Ken+Visakha Kawasaki, Jataka Tales of the Buddha; Dhr. Seven,CC Liu (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly
Crossing the Wilderness: Apannaka Jataka
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| Yakkhas are ogres like a variety of Bigfoot. |
His servants carried mounds of flowers, perfume, butter, oil, honey, molasses, cloths, and monastic robes. Anathapindika bowed and presented the offerings he had brought, then sat respectfully to one side.
At that time Anathapindika was accompanied by many friends who were followers of other local teachers. His friends paid their respects to the Buddha and sat close to the banker.
After hearing the Buddha's teaching, the many friends gave up their other doctrines and practices (dhamma-vinaya) and went for guidance to the Three Treasures: the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the [Arya-] Sangha.
- NOTE: The Triple or Three Gem are the Teacher, Teaching, and Taught, which refers not only to this buddha but all supremely enlightened samma-sam-buddhas like the historical Buddha, this Doctrine and Discipline they teach that leads those who practice it to enlightenment, and those who have followed it, which refers to the noble-sangha, those who have succeeded in gaining at least the first stage of awakening, the stream enterers.
After that, they regularly accompanied Anathapindika to offer flowers and incense and to hear the Dharma. They gave liberally, kept the Five Precepts, and confidently (faithfully) observed the weekly lunar observance (uposatha) day.
- [Note 1: The uposatha or Lunar Observance Day refers to the full moon, new moon, and half moon days, when practicing Buddhists go above the Five Precepts and observe the Eight Precepts.]
Soon after the Buddha left Savatthi to return to Rajagaha (modern Rajgir), however, these men abandoned their new Dharma and reverted to their previous beliefs.
Seven or eight months later, the Buddha returned to Jetavana. Again, Anathapindika brought his friends to visit the Buddha. They paid their respects, but Anathapindika explained that they had forsaken their Buddhist guidance and resumed their former practices.
The Buddha asked, "Is it true that you have abandoned guidance from the Three Treasures for guidance from other doctrines (dhammas)?" The Buddha's voice was incredibly clear because throughout myriad aeons (kalpas) he practiced speaking truthfully.
When these men heard it, they were unable to conceal the truth and be anything but honest. "Yes, Blessed One," they admitted, "it is true."
"Disciples," the Buddha said "nowhere between the lowest of hells below and the highest of heavens above, nowhere in all the countless worlds that stretch right and left, is there the equal, much less the superior, of a buddha. Incalculable is the excellence that springs from practicing the precepts and from other virtuous conduct."
Then he declared the virtues of the Triple Gem. "By going for guidance from in the Three Treasures (Triple Gem)," he told them, "one escapes from rebirth in states of suffering." He further explained that meditation on the Three Treasures leads through the four stages to enlightenment.
"In forsaking such guidance as this," he admonished them, "you certainly go astray. In the past, too, those who foolishly mistook what was no guide for a real guide, met with disaster.
"Actually, they fell prey to ogres (yakkhas, carnivorous Bigfoot as opposed to the friendly nature protecting kind, Sasquatch, shapeshifters, maneating monsters) — harmful spirits — in the wilderness. And they were utterly destroyed.
"In contrast, those who clung to the truth survived, profited, and prospered in that very same wilderness."
Anathapindika raised clasped hands to his forehead, praised the Buddha, and asked him to tell a story of the past (a jataka tale).
"In order to dispel the world's ignorance and to conquer suffering," the Buddha proclaimed, "I practiced the Ten Perfections for countless aeons. Listen carefully, and I will speak."
Having their full attention the Buddha made clear, like releasing a full moon from behind clouds, what rebirth had concealed from them.
Story of the past
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| Older English translation of Jatakas (Rhys Davids) |
At the same time, in the same city, there was another merchant, a very foolish fellow with no common sense whatsoever.
One day it so happened that the two merchants each loaded many carts with costly wares of Varanasi, preparing to leave in the same direction at exactly the same time.
