an offering of food, went to the pleasure grove. They brought out the food and offered it to the tree, and said that they would chop it down the next day. The god of the tree, seeing the reason for this, thought: They\u2019re going to destroy my home. Where will I take my children?\u2019 Not seeing any place where they could go, the spirit clasped the children to her breast and grieved. The deities of the wood, the spirit\u2019s devoted friend, came and asked what was wrong. When they heard the cause they could not see a way of opposing the carpenters, and embracing the spirit, began to cry. Then the Bodhisatta went there, thinking he would see the spirit of the tree. He heard what had happened and said, \u2018Let it be; do not worry. I\u2019ll see that the tree is not cut down. When the carpenters come tomorrow you just see what I do!\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The spirit was relieved and the next day, when it was time for the carpenters to come, the Bodhisatta go there before they did, assuming the form of a chameleon. He went into the crossing at the roots of the tree and working his way up the middle of the tree came out at the branches, making it look as if it had holes. Then he lay down, waving his head. The master carpenter saw the chameleon and struck the tree with his hand. \u2018This tree is full of holes and worthless!\u2019 he exclaimed. \u2018We didn\u2019t notice it yesterday when we made the offerings.\u2019 He went off berating the quiet solid great tree. Because of the Bodhisatta the spirit of the tree was mistress of her dwelling. A large number of gods met together in order to congratulate the spirit. The tree spirit was delighted that it had kept its home and extolled the excellence of the Bodhisatta amongst the gods. \u2018Venerable gods, we possess great power but did not know this trick, because of our weak wisdom. The spirit of the kusa grass made sure I was the owner of my home, through his attainment to knowledge. A real friend can be an equal, a superior or an inferior. They all help out with a trouble that has turned up for their friends, according to their own strength, and even make sure they are happy too.\u2019 Praising the way of friendship the spirit uttered this verse:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

\u2018Whether as an equal, or as a superior, or as inferior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He should behave one and the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People should work for the highest good in troubles,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As did this spirit of the kusa grass plant.            <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I end this tale here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can buy your copy from any of the bookstores near you or via any on-line portal selling books or also by clicking the following link:  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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