The Guna Jataka: A Lesson in Gratitude, Friendship, and Harmony

The Guna Jataka tells the story of friendship, loyalty, and the importance of gratitude and communication in resolving conflicts. It also touches on the themes of selflessness and maintaining harmony within relationships. The Bodhisatta in this Jataka is born as a lion, and the story focuses on his interaction with a jackal and their growing bond of mutual respect and support.

The Story:

In this past life, the Bodhisatta was a lion who, while out hunting, pursued a deer near a lake. The deer and other smaller animals could walk over the muddy shore, but the lion, being large and heavy, got stuck deep in the mud and couldn’t free himself. He remained trapped for seven days without anyone passing by to help him.

Finally, a jackal who was out hunting saw the lion in distress. Initially, the jackal was afraid and ran off, fearing that the lion would kill him once freed. But the lion called out to him, explaining his predicament and promising not to harm him if he helped. The jackal, realizing the sincerity of the lion’s words, agreed to help.

Together, they worked to free the lion. The jackal dug around the lion’s legs to remove the mud, and then, using his strength, pushed up with his head under the lion’s body. With both their efforts combined, the lion was freed from the mud.

After the lion cleaned himself in the lake, he hunted a buffalo and shared the meat with the jackal as a token of gratitude. The lion invited the jackal and his family to live near him, and the two families grew close, living in peace and harmony. The lion and the jackal went hunting together regularly, and their children also became good friends.

However, jealousy soon arose. The lioness, for reasons unknown, became suspicious of the jackal’s wife, imagining that there was something inappropriate between the lion and the jackal’s wife. When the lion and jackal went hunting one day, the lioness threatened the jackals, demanding they leave. The she-jackal misunderstood the threat, thinking it came from the lion himself. Terrified for their lives, she told her husband that they should leave their current home.

The jackal, upset by the lioness’s behavior, confronted the Bodhisatta. The jackal explained that it would have been more respectful for the lion to communicate directly with him rather than having his wife make such threats. The Bodhisatta, however, denied any wrongdoing and explained to his wife that the jackal had been a loyal friend. He ordered his wife to never disrespect the jackal family again.

The peace was restored, and the two families continued to live in harmony. Their friendship lasted for seven generations, and the relationship between the lion and the jackal became an enduring symbol of mutual respect and gratefulness.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha:

In the time of the Buddha, the jackal was identified as Ananda, one of the Buddha’s chief disciples. Ananda was known for his dedication and service to the Buddha, but the story also illustrates his deep gratitude for the help and kindness he received from others.

The story is linked to an event where King Bimbisara gave one thousand beautiful robes to his five hundred wives, and each wife passed one robe to Ananda as a token of respect for his role as their spiritual guide. The next day, the king asked why the robes were not being worn, and the wives explained that they had given them to Ananda.

The king, suspecting that Ananda was hoarding the robes for himself, confronted him. Ananda clarified that although he had accepted the robes, he had distributed them to other disciples in need. He explained that even old robes would be reused, first as cloaks, then shirts, bed sheets, mats, towels, and finally as pieces of fabric mixed into mortar for construction.

The king was impressed by Ananda’s generosity and the thoughtful reuse of offerings, and he gave Ananda the remaining five hundred robes. Ananda, in turn, passed these robes on to a young disciple who had been of great service to him. This act of generosity was intended to show gratitude for the disciple’s kindness, as the young man had been helping him with chores like sweeping his room, serving food, and cleaning the bathroom.

Some other disciples questioned whether it was appropriate for Ananda to give such a large gift to someone of lower status. The Buddha, hearing about this, explained that Ananda’s gift was a good deed, given out of gratitude for the disciple’s service. The Buddha further illustrated this point by recounting the story of the lion and the jackal, showing that in the past, he too had rewarded someone lower in status for their help, just as Ananda had done in this life.

Moral Lessons:

1. Gratitude and Mutual Respect: The bond between the lion and the jackal is rooted in mutual gratitude and respect. Despite their differences in size and strength, they worked together to overcome a problem, and the lion’s act of sharing the buffalo meat with the jackal illustrates the importance of showing appreciation for those who help us.
2. The Danger of Jealousy: The lioness’s jealousy represents how unchecked emotions, such as jealousy, can damage relationships. However, through honest communication and mutual understanding, conflicts can be resolved and harmony restored, as seen when the Bodhisatta addressed the issue with his wife.
3. Humility in Leadership: The Bodhisatta, as a lion and future king, exemplifies the humility of a good leader. He listens to the jackal’s concerns and ensures peace is maintained within his family, teaching that leadership requires wisdom, compassion, and fairness.
4. Generosity and Selflessness: The story of Ananda’s distribution of the robes demonstrates the importance of selflessness and gratitude in giving. By passing on the robes to someone who had helped him, Ananda exemplifies the idea that one good deed deserves another.
5. Communication and Understanding: The Bodhisatta’s ability to clarify the misunderstanding with the jackal family shows that clear communication is essential for resolving conflicts. In relationships, it’s crucial to address issues openly rather than allowing assumptions or misunderstandings to escalate.

Conclusion:

The Guna Jataka teaches important lessons about gratitude, loyalty, and the importance of communication in maintaining harmony in relationships. The story of the lion and the jackal emphasizes that true friendship is based on mutual respect and understanding. The tale also underscores the importance of selflessness and generosity, exemplified by Ananda’s act of passing on the robes to a disciple who had served him. Through these examples, the Jataka encourages cultivating strong, respectful relationships and acting with wisdom, humility, and compassion in both personal and leadership roles.