The wise merchant thought, "If this silly young fool travels with me and if our many carts stay together, it will be too much for the road. Finding wood and water for the workers will be difficult, and there won't be enough grass for the oxen. Therefore, either he or I must go first."
"Look," he said to the other merchant, "the two of us can't travel together. Would you rather go first or follow after me?"
The foolish trader thought, "There will be many advantages if I take the lead: I'll get a road that is not yet cut up. My oxen will have the pick of fresh grass. My workers will find the choicest wild herbs for curry. The water will be undisturbed. Best of all, I'll be able to fix my own price for trading my goods." Considering all these advantages, he said, "I will go ahead, friend."
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| The Bodhisatta or "Buddha-to-be" (Java, Indonesia) |
"Very well, friend," he said, "please go first."
"I will," said the foolish merchant, and he yoked his carts and set out. After a while he came to the outskirts of a wilderness. He filled all of his huge water jars with water before setting out to cross the 60 yojanas [2] of desert that lay before him.
- [2: Yojana: an ancient unit of distance, the distance a yoked ox can pull before it needs to be unyoked and given a rest, about seven miles.]
The ogre (yakkha = djinn, shapeshifter, skinwalker, demon, devil, trickster) who haunted that wilderness area had been watching the caravan. When it had reached the middle, he used his magic power to conjure up a lovely carriage drawn by pure white young bulls.
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| Yakkha (ogre, Bigfoot) Thai statue |
With a retinue of a dozen disguised (shapeshifted) ogres carrying swords and shields, he rode along in his carriage like a mighty lord. His hair and clothes were wet, and he had white water lilies around his head and a wreath of blue lotuses. His attendants were also dripping wet and draped in garlands. Even the bulls' hooves and carriage wheels were muddy.
As the wind was blowing from the front, the merchant was riding at the head of his caravan to escape the dust. The ogre drew his carriage beside the merchant's and greeted him kindly. The merchant returned the greeting and moved his own carriage to one side to allow the carts to pass while he and the yakkha chatted.
"We are coming from Varanasi, sir," explained the merchant. "I see that your workers are all wet and muddy and that you have lotuses and water lilies. Did it rain while you were on the road? Did you come across pools with lotuses and water lilies?"
"What do you mean?" the yakkha asked. "Just over there is a dark green streak of jungle. Beyond that there is plenty of water. It is always raining there, and there are many lakes with lotuses and water lilies." Then, pretending to be interested in the merchant's business, he asked, "What do you have in these carts?"
"Expensive merchandise," answered the merchant.
"What is in this cart that seems so heavily laden?" the yakkha asked as the last cart rolled by.
"That's full of water."
"You were wise to carry water with you this far, but there is no need for it now since water is so abundant ahead. You could travel much more quickly and lightly without these heavy jars. You'd be better off breaking them and dumping the water. Well, good day," he said suddenly, as he turned his carriage.
"We must be on our way," called out the yakkha. We have stopped too long already." He rode away quickly with his workers. But as soon as they were out of sight, he turned and made his way back to his own city.
The merchant was foolish; he followed the yakkha's advice. He broke all the jars and dumped the water, without saving a single cupful, and ordered the workers to drive on quickly. They did not find any water, and riding so quickly they were soon exhausted from thirst.
At sunset they drew their carts into a circle and tethered the oxen to the wheels, but there was no water for the weary animals. Without water, the workers could not cook any rice either. They sank to the ground and fell asleep.
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| Yakkhas or jinn (genies) in ancient Persian art |
Skeletons were strewn in every direction, but the many carts stood with their loads untouched. The heedless young merchant was the sole cause of the destruction of the entire caravan.
Allowing six weeks to pass after the foolish trader had left, the Bodhisatta set out with his many carts. When he reached the edge of the wilderness, he filled his water jars. Then he assembled his workers and announced:
"Let not so much as a handful of water be used without my permission. Furthermore, there are poisonous plants in this wilderness. Do not eat any leaf, flower, or fruit that you have never eaten before without first showing it to me." Having thus carefully warned everyone, he led the caravan into the wilderness.
