Tales of the Buddha's Former Lives originates from a collections of stories known as Jataka Tales. The Budddha Himself used the Jataka stories to explain concepts like karma and rebirth to emphasise the importance of certain moral values. The Jataka Tales are frequently used in Buddhist countries to develop wholesome character of their people.

The main purpose of these stories is to develop the moral and ethical values of the readers. By reading these stories, children and adults can develop their knowledge and learn how to face difficult experiences of modern life. All Jataka stories have a moral at the end on how to correct our ways and to develop virtuous conduct and good behaviour. Children and adults can learn to develop good values and qualities like patience, forbearance, tolerance and the four sublime states of mind: loveing-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy and equanimity. Without wholesome values, people cannot be happy in their hearts and minds, or be at peace.

To allow readers to understand the Jataka stories in modern english, the stories are not a scholarly word-for-word translation, instead they are retold in a manner to convey the spirit and meaning they embrace.

We hope parents and teachers will narrate these stories to guide children. They can serve as example in teaching children to use morals in their daily activities. By directing their minds to proper thinking with the morals, their thinking faculty will be developed. As Venerable Kurunegoda Piyatissa Maha Thera once expressed, this will prove invaluable when young people face difficulties, unexpected circumstances and disasters in life. They will be in a better position to deal with them without being confused.

For example, in the second story, "Finding a New Spring", the value of perseverance is reinforced. People in this day and age are so used to getting everything they want quickly and easily. and look for instant gratification that they give up and try something else when they encounter the slightest difficulties. Not putting in efforts to overcome the difficulties they faced, their thinking ability decreases. In the end, they find themselves in a lose-lose situation and their human values decline as well.

To ensure future peace and happiness in the world, we need to preserve wholesome human qualities and values. Unfortunately, these are degenerating. That is why the world is seeing an increasing turmoil of quarrels and conflicts. One major reason for this occurence is because society neglects the moral development of children. Children were taught moral values in the past, but these days, modern schools hardly touch on them. So where will a yound child learn what is wholesome and what is not?

In "Finding a New Spring", when the caravan lost its way, the leader did not blame others or grumble, he was determined to overcome the unforeseen circumstances. In the midst of the weak thinking of the others, he was the only one who could be depended on to lead the search for water. Even when he faced an obstacle while digging, he did not give up. Finally, his perseverance bore fruits and they got the water they want. How joyful they all were!

Why do we not teach our children to follow such examples in times of unexpected difficulties? The adults who read these stories to the children must point out morals such as these and help them to develop their young, impressionable minds.

May all beings be well and happy.
May the blessings of the Triple Gem be with all always.
And may all progress well on the path of the Dharma!

Extracted from - Tales of the Buddha's Former Lives
Sister Esther Thien
Executive Editor
Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery

From the Storyteller to the Reader

When you read or listen to these very old stories, and wonder how much is really true, the Buddha gave some advice that might help. he said that when you listen to what a monk says you should test the meaning, weigh or consider it, and after observation and analysis when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.

Let us praise the Exalted,
Worthy, Fully Self-Enlightened One
and follow the Truth

The Banyan Deer

In a forest, on the outskirts of Benaras, there lived a beautiful golden deer. He was called King Banyan Deer and was the leader of a herd of five hundred deer. Not very far off, in the same forest was King Branch Deer who was also the leader amongst another five hundred deer. He was also extremely beautiful with a coat of a shiny golden hue and sparkling eyes.

Outside this beautiful forest, in the real world, there reigned a King who loved to eat meat at every single meal. He was King Brahmadatta of Benaras. Not only was he fond of hunting, but he also enforced the same on his subjects. He forced them to leave their own businesses and join him regularly on his hunting spree each and every morning.

After awhile the villagers got sick of this regular routine as they had much better things to do with their lives. Besides, their work and means of livelihood had also begun to suffer. They realised that they must find a solution. Together they came up with a plan.

They decided to grow plants, sow crops and dig water holes in the royal park itself. Then they would drive a number of deer into the confines of the park and shut the gates. In this way the King could hunt at leisure and would not require any further help from his obedient subjects.

So at first they went about preparing the royal park for the deer. Then they went into the forest armed with weapons and sticks in order to drive the deer into the royal park. They surrounded the territories of both the herds, those of King Banyan Deer as well as King Branch Deer, and drove them into the royal park, with shouts of glee as they beat their sticks on the ground and waved them in the air. As soon as both the herds were in, the gates were shut and the deer entrapped.

They then went to their King and told him that as they could not accompany him any more on his hunts they had successfully managed to entrap a number of deer in the royal park for his royal pleasure. The King was absolutely thrilled when he set eyes on the great number of deer in the royal park.

While gazing at them his eyes fell on the two beautiful golden deer and he at once decided to spare their lives. He issued an order that they were not to be shot at any cost. Each day after that, either the King or one of his hunters would shoot arrows at the deer. The deer would scatter wildly in every direction and get hurt in the ensuing stampede. So one day King Banyan Deer and King Branch Deer put their heads together and came up with a plan. They realised that each day their herds were getting wounded in great numbers and some were getting killed. Even though death was inevitable they could at least try to save the living ones from unnecessary pain and torture.

So they decided to send a deer to the royal palace to be slaughtered and served to the king each and every day. The pact was to alternate between the two herds. In this way at least the rest of the deer would be spared unnecessary torture. This system continued for some time. Each day a deer was sent to the royal palace to be slaughtered by the royal cook. And the rest of the deer were allowed to live in peace until it was their turn.

One day it was the turn of a young female deer with a newborn baby. She belonged to the herd of King Branch Deer. She was worried that after she was killed there would be no one to take care of her child who was still too young to look after itself. So she approached her king with the plea that he send another deer instead of her that day and she would willingly go to the slaughter after her fawn was old enough to look after himself.

