Bodhisatta and the Kimpakka Tree: The Danger of Desires

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was once a merchant who led many oxcarts on trading expeditions to distant lands. During one of these trips, the caravan had to pass through a vast and dangerous forest. The Bodhisatta warned his men about the presence of trees with poisonous fruit, advising them not to eat anything unfamiliar until they had checked with him.Despite this warning, some of the men came upon a kimpakka tree, which closely resembled a mango tree. Some of them, tempted by the fruit’s appearance, ate it without waiting for the Bodhisatta’s approval. Others, however, heeded the warning and waited.When the Bodhisatta arrived, he identified the tree as a kimpakka tree and immediately gave the men who had eaten the fruit a medicine to make them vomit. While some of the men survived due to this prompt action, those who had eaten the fruit first died from its poisonous effects.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

This tale has a significant connection to the Buddha’s later life. One day, while on an alms round, one of the Buddha’s disciples saw a beautifully dressed woman and was aroused by her appearance. The Buddha, aware of his disciple’s thoughts, told him this story to teach a valuable lesson.The Buddha explained that desires, much like the kimpakka fruit, are sweet and appealing in the beginning but ultimately lead to ruin and suffering. This story was meant to caution the disciple against the dangers of succumbing to desires and to emphasize the importance of maintaining mindfulness and self-control.

Earlier Births

The people of the caravan in the story were revealed to be earlier births of the Buddha’s disciples. This connection highlights the recurring theme of the Buddha’s interactions with his followers across different lifetimes and the consistent lessons he taught them about the nature of desire and suffering.

Moral

The Kimpakka Jataka teaches us about the dangers of unchecked desires and the importance of self-control. The story emphasizes that while desires may seem appealing at first, they can lead to severe consequences if not managed wisely. The Bodhisatta’s actions serve as a model for how to protect others from harm and the importance of timely intervention. This tale underscores the Buddhist principle of recognizing the potential harm in desires and the need to cultivate mindfulness and wisdom to avoid suffering.