Avariya Jataka: Wisdom, Patience, and Ignorance

The Avariya Jataka tells the story of the Bodhisatta, who was once an ascetic living a life of simplicity in the Himalayas. One day, he descended into the city to collect salt and vinegar. He chose to sleep in the royal park, where the king happened to see him the next morning while he was out gathering alms. The king, impressed by the Bodhisatta’s serene and noble demeanor, invited him to the palace for a meal. They spoke, and the Bodhisatta shared teachings on how to rule righteously with patience, kindness, and compassion, and how to avoid anger.

As a token of his appreciation, the king offered the Bodhisatta a village that generated an income of one hundred thousand coins. However, the Bodhisatta was not interested in worldly possessions and refused the king’s offer, choosing instead to continue his simple life. For twelve years, the Bodhisatta lived in the park, teaching the king and offering wisdom on virtuous living.

Eventually, the Bodhisatta felt it was time to travel. He journeyed to the Ganges River, where he boarded a ferry operated by a foolish ferryman. The ferryman collected the fare from passengers only after they had crossed the river, and because of this, passengers often refused to pay, leading to arguments. When the Bodhisatta was asked what he would pay for the ferry ride, he responded, “I will give you advice on how to increase your wealth, welfare, and virtue.”

Once across the river, the Bodhisatta offered the ferryman this advice: “To increase your wealth, collect the fare before you take passengers across. To increase your welfare and virtue, do not get angry.” However, the ferryman, expecting money in addition to the advice, became angry and insulted the Bodhisatta. In a fit of rage, he threw the Bodhisatta to the ground, sat on his chest, and punched him in the mouth.

The Bodhisatta’s reaction highlights a key lesson: some people are so filled with ignorance and pride that they cannot recognize the value of wise counsel. It is as if you are giving gold to animals, who are incapable of appreciating its worth.

The ferryman’s wife, witnessing the attack, tried to intervene and urged him to stop. In a fit of rage, the ferryman turned on her, knocking her to the ground and causing her to miscarry. He was eventually arrested and brought before the king, where he was punished for his actions.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

The ferryman in this story was an earlier birth of a ferryman during the time of the Buddha. One of the Buddha’s disciples, who lived in the countryside, was traveling to see the Buddha but arrived late. When he tried to cross a river, the same ferryman told him to wait until morning to cross. The disciple, however, insisted on crossing immediately. The ferryman took him across, but because of his poor navigation and slow pace, the boat took on water, causing the disciple’s robe to get wet, and he was unable to meet the Buddha that day.

The next day, when the disciple explained the situation to the Buddha, the Buddha shared this story with him. He told the disciple that the ferryman had also been a foolish and ignorant man in the past, just as he was in that moment. This story served as a reminder that ignorance and lack of wisdom can hinder progress and prevent one from realizing their true potential.

The king in this story, who invited the Bodhisatta into his palace and offered him a village, was an earlier birth of Ananda, one of the Buddha’s closest disciples.

Moral of the Story

The Avariya Jataka illustrates the danger of ignorance and how it can lead to poor decisions, missed opportunities, and even harm to others. The ferryman’s inability to accept wise advice, even when it was given freely, caused him to act out of anger and frustration, leading to tragic consequences for his wife and himself. This story serves as a cautionary tale, showing the importance of being open to wisdom, even when it comes in forms we may not immediately recognize as valuable.

The Bodhisatta’s wisdom highlights that self-control, patience, and the ability to listen to advice are essential virtues. The refusal to heed wise counsel is likened to a refusal to accept gold, even when it is offered to you freely, which is both foolish and shortsighted.

Lessons for Buddhist Practice

This Jataka teaches several core principles of Buddhist practice:

• Self-awareness and Humility: Recognizing when one is acting out of ignorance or pride is the first step toward transformation. The ferryman in the story acted out of pride and did not recognize the value of the Bodhisatta’s advice, which ultimately led to his downfall.
• Patience and Self-Control: The Bodhisatta embodies patience and self-control in the face of adversity. He is able to offer wisdom even to those who are hostile or unwilling to listen, teaching that wise individuals do not react with anger but respond with calmness and understanding.
• The Consequences of Ignorance: Ignorance leads to poor decisions, which can cause harm not only to the ignorant individual but to others as well. In the Buddhist path, learning to let go of ignorance through mindfulness, meditation, and study is key to personal growth and liberation.
• Generosity of Spirit: The Bodhisatta’s willingness to offer advice rather than wealth highlights the generosity of spirit that is valued in Buddhism. True wealth is not in material possessions, but in wisdom, compassion, and the ability to help others on their spiritual path.

By cultivating wisdom, patience, and the openness to learning, we can avoid the pitfalls of ignorance and achieve a life of peace and fulfillment.