But King Branch Deer would not listen to her plea and told her to accept this as her fate as he could not ask another deer to replace her on the execution block. The mother doe looked at her baby and just could not take a step towards the palace. So she approached King Banyan Deer with her plea. King Banyan Deer looked at her with great compassion and told her to go look after her baby, as he would send another in her place.

Then King Banyan Deer himself walked to the palace and placed his head on the execution block. The royal cook was shocked to see him and remembering the King's orders, went running to the King to ask him what was to be done. The King came down to see what was happening. On seeing King Banyan Deer he went up to him and gently asked why he was here. King Banyan Deer related the story of the fawn and the mother doe and told him that as he could not order another to take her place, he had decided to do it himself. The King was highly impressed with this supreme sacrifice and the great love and compassion that this King of deer possessed. So he decided to not only spare his life but that of the mother doe as well.

But King Banyan Deer was not satisfied. He asked that the lives of the other deer be spared as well. So the king granted him his wish. Then he asked about all the other four-footed animals in the forest and then about the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea. And King Brahmadutta agreed to spare the lives of all.

King Banyan Deer thanked him from the bottom of his heart and returned joyfully to the park. The gates were opened wide and both the herds were set free. Needless to say they lived peacefully and happily ever after.

Fearing the Wind

A Tale from India

Retold by Jack Maguire

Long, long, long ago, before the Buddha was the Buddha, a beautiful baby elephant lived in the forest of India. Her skin was as white and silky soft as the feathers of a swan. While she was growing up, all the people who ventured into the forest and happened to see her there were amazed at her beauty. When she was fully grown, her size and strength were so great that the people who saw her were even more astounded. Word spread across the land about this great, big, strong, white, beautiful elephant.

When the king of that land heard about the elephant, he wanted it for himself. He sent his elephant trainers out to find her. After much hunting in the forest, they did. They caught her in a huge, hempen net, drove her back to the palace grounds, and chained her to a stake.

The king wanted to be sure that the elephant would obey his every command, so when the elephant didn't do what the trainers told her to do - and often she couldn't understand what they were asking - they jabbed her with their training sticks. Soon red, blue, and purple bruises broke out all over her beautiful white skin, and she was constantly terrified.

One day the elephant went crazy with fear. She reared up on her hind legs and her chain broke loose. The terror-stricken trainers scurried away, and the beautiful, white elephant escaped. She ran up into the mountains, so far and deep that the trainers couldn't find her. They searched and searched for a long time, but at last they gave up. Eventually they forgot about her.

But the elephant did not forget about them. Every time the wind moaned, whined, shrieked or blasted, she dashed off in terror, racing around in big, loopy circles, thrashing her trunk wildly from side to side.

Even though she was free, she might just as well have been recaptured by the king's trainers, for now her mind was often so troubled she forgot to eat. Her big, strong body became thin and weak. Running in heedless fear, she would frequently trip and collapse over rocks, fallen branches, or holes in the ground. Red, blue, and purple bruises broke out all over her beautiful white skin.

The only thing close to peace the elephant ever felt was when she'd lean against one special tree to catch her breath. This tree had a smooth, thick trunk and a big, sheltering crown of leaves where the wind would gently whisper.

Now at this time the Buddha was this tree.

Whenever the elephant would rest herself against the tree, it could sense the fear that was tormenting her, and so it felt great compassion for her. Finally, one day when the elephant was shaking against its bark harder than she ever had before, the tree could no longer stay silent. Waving its leaves and stirring the wind, it whispered these words:

Do you fear the wind?
It only moves the clouds and dries the dew!
Look inside your mind--
There, fear alone has captured you.

As soon as the tree finished whispering these words, the beautiful elephant smiled. Suddenly she realized that she had nothing to worry about but her own habit of always being afraid. From that day on she was at peace with herself. She enjoyed life in her mountain home. She had finally found her freedom.

1. Demons in the Desert - (The Correct Way of Thinking)

Long Long ago, there were two friends who were merchants. They were about to go on a trip to sell their merchandise. After discussion, they decided not to travel together."It will be too crowded for us to travel together since each of us has about 500 carts, both of us are going to the same place along the same road," said one to the other. So both agreed one of them should set off first.

The first merchant thought long and hard and decided to go first. "The road will not be rutted by the carts. The bullocks will be able to enjoy the greenest and best grass along the way, and we will find the best fruits and vegetables to eat. My people will appreciate my leadership and, in the end, I will be able to bargain for the best prices," he thought simlingly.

The second merchant, too considered carefully. He realised there were advantages of travelling after the first had paved the way. "By travelling first, my friend's carts will have levelled the ground so we won't have to do any road work. His bullocks will have also eaten the old rough grass and new tender shoots will spring up for mine to feast. Similarly, his people will have also plucked the old fruits and vegetables and fresh ones will grow for us to enjoy. I won't have to waste my time bargaining when I can take the price already set by the market and make my profit." he thought. And so he agreed to his friend's request of travelling first. The first merchant, sure that he'd fooled his friend and gotten the best of him, merrily set out first on the journey.

But he had a troublesome time. the merchant who were first soon come to a wilderness called the "Waterless Desert", which the local people said was haunted by demons. When the caravan reached the middle of the desert, they met a large group coming from the opposite direction. They have carts that were smeared with mud and dripping with water. They also had lotuses and water lilies in their hands and carts. "Why are you carrying these heavy loads of water? In a short while, you will reach an oasis on teh horizon with plenty of water to drink and dates to eat. Your bullocks are tired from pulling those heavy carts filled with extra water. be kind to your poor, overworked animals and throw away the water!" said the headmen of the group, who displayed a know-it-all attitude, to the merchant.

