Bodhisatta’s Lesson: The Merchant and Ingratitude

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was once a wealthy merchant. He had a business correspondence with a merchant from a border region, although they had never met in person. When the border merchant sent a large caravan to trade merchandise with the Bodhisatta, he lodged these men in his city and provided them with spending money, showing them great hospitality.However, when the Bodhisatta sent his own caravan to trade with the border merchant, he was not treated with the same courtesy. The border merchant did not provide food, lodging, or even simple courtesy to the Bodhisatta’s men.The next time the border merchant sent a caravan to trade with the Bodhisatta, his men were instructed to set up camp outside the city, with the promise that provisions would be sent later. But instead of providing provisions, the Bodhisatta’s men came late at night and looted the caravan, taking everything of value, including the wagon wheels.When the Bodhisatta heard what his men had done, he told the crowd around him that ungrateful people get what they deserve, highlighting the consequences of not reciprocating kindness.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

This tale has a significant connection to the Buddha’s later life. Anathapindika, a wealthy supporter of the Buddha known for his extreme generosity, told the Buddha about a recent experience. He had treated some workers of a merchant from the border region very generously, but when his own men went to the border region, they did not receive the same courtesy in return. In fact, when the merchant sent a second caravan, Anathapindika’s men stole everything from it.The Buddha, aware of the situation, told Anathapindika this story to illustrate that he himself had once had the exact same interactions with an earlier birth of the border merchant. This narrative served to remind Anathapindika that such behavior was not new and that the border merchant had a history of ingratitude.

Moral

The Akatannu Jataka teaches us about the importance of reciprocity and the consequences of ingratitude. The story emphasizes that kindness and generosity should be met with similar treatment, and that those who fail to reciprocate will ultimately face negative consequences. The Bodhisatta’s actions serve as a model for how to handle situations where kindness is not returned, while the border merchant’s fate serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of ingratitude. This tale underscores the Buddhist principle of karma, where actions have consequences, and the importance of treating others with the same respect and kindness that one expects to receive.