Jataka Tales 2: Vannupatha

Vannupatha Jataka Once the Buddha was residing in the Jetavana Monastery, the heir of a family in Savatthi came and heard a discourse given by Buddha. He relized that lusts cause suffering, and so he requested and was admitted as a novice Buddhist monk. After five years of training and about to receive the higher ordination, he got a suitable subject for his meditation practice from the Buddha. Then he retired to a forest and passed the rainy season there. He practiced hard for three months but could not develop a glimmer of insight. The thought came to him that the Buddha has taught there were four types of men and that he must belong to the lowest type, for whom there is neither Path or Fruit. He decided he would go back and inform the Buddha about it. Then he would spend his life just to be in the presence of the Buddha, to behold his glory and to listen to his discourses.

So he went back to Jetavana.

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On his return, other monks who were his friends and companions saw him and they thought he had won the highest Fruit. He admitted to them that he had failed and had come back. They commented on his faint-heartedness and brought him into the Buddha’s presence.

When the Buddha asked: ”Venerable Sir, after devoting yourself to so absolutely true a doctrine, this monk had given up the solitary life of a sage. Now he is back.”

Then the Buddha questioned him: “Is it true, that they say you have given up persevering?”

He replied: “It is true, Venerable Sir.” “Bur how is it that having devoted yourself to such a doctrine, you should show yourself as one lacking in preservance? Was it not you who

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were stouthearted in bygone days? Was it not by you single-handed, due to your perserverance in a desert, that men and oxen belonging to a caravan of several hundred carts obtained water and were made happy? And how is it, that now, you are giving in to this faint-heartedness?”

When this monk heard the Buddha’s words, he felt revived and was encouraged to go on with his solitary meditation.

The monks who were there, upon hearing these words, requested the Buddha to tell them the story of the past about this monk’s perserverance and how the men and oxen got water and were made happy.

So the Buddha said: “Listen then.” Having got their attention He told this story.

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Story of the past Once when Brahmadatta was king in Benares in Kasi, the Bodhisatta was born in a trader’s family. After he grew up, he too became a trader.

He also travelled about the trade with several hundred carts filled with goods. Then on one occasion he came to a desert of sand about sixty leagues across.

The sand was so fine that it could through the fingers of a closed fist. When the sun rose, the ground got so hot that none could walk on it.

Travellers had to carry all that they needed with them. People could pass through it only at night.

Therefore, as soon as dawn breaks the men in the Bodhisatta’s caravan formed a circle with their carts, raised awnings above them. After an early meal they would sit in the shade all

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day. When the sun went down they would cook their evening meal and when the ground became cool, the convoy would move on. It was not easy to travel at night. However, they had an experienced man who used the stars to pilot them through the desert.

One day they camped at a certain place. By all be out of terrible desert. After the evening meal, he ordered his men to throw away the extra wood and water that they would not need in order to lighten their load. Then yoking up their oxen they set out. The guide was seated in the front cart where he could look up at the stars and direct the men driving the lead oxen. However, the pilot had not had enough sleep during the journey. Tired out, he fell asleep. The result was that he did not check in which direction they were heading. Meanwhile, the

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oxen had turned back in the darkness. As dawn approached when the sun was still over the horizon, the pilot woke up. He saw the star overhead and in panic shouted for them to turn the oxen around. As the carts started to turn the early morning light showed that they had returned to the site of their last camp. The men quickly circled their carts, spread awing to protect their oxen and goods, and flung themselves beneath their carts, moaning and wailing at their desperate situation.

The Bodhisatta decided that he had to do something quickly. Otherwise, they would all die there from the terrible heat. While it was still cool he surveyed his surrounding and found some desert grass growing. He thought that grass could only grow because there was some water beneath. He ordered his men to dig there. With several hundred men taking turns to dig, they

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soon dug sixty cubits deep. Suddenly their spades struck a large slab of rock. Everybody lost heart. But the Bodhisatta felt sure that there was water beneath it. He descended into the hole and putting his ear close to it, listened and caught the sound of water flowing under it.

Calling his servant lad, he said: “My boy, if you give in we still all die. Take heart and courage.

Take this sledge-hammer, go down there and with all your heart break the rock.”

Loyal and obedient to his master’s wish, the young man went down and struck the rock with all his might. It split and fell in. Up rose the water till it was as deep as the height of a tree. The sight gladdened all of them. They drank and bathed happily. They waited for the sun to set.

Then they used their spares, wheels, axles, yokes and anything else that burns as fuel to

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cook their meal. They fed and yoked up the oxen. Before they left they hoisted a flag by the well to mark it. Then they travelled to their destination. They bartered their goods for a very good profit, and were able to return home safety and to live out their live happily. As for the Bodhisatta, his life was spent meaningfully doing charity and other good works and in the end passed away.

End of story of the past After narrating the story the Buddha said: “Those who dug deep without being tired found water. The seeker after Truth too should continue courageously until he finds Peace.”

After this the Buddha preached a sermon, at the end which the faint-hearted monk attained Arahatship. The faint-hearted Bhikku was the personal servant of the past story.

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