Even though the natives had warned him, the merchant did not realise these were really demons in disguise, and that they were in danger of being devoured by them. Confident they were helpful people, he followed their advice and had all his water emptied onto the ground.

As they continued on their way, they discovered there was no oasis in the desert. Some of then realised they'd been fooled by beings who could be demons, and started to grumble and accuse the merchant. At the end of the day, all the people were worn out and exhausted. The bullocks were also too weak from lack of water to pull their heavy carts. Tired out, both humans and animals lay down in a haphazard manner and fell into a deep slumber. At dusk, the demons came in their true frightening forms and gobbled up all the weak defenceless beings, leaving behind only bones on the ground. Not one human and animal as spared alive.

Several months later, the second merchant began his journey. When he arrived at the wilderness, he assembled all his people and said: "This place is called the "Waterless Desert" which I heard is haunted by demons and ghosts. Therefore, do be careful at all times. Do not drink any water in the desert without asking me first." Having said that, his caravan ventured into the desert.

Like the first merchant, the second merchant and his caravan encountered the water-soaked demons in disguise halfway through the desert. The demons pulled the same trick and told them to cast away their water. Fortunately, the wise merchant saw through the demons straight away. He knew it didn't make send to have an oasis in a place known as "Waterless Desert". And besides, these people had bulging read eyes and a pushy attitude, so he suspected they could be demons. "We are businessmen who don't throw away good water before we know where the next is coming from," the merchant replied and then told the demons to leave them alone.

Seeing that his own people had doubts when the demons left, the merchant said: "Don't believe what others said until we actually find water. For all we know, they may be demons, and the oasis they point to is just an illusion or a mirage. have you ever heard of water in this "Waterless Desert"? Have you felt any rain-wind or seen any storm clouds?" They all answered "No" and he continued: "If we believe these strangers and throw our water away, we may not have any to drink or cook with if there is no oasis. We will be wak and thirsty. It will be easy then for demons to come and rob us, or even gobble us up! Therefore, until we really find water, do not waste even a single drop! It is better for us to be safe than sorry."

That evening, the second caravan travelled until it reached where the first had been slaughtered and devoured. They say fully loaded carts and bones strewn everywhere. They recognised the fully loaded carts belonging to the caravan of the first merchant. Come dusk the wise merchant appointed some as watch guards to protect the camp during the night.

The next morning, after the people had taken their breakfast and fed their bullocks well, they added to their carts the most valuable goods left behind from the first caravan. Under the wise leadership of the second merchant, the caravan managed to complete their journey successfully. They sold off all their merchandise with profits and return home safely.

THE MORAL IS - One Must always be wise enough not to be fooled by tricky talk and false appearance

2. Finding a New Spring - (Perseverance)

Once upon a time, a merchang led a caravan to another country to trade. One day, they came to the edge of a desert with sand as hot as burning coal. It was so scorching that no one, not even bullocks or camels could walk on it! Left with no choice, the caravan leader hired a desert guide - one who could read the stars - so they could travel at night when the sand was cool. In this manner, they trekked dangerously across the desert at night.

This went on fine until one night, the guide complacently dozed off to sleep when he saw that they were reaching the end of the desert. Unattended, the bullocks graduallyu swerved to the side and travelled around in a big circle until they ended up at the same spot they had started from the night before!

By then, the sun had risen, When the people realised they were back at the same place they'd camped the day before, they lost heart and began complaining about their condition. They had used up all their water and were afraid that they would die of thirst. "We can't do without water," they reproached the caravan leader and the guide.

"If I do nothing but just grumbled about this misfortune, we will all die here. Therefore, I must be strong and face this challenge calmly!" thought the merchant. He began pacing up and down, thinking of a plan to save them all.

Suddenly, he noticed a small clump of grass. "No plant can survive in this desert without water," he analysed. So he gathered the strongest of his fellow travellers and asked them to dig a hole on that very spot. They dug and dug, and after a while they hit a large rock. "This effort is useless. We're just wasting our time!" they complained in a blaming tone once again. But the merchant replied:"No, my friends, if we give up now, it will be the end fo us and our poor animals. let us not be discouraged!"

He got down into the hole immediately, placed his ear to the rock, and heard the sould of water flowing. Straight away, he called over a boy who had been digging and said: "If you give up, we will all perish - so take this heavy hammer and strike
the rock."

The boy lifted the hammer over his head and hit the rock as hard as he could. To his suprise, the rock split open and mighty gush of water sprang out from underneath! All the people were overwhelmed with joy. They drank, bathed, washed their animals, cooked their food and ate heartily.

Before they left, they put up a tall banner so that other travellers could see it from afar and come to the new spring in the middle of the desert. Then, they continued on safely to the end of their journey.

THE MORAL IS - Don't give up too easily. keep on trying until you reach your goal.

I love stories.

cool!!!


this is really enlighting

PRINCE WICKED AND THE GRATEFUL ANIMALS

Once upon a time a king had a son named Prince Wicked. He was fierce and cruel, and he spoke to nobody without abuse, or blows. Like grit in the eye, was Prince Wicked to every one, both in the palace and out of it.

His people said to one another, "If he acts this way while he is a prince, how will he act when he is king?"

One day when the prince was swimming in the river, suddenly a great storm came on, and it grew very dark.

In the darkness the servants who were with the prince swam from him, saying to themselves, "Let us leave him alone in the river, and he may drown."

When they reached the shore, some of the servants who had not gone into the river said, "Where is Prince Wicked?"

"Isn't he here?" they asked. "Perhaps he came out of the river in the darkness and went home." Then the servants all went back to the palace.

The king asked where his son was, and again the servants said: "Isn't he here, O King? A great storm came on soon after we went into the water. It grew very dark. When we came out of the water the prince was not with us."