When they had reached the middle of the wilderness, the yakkha appeared on the path just as before. The merchant noticed his red eyes and fearless manner and suspected something strange. "I know there is no water in this desert," he said to himself. "Furthermore, this stranger casts no shadow. He must be a yakkha. He probably tricked the foolish merchant, but he doesn't realize how clever I am."
"Get out of here!" he shouted at the yakkha. "We are business traders. We do not throw away our water before we see where more is to come from!"
Without saying any more, the yakkha rode away.
As soon as the yakkhas had left, the merchant's workers approached their leader and said, "Sir, those travelers were wearing lotuses and water lilies on their heads. Their clothes and hair were wringing wet. They told us that up ahead there is a thick forest where it is always raining. Let us throw away our water so that we can proceed more quickly with lighter carts."
The merchant ordered a halt and summoned everyone together: "Has anyone among you ever heard before today," he asked, "that there was a lake or a pool in this wilderness?"
"No, sir," they answered. "It's known as the 'Waterless Desert'."
"We have just been told by strangers that it is raining in the forest just ahead. How far does a rain-wind carry?"
"A yojana, sir."
"Has anyone here seen the top of even a single storm cloud?"
"No, sir."
"How far off can one see a flash of lightning?"
"Four or five yojanas, sir."
"Has anyone here seen a flash of lightning?"
"No, sir."
"How far off can a person hear a peal of thunder?"
"Two or three yojanas, sir."
"Has anyone here heard a peal of thunder?"
"No, sir."
"Those were not men but yakkhas," the wise merchant told them. "They were hoping we would throw away our water. Then, when we grew weak and exhausted, they would return to devour us.
Since the young merchant who went before us was not a man of good sense, most likely he was fooled by them. We may expect to find his carts standing just as they were first loaded. We will probably see them today. Press on with all possible speed, without throwing away a single drop of water!"
Just as the merchant had predicted, his caravan soon came upon the many carts of the foolish merchant with human and animal skeletons strewn in every direction. He ordered his workers to arrange the carts in a fortified circle, to take care of the oxen, and to prepare an early supper for themselves.
After the animals and workers had all safely bedded down, the merchant and guards, swords in hand, stood watch all through the night.
At daybreak the merchant replaced his own weak carts for stronger ones and exchanged his own common goods for the most costly of the abandoned merchandise. When he arrived at his destination, he was able to trade his stock of wares at two or three times their value.
He returned to his own city without losing a single person out of all his company.
This story ended, the Buddha said: "Thus it was, lay disciples, that in times past, the foolish came to utter destruction, while those who held to the truth escaped from the yakkhas' hands, reached their goal, and returned home safely again.
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| Countless worlds in 31 categories |
- [3: The Realm of Brahma refers to higher heavens, where the deva beings there enjoy radiant bliss. Devas (lit. "shining ones") are light beings, ranging from the highest brahmas to simple woodland tree spirits or fairies.]
"Following untruth entails rebirth either in four states of woe (apaya) or in the lowest conditions of humankind." After the Buddha had expounded the Four Noble Truths, those many disciples were established in the fruit of the first path (the first stage of enlightenment).
The Buddha concluded his lesson by identifying that rebirth as follows: "The foolish young merchant was Devadatta.
- [4: Devadatta was the brother-in-law and cousin of the Buddha, the brother of his former wife Yasodhara (Princess Bimba), who tried to kill him several times but failed. See the Serivavanija Jataka (Jat 3).]
"The workers were Devadatta's followers. The wise merchant's workers were the followers of the Buddha. And I myself was that wise merchant." The end.
Is "Bigfoot" real?
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| FBI helped hunt for Bigfoot (New York Times) |
PART I CONTENTS
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