The Akalaravi Jataka: The Consequences of Poor Upbringing

In this Jataka tale, the Bodhisatta was once a teacher who had students who rose early every day, summoned by the crow of their rooster. However, when their original rooster died, the students replaced it with a new one from the cemetery. Unfortunately, the new rooster lacked any sense of time and began crowing unpredictably—both during the day and night. It disturbed the students’ sleep, rousing them at midnight and preventing them from focusing on their studies by crowing during the day.

Frustrated with the rooster’s erratic behavior, the students eventually killed it, telling the Bodhisatta of their actions. In response, the Bodhisatta explained that the rooster’s behavior was a result of poor upbringing, as no one had trained it or taught it the proper times to crow. This lack of guidance and discipline led to the rooster’s confusion, which in turn disrupted the students’ routines.

The Buddha’s Teaching

In the lifetime of the Buddha, one of his disciples was known for being disobedient and inconsiderate. This disciple caused disturbances, making loud noises throughout the night and preventing others from getting the rest they needed. The Buddha, upon hearing complaints from his other disciples, decided to explain this behavior by recounting the story of the noisy rooster.

The Buddha revealed that the noisy rooster in the Jataka tale was the previous incarnation of this disciple. The other students in the story were earlier births of the Buddha’s other disciples, who were now suffering from their companion’s disruptive behavior, just as they had suffered from the rooster’s noise in the past.

The Buddha used this story to illustrate how a lack of discipline and proper guidance could lead to disruptive and inconsiderate behavior, which would not only harm others but also prevent personal progress. By relating the story to his disciples, the Buddha showed them that their companion’s current lack of mindfulness and respect for others had roots in past lives where similar behavior had been displayed.

Moral of the Story

The Akalaravi Jataka teaches the importance of proper training, discipline, and consideration for others. Just as the rooster’s erratic behavior stemmed from a lack of guidance, the disciple’s disruptive actions in the present life were a continuation of the same poor habits from the past. This story emphasizes the need for self-awareness and mindfulness in how we interact with others, and it also highlights the impact of upbringing and the importance of learning the right behavior at an early stage.

The tale encourages the cultivation of virtues like self-control, respect for others’ needs, and mindfulness in one’s actions. It serves as a reminder that disruptive or inconsiderate behavior can have far-reaching consequences, not just in the present but across lifetimes.