At once the king had the gates thrown open. He and all his men searched up and down the banks of the river for the missing prince. But no trace of him could be found.

In the darkness the prince had been swept down the river. He was crying for fear he would drown when he came across a log. He climbed upon the log, and floated farther down the river.

When the great storm arose, the water rushed into the homes of a Rat and a Snake who lived on the river bank. The Rat and the Snake swam out into the river and found the same log the prince had found. The Snake climbed upon one end of the log, and the Rat climbed upon the other.

On the river's bank a cottonwood-tree grew, and a young Parrot lived in its branches. The storm pulled up this tree, and it fell into the river. The heavy rain beat down the Parrot when it tried to fly, and it could not go far. Looking down it saw the log and flew down to rest. Now there were four on the log floating down stream together.

Just around the bend in the river a certain poor man had built himself a hut. As he walked to and fro late at night listening to the storm, he heard the loud cries of the prince. The poor man said to himself: "I must get that man out of the water. I must save his life." So he shouted: "I will save you! I will save you!" as he swam out in the river.

Soon he reached the log, and pushing it by one end, he soon pushed it into the bank. The prince jumped up and down, he was so glad to be safe and sound on dry land.

Then the poor man saw the Snake, the Rat, and the Parrot, and carried them to his hut. He built a fire, putting the animals near it so they could get dry. He took care of them first, because they were the weaker, and afterwards he looked after the comfort of the prince.

Then the poor man brought food and set it before them, looking after the animals first and the prince afterwards. This made the young prince angry, and he said to himself: "This poor man does not treat me like a prince. He takes care of the animals before taking care of me." Then the prince began to hate the poor man.

A few days later, when the prince, and the Snake, the Rat, and the Parrot were rested, and the storm was all over, the Snake said good-by to the poor man with these words:

"Father, you have been very kind to me. I know where there is some buried gold. If ever you want gold, you have only to come to my home and call, 'Snake!' and I will show you the buried gold. It shall all be yours."

Next the Rat said good-by to the poor man. "If ever you want money," said the Rat, "come to my home, and call out, 'Rat!' and I will show you where a great deal of money is buried near my home. It shall all be yours."

Then the Parrot came, saying: "Father, silver and gold have I none, but if you ever want choice rice, come to where I live and call, 'Parrot!' and I will call all my family and friends together, and we will gather the choicest rice in the fields for you."

Last came the prince. In his heart he hated the poor man who had saved his life. But he pretended to be as thankful as the animals had been, saying, "Come to me when I am king, and I will give you great riches." So saying, he went away.

Not long after this the prince's father died, and Prince Wicked was made king. He was then very rich.

By and by the poor man said to himself: "Each of the four whose lives I saved made a promise to me. I will see if they will keep their promises."

First of all he went to the Snake, and standing near his hole, the poor man called out, "Snake!"

At once the Snake darted forth, and with every mark of respect he said: "Father, in this place there is much gold. Dig it up and take it all."

"Very well," said the poor man. "When I need it, I will not forget."

After visiting for a while, the poor man said good-by to the Snake, and went to where the Rat lived, calling out, "Rat!"

The Rat came at once, and did as the Snake had done, showing the poor man where the money was buried.

"When I need it, I will come for it," said the poor man.

Going next to the Parrot, he called out, "Parrot!" and the bird flew down from the tree-top as soon as he heard the call.

"O Father," said the Parrot, "shall I call together all my family and friends to gather choice rice for you?"

The poor man, seeing that the Parrot was willing and ready to keep his promise, said: "I do not need rice now. If ever I do, I will not forget your offer."

Last of all, the poor man went into the city where the king lived. The king, seated on his great white elephant, was riding through the city. The king saw the poor man, and said to himself: "That poor man has come to ask me for the great riches I promised to give him. I must have his head cut off before he can tell the people how he saved my life when I was the prince."

So the king called his servants to him and said: "You see that poor man over there? Seize him and bind him, beat him at every corner of the street as you march him out of the city, and then chop off his head."

The servants had to obey their king. So they seized and bound the poor man. They beat him at every corner of the street. The poor man did not cry out, but he said, over and over again, "It is better to save poor, weak animals than to save a prince."

At last some wise men among the crowds along the street asked the poor man what prince he had saved. Then the poor man told the whole story, ending with the words, "By saving your king, I brought all this pain upon myself."

The wise men and all the rest of the crowd cried out: "This poor man saved the life of our king, and now the king has ordered him to be killed. How can we be sure that he will not have any, or all, of us killed? Let us kill him." And in their anger they rushed from every side upon the king as he rode on his elephant, and with arrows and stones they killed him then and there.

Then they made the poor man king, and set him to rule over them.

The poor man ruled his people well. One day he decided once more to try the Snake, the Rat, and the Parrot. So, followed by many servants, the king went to where the Snake lived.

At the call of "Snake!" out came the Snake from his hole, saying, "Here, O King, is your treasure; take it."

"I will," said the king. "And I want you to come with me."

Then the king had his servants dig up the gold.

Going to where the Rat lived, the king called, "Rat!" Out came the Rat, and bowing low to the king, the Rat said, "Take all the money buried here and have your servants carry it away."

"I will," said the king, and he asked the Rat to go with him and the Snake.

Then the king went to where the Parrot lived, and called, "Parrot!" The Parrot flew down to the king's feet and said, "O King, shall I and my family and my friends gather choice rice for you?"

"Not now, not until rice is needed," said the king. "Will you come with us?" The Parrot was glad to join them.

So with the gold, and the money, and with the Snake, the Rat, and the Parrot as well, the king went back to the city.

The king had the gold and the money hidden away in the palace. He had a tube of gold made for the Snake to live in. He had a glass box made for the Rat's home, and a cage of gold for the Parrot. Each had the food he liked best of all to eat every day, and so these four lived happily all their lives.

