Gautama Buddha's birth as Prince Siddhartha - during which he achieved Nirvana - was the final of many births as a bodhisattva, an enlightened individual who chooses to be reborn on earth so as to help others. The Jataka tales are a collection of parables that recount 547 of the Buddha's previous lives. The Buddha used these parables to describe to his followers the real meaning of his beliefs, laying down guidelines for right behavior and moral values. As storytellers passed them to wherever Buddhism took root in Asia, the Jatakas inspired art, sculpture & architecture. To this day, they remain to be performed as dances and recitals in Cambodia, Laos & Thailand.



Baka Jataka - Heron tale: One hot summer, the inhabitants of a lake became fearful for their lives as the water started drying up. A heron, sensing their alarm, thought up a plan to cheat them and guarantee a good source of provisions for him. "There's a huge lake nearby. I could fly you across," he offered. The gullible fish agreed and queued up to be flown away, one by one. Alas, none of them understood that their predecessors had already become the heron's extended lunch. Eventually, a crab was remaining.

"Why don't you come on as well?" invited the heron. "Hmmm...why is he so fascinated about an old crab like me? Something's not right. On the other hand, the pond's almost dry..." Making up his mind, the crab said, "Why, thank you. But I'm aged, I might fall off. Let me get a grip around your neck with my claws." The heron said yes and off they flew. After some time, the bird alighted |rested|sat| on a branch.

"Hey, good friend, where's the lake? And all my old friends whom you rescued?" "You'll meet them soon enough, inside my belly!" scorned the heron and made ready to kill him. But the crab tightened his grip on the heron's neck, twisting it until the heron pleaded for mercy.

"Take me back, you cheat!" The heron flew the crab back, but when it was about to release him into the pond, the crab cut the heron's neck with his pincers. The Bodhisattva, who was then a tree spirit near the pond, remarked that one always reaps the consequence of his doings - this is the law of karma. If we hurt others, we will sooner or later face the same fate. In tough times, mindfulness - as in the crab's example - will save us from danger.

Panchayudha Jataka Tale: How do you deal with a life-threatening circumstances? The best-armed man, when he tackles a stronger enemy, is likely to cringe. Can weaponry alone help him? What is genuine bravery made up of?

The Bodhisattva was once born as a son to King Brahmadatta. At his naming ceremony, the king's priests prophesied that the prince would become a good and noble ruler, famous for his five weapons.

At 16, Prince Panchayudha (Five Weapons) left home for Taxila to further his education. On completing his studies, his teacher presented him with four weapons - bow and arrows, a sword, a sharp, pointed wheel and a club. While coming back home, the prince was accosted by a fearsome, sticky-feathered ogre who took a variety of horrific shapes to scare the prince.

Panchayudha fought him with the four weapons and his own limbs and head. Alas, to no avail; all of them got stuck to the ogre's feathers. But the ogre could not kill him, transfixed as he was by the prince's expression of calmness. "Aren't you afraid of dying?" he grunted.

"Not at all. I have one weapon left - a thunderbolt in my body. Eat me and you too will be killed." Hmmm, thought the ogre... should he gamble? But this man seemed to be saying the truth. He set the prince free!

The fifth weapon that the prince alluded to was his wisdom! He then preached to the ogre, persuading him to leave his murderous ways, which would only lead to more darkness and misery in his forthcoming births. The ogre thereupon decided to become the guardian of the forest and its nearby villages. The ogre in this tale is a metaphor for ignorance and stupidity. In crisis-like situations, preached the Buddha, cool detachment and mindfulness will save us when all other options are exhausted.