The Clever Bird and the Persistent Hunter

The Clever Bird and the Persistent Hunter

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In the Kakkara Jataka, the Bodhisatta is born as a tree fairy and observes the following story. A hunter goes into the forest to capture birds, using a decoy to attract them. He focuses on one bird in particular, but each time he gets close, the bird flies just a little further away. In response, the hunter camouflages himself with twigs and branches, hoping to remain unseen. The bird, realizing what the hunter is doing, mocks him, calling him “dumb” for failing to catch it. The bird then flies to another location, out of the hunter’s reach, leaving him frustrated.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

In the Lifetime of the Buddha, the clever bird is identified as an earlier birth of one of the Buddha’s disciples, a man who was very careful about his health. This disciple took great care to avoid extremes of temperature, often staying inside to avoid the heat and cold, and eating only foods that were neither too hot nor too cold. One day, when the Buddha overheard other disciples discussing the health-conscious habits of this disciple, he shared this story to explain that this disciple had also been overly cautious in a past life.

The hunter, on the other hand, is identified as Devadatta, a disciple who eventually became the Buddha’s nemesis. In this past life, Devadatta is portrayed as the hunter, determined to capture the bird, but ultimately outwitted by it.

Moral Lessons and Teachings

  1. Cleverness and Wit: The bird‘s cleverness in mocking the hunter and escaping his grasp serves as a lesson in wit and intelligence. It shows that sometimes the best strategy is not to rely on brute strength or force, but to use clever tactics to outsmart one’s pursuer.
  2. Taking Care of Oneself: The health-conscious disciple‘s behavior reflects the importance of self-care, but also highlights the need for balance. While taking care of one’s health is important, becoming overly cautious or obsessing over one’s own well-being to the point of avoiding all risk may be counterproductive.
  3. Over-Cautiousness Leads to Stagnation: Both the disciple’s obsession with avoiding extremes and the hunter’s failure to catch the bird illustrate how excessive caution can lead to inability to achieve goals. The bird, in contrast, is decisive and clever, escaping the hunter by using wisdom and agility rather than relying on force.
  4. The Nature of Devadatta: The identification of the hunter as Devadatta emphasizes his persistent nature, always trying to trap and defeat others, but ultimately failing because of his lack of wisdom. Just as the hunter’s pursuit is thwarted, Devadatta’s schemes against the Buddha would ultimately fail.
  5. Humility Over Arrogance: The bird’s mockery of the hunter for being “dumb” could also be seen as a lesson in humility. The bird does not resort to brute force or violence; instead, it uses its wits and avoids being captured without causing harm. The hunter, in his arrogance, believes he can capture the bird through physical means, but the bird outsmarts him without ever being caught.

Conclusion

The Kakkara Jataka teaches the virtues of cleverness, balance, and humility. The bird’s escape from the hunter is a reminder that intelligence and quick thinking often trump strength and force. The story also reflects the importance of balance in life, particularly in terms of health and personal well-being. Over-cautiousness can be just as detrimental as recklessness. The hunter, symbolizing Devadatta, also serves as a warning against pride, arrogance, and obsession with defeating others, as these traits ultimately lead to failure and frustration.

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