THE STUPID MONKEYS

Once upon a time a king gave a holiday to all the people in one of his cities.

The king's gardener thought to himself: "All my friends are having a holiday in the city. I could go into the city and enjoy myself with them if I did not have to water the trees here in this garden. I know what I will do. I will get the Monkeys to water the young trees for me." In those days, a tribe of Monkeys lived in the king's garden.

So the gardener went to the Chief of the Monkeys, and said: "You are lucky Monkeys to be living in the king's garden. You have a fine place to play in. You have the best of food--nuts, fruit, and the young shoots of trees to eat. You have no work at all to do. You can play all day, every day. To-day my friends are having a holiday in the city, and I want to enjoy myself with them. Will you water the young trees so that I can go away?"

"Oh, yes!" said the Chief of the Monkeys. "We shall be glad to do that."

"Do not forget to water the trees when the sun goes down. See they have plenty of water, but not too much," said the gardener. Then he showed them where the watering-pots were kept, and went away.

When the sun went down the Monkeys took the watering-pots, and began to water the young trees. "See that each tree has enough water," said the Chief of the Monkeys.

"How shall we know when each tree has enough?" they asked. The Chief of the Monkeys had no good answer, so he said: "Pull up each young tree and look at the length of its roots. Give a great deal of water to those with long roots, but only a little to those trees that have short roots."

Then those stupid Monkeys pulled up all the young trees to see which trees had long roots and which had short roots.

When the gardener came back the next day, the poor young trees were all dead.

good postings,

do post more...

3. The Golden Plate - (Greed and Honesty)

Long ago in a place called Seri, two salesmen sold pots, pans and handmade trinkets. They decided to divide the town between them. They also agreed that it was alright for the other to hawk his wares after the first had gone through his designated area.

One day, one of them was coming down a street when a poor little girl saw him and asked her grandmother to buy her a bracelet. "We are too poor. We can't afford it," replied the old grandmother. "Since we don't have any money, we can exchange one with our black sooty old plate," suggested the little girl. The old woman agreed to give it a try, and so she invited the dealer in.

Seeing that they were poor humble people who probably had no money, the salesman did not want to waste his time with them. Though the old woman pleaded with him, he said he had no bracelet that she could afford to buy. Then she asked: "We have an old plate that is useless to us, can we barter it for a bracelet?" The man took the plate and examined it. He accidentally scratched the bottom of the plate, and to his surprise, discovered gold gleaming underneath the black soot. The black sooty old plate was actually a golden plate! But he didn't tell the old woman of his discovery. Instead, he decided to deceive her so he could get the plate for virtually nothing. "This is not worth even one bracelet. There is no value in this. I don't want it!" he lied, and left thinking he would return later when they would accept something of a lesser value for the plate.

Meanwhile, the second salesman who had finished peddling in his appointed part of the town, came to the area where the first had been earlier. He ended up at the same house. Again, the poor little girl begged here grandmother to trade the old plate for a bracelet. When examined it, he also noticed that it was pure gold under the grime. "All that I own, my goods and all my money, are not worth as much as this gold plate!" he exclaimed kindly to the old woman.

Of course, the woman was shocked when she heard this, but the merchant's honesty also proved that he was indeed a good and honest fellow to her. So she said she would be happy to accept whatever he could trade for it. "I'll give you all my pots, pans and trinkets, plus all my money, if you will let me keep just eight coins and my balancing scale, with its cover to put the gold plate in," said the salesman. "Deal," replied the old woman. The trade was made and the second merchant went down to the river, where he used his remaining eight coins to pay the boatman to ferry him across.

Meanwhile, the greedy salesman had returned to the old woman's house, dreaming of huge imaginary profits in his head. When he met the little girl and her grandmother again, he told them he had changed his mind and was willing to offer a few cents, but not one of his bracelets, for the useless black sooty old plate. "Sir, you lied to us," replied the old woman and then she calmly told him of the trade she had just struck with the honest saleman.

Instead of being ashamed, the greedy salesman was upset that he had lost the precious plate that must be worth a hundred thousand. "Which way did he go?" asked the dishonest merchant. She told him the direction, and he promptly dropped all his things right at her doorstep and ran down to the river, thinking: "He robbed me! He robbed me! He won't make a fool out of me!"

At the riverbank, he saw the boatman ferrying the honest salesman halfway across the river. "Come back, come back!" he shouted to the boatman. But the good merchant instructed him to keep rowing, and so he continued crossing the river.

Seeing that there was nothing he could do, the greedy salesman exploded with rage. He beat his chest and jumped up and down. He was so angry and filled with so much hatred for the honest man, who had gotten the golden plate, that he coughed out blood, had a heart attack and died on the spot.

THE MORAL IS - Honesty is the best policy

4. The Mouse Merchant - (Deligence and Gratitude)

Once upon a time, a famour adviser was on his way to a meeting with the kind and other advisers when he caught sight of a dead mouse by the roadside. "Even from such samll beginnings as this dead mouse, a diligent young fellow could build a fortune. As long as he worked hard and used his intelligence, he could start a business and support a wife and family," he commented to those who were with him.

A passer-by heard the remark. knowing that this was an important adviser of the kind, he decided to follow his words. He picked up the dead mouse by the tail and went off with it. Lady Luck must be smiling at him for he hadn't even gone a block, before shopkeeper stopped him. "My cat has been pestering me all morning. I'll give you two copper coins for that mouse," he proposed. And a deal was made.

With the two copper coins, he got some sweet cakes and water and waited by the roadside. As he expected, flower pickets were returning home from work. Hungry and thirsty, all of them agreed to exchange a bunch of flowers each for some sweet cakes and water. In the evening, the man sold the flowers in the city. He bought more sweet cakes using part of the earnings and returned the next day to trade them with the flower pickers.

