The Ananusociya Jataka: Embracing Impermanence

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was an ascetic living with his wife in the Himalayas. Though he had no interest in marriage, his parents insisted that he take a wife. To satisfy them, he had a golden statue made in the image of a woman and declared that he would only marry someone as beautiful as the statue. His parents, eager to fulfill his wish, sent the statue across India in a carriage, instructing their emissaries to exchange the statue for the hand of a woman who matched its beauty.

Eventually, a young woman, as pure and beautiful as a celestial nymph, was found, and she was said to resemble the golden statue perfectly. Much like the Bodhisatta, this woman did not wish to marry, but her parents forced her into the arrangement. The exchange was made, and she became the Bodhisatta’s wife. Together, they lived a virtuous and celibate life, as though they were saints.

When the Bodhisatta’s parents passed away, he and his wife renounced their worldly possessions and gave away their wealth. One day, while traveling to a city to gather salt and seasoning, they took up residence in the royal park. However, after eating some low-quality rice, the Bodhisatta’s wife became gravely ill with dysentery.

On the morning of her death, the Bodhisatta, realizing her condition, carried her to the city gate and laid her on a bench before going out on his alms round. When he returned, he found a crowd of people gathered around her, crying in sorrow. Without showing any sign of grief, he calmly sat on the bench beside his wife and began to eat his meal.

The people were shocked by his lack of sorrow. In response, the Bodhisatta calmly explained the impermanence of life, teaching that death is inevitable, and that grief and sorrow serve no purpose in the face of such a natural event. He reminded them that everything in the world is transient and that it is best to accept loss without attachment.

After his teaching, the people gave his wife a proper funeral, and the Bodhisatta, now alone, returned to the Himalayas.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha
In the Buddha’s time, a landowner’s wife died, and the landowner fell into deep sorrow. He neglected his work, stopped caring for his fields, and spent all his time wandering the cemetery, mourning her loss. The Buddha, seeing the landowner’s deep grief, realized that the man was ready for spiritual guidance.

After completing his alms round one day, the Buddha visited the grieving man. He taught him that all things in life are impermanent, and that attachment to things or people inevitably leads to suffering. He explained that grief over loss is futile because it only increases suffering and prevents one from accepting the natural course of life.

To help him understand, the Buddha shared the Ananusociya Jataka, recounting the loss of his own wife in a past life and how he had come to understand the nature of impermanence. The landowner, upon hearing the story and receiving the Buddha’s wisdom, was able to overcome his sorrow and find peace.

Moral of the Story
The Ananusociya Jataka teaches the impermanence of life and the futility of grief in the face of death. The story highlights the importance of acceptance and detachment, encouraging us to recognize the transient nature of all things. Sorrow and attachment, the Bodhisatta teaches, do not benefit us; only understanding and acceptance of impermanence can lead to peace.