The Five Fasts Jataka: Overcoming Personal Flaws through Self-Discipline

Once, in a dense forest, the Bodhisatta was born as an ascetic. He lived in a humble hut, surrounded by a group of unlikely neighbors: a pigeon, a snake, a jackal, and a bear. These animals, drawn to his wisdom, often listened to him preach, learning valuable lessons from his words. One day, however, each of them suffered misfortune, and they all came to the Bodhisatta for counsel, each with a vow not to eat until they had overcome a deep inner flaw.

The pigeon, while foraging with his mate, was struck by the cruel fate of a hawk that swooped down and carried her away. Devastated by the loss, the pigeon swore that he would not eat again until he had learned to overcome his sorrow and the desires that led to such suffering.

The snake, while basking in the sun, was startled by a playful white bull. In his panic, the snake tried to retreat into his hole but was accidentally crushed by the bull’s heavy hooves. In a fit of rage, the snake bit the bull, killing it instantly. Later, when the villagers mourned the bull’s death and buried it with honor, the snake was filled with guilt. He vowed to fast until he could subdue his anger and learn compassion.

The jackal, scavenging the forest, found a dead elephant. He eagerly gnawed at the trunk, tail, and tusks but found them too tough. However, when he bit into the elephant’s anus, he discovered it soft and easy to chew. He ate greedily, enjoying the feast for days, until his greed trapped him inside the elephant’s body. The jackal’s contentment quickly turned to suffering as he became stuck, his body bruised and his fur scraped off from trying to escape. Ashamed of his greed, the jackal vowed not to eat until he had learned to control his desires.

The bear, hungry after leaving the forest in search of food, found himself driven to a village. The villagers, frightened by his appearance, attacked him, leaving him covered in wounds. Humiliated and in pain, the bear vowed not to eat again until he had overcome his own greed and desire for vengeance.

As the four animals lay beside the Bodhisatta’s hut, lamenting their individual misfortunes, a private Buddha from the Himalayas, a being who had attained enlightenment on his own, divined the Bodhisatta’s future. He saw that the Bodhisatta was destined to be a perfect Buddha, but his pride in his noble birth had kept him from attaining full mystic ecstasy. The private Buddha descended from his mountain retreat to teach the Bodhisatta a vital lesson.

Upon seeing the stranger sitting on his stone slab, the Bodhisatta, filled with pride, angrily shouted, “Curse you, you good-for-nothing, bald hypocrite! Why are you sitting on my seat?” The private Buddha calmly introduced himself and explained that the Bodhisatta would one day fulfill the ten perfections of character and become a perfect Buddha named Siddhartha. He reminded the Bodhisatta that his current noble birth was of no consequence in the face of his spiritual destiny.

Shocked by the private Buddha’s words, the Bodhisatta was filled with grief. His pride had robbed him of the opportunity to learn more from the Buddha and to bow before him in humility. He vowed not to eat again until he had conquered his pride.

The Bodhisatta retreated to his leaf hut, sitting on a bed of twigs and meditating until he entered a deep state of trance. In this mystic ecstasy, he overcame his pride and gained the wisdom he sought. When he emerged from his meditation, he went to speak with the four animals, asking them why they were fasting. They shared their reasons with him, and the Bodhisatta explained his own vow to overcome pride. The animals, seeing the Bodhisatta’s transformation, were inspired to continue their own fasting until they too overcame their flaws.

In time, the five beings—the Bodhisatta and the four animals—attained spiritual purity, and when their lives came to an end, they ascended together to heaven, where they enjoyed the fruits of their virtuous deeds.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha:
The Buddha once gave a sermon on the importance of observing holy days, especially to his lay followers. He told this story to emphasize that fasting and keeping sacred traditions were not just physical acts but deeply spiritual practices. These traditions, he explained, help to subdue the passions and desires that lead to suffering, and can guide one toward enlightenment.

The pigeon, snake, jackal, and bear were later born as four of the Buddha’s most esteemed disciples: Anuruddha, Sariputta, Moggallana, and Maha Kassapa, respectively.

Moral:
This story teaches the importance of self-discipline and the power of overcoming personal flaws. Each of the animals’ vows to fast represents a commitment to overcoming their own desires—whether grief, anger, greed, or vengeance. The Bodhisatta’s journey to conquer his pride underscores the e