This went on for a while, until one day a terrible storm blew. While walking by the king's pleasure garden, he noticed that many branches had been ripped off the trees by the storm and were lying all around. So he went to the king's gardener and offered to clear them away for him provided that he gets to keep the branches. The lazy gardener quickly agreed.

The man found some children playing in a park across the street. They were only too glad to gather all the scattered branches in exchange for one sweet cake per child.

When the children were done, the king's potter happened to walk by. He was always on the lookout for firewood for his glazing oven. When he saw the piles of wood the children had just collected, he paid the man a handsome sum of money for them. He also gave the man some of his pots.

With the profits he earned from selling flowers and firewood, the man opened a refreshment shop. One day, he treated all the local grass mowers, who were on their way to town, to some sweet cakes and drinks. They were suprised by his generosity. "What can we do for you?" they asked. He said there was nothing for them to do now, but he would let them know in future.

A week later, he heard that a horse dealer was coming to the city with 500 horses to sell. he got in touch with te grass mowers and told each one to give him a bundle of grass. He also requested them not to see any grass to the horse dealer until he had sold his. And so, he made another handsome profit.

Time passed until one day, some customers in his refreshment shop told him of a new foreign ship that had just docked in the harbour. He felt this was too good an opportunity to miss. He thought long and hard until he came up with a good business plan.

First, he went to a jeweller friend of his and paid a low price for a very valuable gold ring with a beautiful sparkling ruby. He knew that the ship came from a foreign country which had no rubies of its own, and where gold was expensive. next, he gave the magnificent ring to the captain of the ship as an advance on his commission. To earn this commission, the captain agreed to send all the passengers to him. He would then take them to the finest shops in the city. In return, the man received commissions from the merchants for bringing customers to them.

The man soon became very rich after several ships had docked into port. Pleased with the scale of his success, he remembered it all started with the words of the king's wise adviser. Grateful, he decided to give him a gift of 100,000 gold coins which was half of his entire wealth. After making the proper arrangements, he met up with the king's adviser and gave him the present along with his humble thanks.

The adviser was amazed. "How did you earn so much money to afford such a generous gift?" he asked curiously. The man then narrated all that had happened, how itall started with the adviser's own words not so long ago about the dead mouse, which finally led to a large fortune.

After hearing his story, the royal adviser thought:"It would not be good to lose the talents of such a diligent man. I'm also very rich and my only beloved daughter is still unmarried. As this man is single, he deserves to marry her. Then he can inherit my wealth in addition to his own, and my daughter will be well cared for."

The man married the adviser's daughter, and after the wise adviser died, he became the richest man in the city. The king appointed him as the new adviser, and throughout the rest of his life, he gave generously for the happiness and well-being of many people.

THE MORAL IS - With energy and ability, great wealth comes even from small insignificant beginnings.

5. The Price Maker - (Foolishness)

Long, long ago in northern India, there was a king who ruled Benares. He had a minister called the Royal Price Maker and he was a very honest man. His job was to set a fair price for anything the king wanted to buy or sell.

But there were occasions in which the king did not like his price-making. These were times when the king did not get as large a profit as he would love, had to pay more than he was willing to, or sold his merchandise for a price that he felt was too low. He decided to change the price maker.

One day, he saw a handsome young man and decided that he would make a good price maker. He dismissed his former honest price maker, and appointed the young man to be the new one. "I must make the king happy by buying at very low prices and selling at very high prices," thought the new price maker. So he charged ridiculous prices, not caring at all whether they were pegged to their actual worth. Of course, this make the king very happy as he gained a lot of money. But all the others who dealt with the new price maker, including the king's other ministers and ordinary folks, became very unhappy.

One day, a horse merchant arrived at Benares. He had 500 horses to sell. There were stallions, mares and colts. The king invited the merchant to the palace, and called upon his Royal Price Maker to set a price for all 500 horses. Thinking only of pleasing the king, the price maker replied: "The entire herd of horses is worth one cup of rice." Hearing this, the king ordered that one cup of rice be paid to the horse dealer, and all the horses were taken to the royal stables.

The merchant was very upset, but he could do nothing at that moment. Later, he heard about the former price maker, who had a reputation for being very fair and honest. He approached him and told him what had happened. He wanted to hear his opinion, in order to get a proper price from the king. "If you do as I say, the king will be convinced of the true value of the horses. Go back to the price maker and satisfy him with a valuable gift. Then ask him to state the value of one cup of rice in the presence of the king. If he agrees, come and tell me. I will go with you to the king," advised the former price maker.

Following this advice, the merchant went to the price maker and gave him a valuable gift. The gift make the price maker very happy. The young man saw that it would benefit him if he pleased the horse dealer. "I'm very happy with your previous evaluation," said the merchant."Can you please convince the king of the value of one cup of rice?" "Why not?" I will explain the worth of one cup of rice in the presence of the king," answered the foolish price maker.

Believing that the horse dealer was satisfied with his cup of rice, the price maker arranged for another meeting with the king, as the merchant was returning to his own country. The merchant reported back to the old price maker, and they went together to see the king.

All the king's ministers and his full court were in the royal meeting hall. "My lord, I understand that in your country, my herd of 500 horses is worth only one cup of rice. Before I leave for home, I want to understand the value of one cup of rice in your country," said the horse merchant to the king. The king turned to the price maker and asked:"What is the value of one cup of rice?"

Previously, to please the king, the foolish price maker had priced the herd of horses at one cup of rice. Now, after receiving a bribe from the horse dealer, and wanting to please him, he replied to the king in his most dignified manner: "Your Majesty, one cup of rice is worth the city of Benares, including even your own harem, as well as all the suburbs of the city. In other words, it is worth the whole kingdom of Benares!"

On hearing this, the royal ministers and wise men in the assembly hall started to roar with laughter, slapping their sides with their hands. "Earlier, we heard that the kingdom was priceless. Now we hear that all Benares, with its palaces and mansions, is worth only a cup of rice! The decision of the Royal Price Maker is so strange! Where did your Highness find such a man? He is good only for pleasing a king such as you, and definitely not setting fair prices for a merchant who sells his horses from country to country," said the ministers and wise men when they had calmed down.

Hearing the laughter of his whole court, the words of his ministers and advisers, the king was ashamed. he reinstated his former price maker. Having learned his lesson, the king lived justly and his kingdom prospered.

THE MORAL IS - A fool in high office can bring shame even to a king.

Matakabhatta Jataka [go up]
The Goat That Laughed and Wept
Jat 18

One day, while the Buddha was staying in Jetavana, some bhikkhus asked him if 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 Baranasi, a brahman 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, brahman," the goat began, "I was a brahman 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 499 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 brahman, "in that case, I am not going to kill you."

"Brahman!" exclaimed the goat. "Whether or not you kill me, I cannot escape death today."

"Don't worry," the brahman 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 brahman 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 deva5 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 charity and meritorious works, so that many were reborn in the heavens.
The Buddha ended his lesson and identified the Birth by saying, "In those days I was that deva."

Kuhaka Jataka [go up]
The Straw Worth More Than Gold
Jat 89

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana about a conniving bhikkhu, who was the source of much trouble to other bhikkhus.
Long, long ago, when Brahmadatta was reigning in Baranasi, a shifty ascetic with long, matted hair, lived near a certain little village. The landowner had built a modest hermitage in the forest for him, and daily provided him with excellent food in his own house.

The landowner had a great fear of robbers and decided that the safest course to protect his money was to hide it in an unlikely place. Believing the matted-haired ascetic to be a model of sainthood, he brought a hundred pieces of gold to the hermitage, buried them there, and asked the ascetic to keep watch over the treasure.

"There's no need to say more, sir, to a man like me who has renounced the world. We hermits never covet what belongs to others."

"That's wonderful," said the landowner, who went off with complete confidence in the hermit's protestations.

As soon as the landowner was out of sight, the ascetic chuckled to himself, "Why, there's enough here to last a man his whole life!"

Allowing a few days to elapse, the hermit dug up the gold and reburied it conveniently by the road. The following morning, after a meal of rice and succulent curries at the landowner's house, the ascetic said, "My good sir, I've been staying here, supported by you, for a long time. Frankly, living so long in one place is like living in the world, which is forbidden to ascetics like me. I really cannot remain here any longer; the time has come for me to leave."

The landowner urged him to stay, but nothing could overcome the hermit's determination.

"Well, then," said the landowner, "if you must go, good luck to you." Reluctantly, he escorted the ascetic to the outskirts of the village and returned home.

After walking a short way by himself, the ascetic thought it would be a good thing to cajole the landowner. Sticking a straw in his matted hair, he hurried back to the village.

"What brings you back again?" asked the surprised landowner.

"I just noticed that a straw from your roof got stuck in my hair. We hermits must not take anything which has not been given to us, so I have brought it back to you."

"Throw it down, sir, and go your way," said the landowner. "Imagine!" he said to himself. "This ascetic is so honest he won't even take a straw which does not belong to him. What a rare person!" Thus, greatly impressed by the ascetic's honesty, the landowner bid him farewell again.

At that time the Bodhisatta, reborn as a merchant, was traveling to the border on business and happened to stop at that same little village, where he witnessed the ascetic's return with the piece of straw. Suspicion grew in his mind that the hermit must have robbed the landowner of something. He asked the rich man whether he had deposited anything in the ascetic's care.

"Yes," the landowner answered rather hesitantly, "a hundred pieces of gold."

"Well, why don't you just go and see if it's still safe?" the merchant suggested.

The landowner went to the deserted hermitage, dug where he had left his money, and found it gone. Rushing back to the merchant, he cried, "It's not there!"

"The thief is certainly that long-haired rascal of an ascetic," said the merchant. "Let's catch him."

The two men ran after the rogue and quickly caught him. They kicked him and beat him until he showed them where he had hidden the gold. After they had gotten back the money, the merchant looked at the coins and scornfully asked the ascetic, "Why didn't this hundred pieces of gold trouble your conscience as much as that straw? Take care, you hypocrite, never to play such a trick again!"

When his life ended, the merchant passed away to fare according to his deserts.
When he had ended his lesson, the Buddha said, "Thus you see, monks, that this monk was as conniving in the past as he is today." Then he identified the Birth by saying, "This monk was the scheming ascetic of those days, and I was the wise and good merchant."

King Goodness the Great (Perseverance)
Once upon a time, in Benares in northern India, the Enlightenment Being was born into the royal family. When he became king he was called Goodness the Great. He had earned this title by trying to do good all the time, even when the results might not benefit him. For example, he spent much of the royal treasury on the building and running of six houses of charity. In these houses good and aid were given freely to all the poor and needy who came along, even to unknown travellers. Soon king Goodness the Great became famous for his patience, loving-kindness and compassion. It was said that he loved all beings just like a father loves his young children.

Of course king Goodness observed the holy days by not eating. And naturally he practiced the ‘Five Training Steps’, giving up the five unwholesome actions. These are: destroying life, taking what is not given, doing wrong in sexual ways, speaking falsely, and losing one’s mind from alcohol. So his gentle kindness became more and more pure.

Since he wished to harm no one, King Goodness the Great even refused to imprison or injure wrongdoers. Knowing this, one of his highest ministers tried to take advantage of him. He cooked up a scheme to cheat some of the women in the royal harem. Afterwards it became known by all and was reported to the king.

He called the bad minister before him and said, ‘I have investigated and found that you have done a criminal act. Word of it has spread and you have dishonoured yourself here in Benares. So it would be better for you to go and live somewhere else. You may take all your wealth and your family. Go wherever you like and live happily there. Learn from this lesson.’

Then the minister took his family and al his belongings to the city of Kosala. Since he was very clever indeed, he worked his way up and became a minister of the king. In time he became the most trusted adviser to the King of Kosala. One day he said, ‘My lord, I came here from Benares. The city of Benares is like a beehive where the bees hive no stingers! The ruling king is very tender and weak. With only a very small army you can easily conquer the city and make it yours.’

The king doubted this, so he said, "You are my minister, but you talk like a spy who is leading me into a trap!’ He replied "No m lord. If you don’t believe me, send your best spies to examine what I say. I am not lying. When robbers are brought to the King of Benders, he gives them money, advises them not to take what is not given, and then lets them go free,"

The king decided to find out if this was true. So he sent some robbers to raid a remote border village belonging to Benares. The villagers caught the looters and brought them to King Goodness the Great. He asked them, "Why do you want to do this type of crime?"

The robbers answered, "Your worship, we are poor people. The robbers answered, "Your worship, we are poor people. There is no way to live without money. As your kingdom has plenty of workers, there is no work for us to do. So we had to loot the country in order to survive." Hearing this, the king gave them gifts of money, advised them to change their ways, and let them go free.

When the King of Kosala was told of this, he sent another gang of bandits to the streets of Benares itself. They too looted the shops and even killed some of the people. When they were captured and brought to king Goodness, he treated them just the same as the first robbers.

Learning of this, the King of Kosala began marching his troops and elephants towards Benares.

In those days the King of Benders had a mighty army which included very brave elephants. There were many ordinary soldiers, and also some that were as big as giants. It was known that they were capable of conquering all India.

The giant soldiers told King Goodness about the small invading army from Kosala. They asked permission to attack and kill them all.

But King Goodness the Great would not send them into battle. He said, "My children, do not fight just so I may remain king. If we destroy the lives of others we also destroy our own peace of mind. Why should we kill others? Let them have the kingdom if they want it so badly. I do not wish to fight."

The royal ministers said, "Our Lord, we will fight them ourselves. Don’t worry yourself. Only give us the order." But again he prevented them.

Meanwhile the King of Kosala sent him a warning, telling him to give up the kingdom or fight. King Goodness the Great sent this reply: "I do not want you to fight with me, and you do not want me to fight with you. If you want the country, you can have it. Why should we kill people just to decide the name of the king? What does it matter even the name of the country itself?"

Hearing this, the ministers came forward and pleaded, "Our Lord, let us go out with our mighty army. We will beat them with our weapons and capture them all. We are much stronger than they are. We would not have to kill any of them. And besides, if we surrender the city, the enemy army would surely kill us all!"

But King Goodness would not be moved. He refused to cause harm to anyone. He replied, "Even if you do not wish to kill, by fighting many will be injured. By accident some may die. No one knows the future - whether our attackers will kill us or not. But we do know whether our present actions are right or wrong. Therefore I will not harm, or cause others to harm, any living being!"

Then King Goodness ordered the city gates be opened up for the invaders. He took his ministers to the top floor of the palace and advised them, "Say nothing and try to remain calm."

The King of Kosala entered the city of Benares and saw that no one was against him. So he and his soldiers entered and went up to the top floor. They capture the innocent King Goodness the Great. The soldiers tied the hands of the defeated king and all of his ministers.

Then they were taken to the cemetery outside the city. They were buried up to their necks, standing straight up, with only their heads above ground. But even while the dirt was being trampled down around his neck, the Great Being remained without anger in his mind and said nothing.

Their discipline and obedience to King Goodness were so great that not a single minister spoke a word against anyone. But the King of Kosala had no mercy. He said roughly, "Come night time, let the jackals do as they please!"

And so it came to pass that, at midnight, a large band of jackals wandered into the cemetery. They could smell a feast of human flesh waiting for them.

Seeing them coming, King Goodness and his ministers shouted all at once and scared the jackals away. Twice more this happened. Then the clever jackals realised, "These men must have been put here for us to kill and eat." No longer afraid, they ignored the shouts. The jackal king walked right up to the face of King Goodness.

The king offered his throat to the beast. But before he could bite into him, the king grabbed the jackal’s chin with his teeth. No harming him, King Goodness gripped him tightly so the jackal king howled in fear. This frightened his followers and they all ran away.

Meanwhile the jackal king thrashed back and forth, trying madly to free himself from the might jaws of the human king. In so doing, he loosened the dirt packed around the king’s neck and shoulders. Then King Goodness released the screaming jackal. He was able to wiggle himself free from the loosened earth and pull himself up onto the ground. Then he freed all his frightened ministers.

Nearby there was a dead body. It just so happened that it was lying on the border of the territories claimed by two rival demons. They were arguing over the division of the body, insulting each other in ways that only demons can.

Then one demon said to the other, "Why should we continue quarrelling instead of eating? Right over there is King Goodness the Great of Benares. H is famous in all worlds for his righteousness. He will divide the dead body for us.

They dragged the body to the king and asked him to divide it between them fairly. He said, ‘My friends, I would be glad to divide this for you. But I am filthy and dirty. I must clean myself first."

The two demons used their magic powers to bring scented water, perfume, clothing, ornaments and flowers from the king’s own palace in Benares. He bathed, perfumed himself, dressed, and covered himself with ornaments and flower garlands.

The demons asked King Goodness if there was anything else they could do. He replied that he was hungry. So, again by their magic powers, the demons brought the most delicious flavoured rice in a golden bowl and perfumed drinking water in a golden cup - also from