The Farmer and the Gold Bar: Kancanakkhandha Jataka

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was once a farmer who lived a simple and virtuous life. One day, while plowing his field, he struck a giant gold bar that was two meters long and as thick as his thigh. This gold bar had been buried by a wealthy merchant who had died long ago.The Bodhisatta dug out the gold bar but found it too heavy to lift. He took a seat to think about his good fortune and how he could manage this newfound wealth. He decided to use some of the gold to live on, some for trading, bury some for the future, and give away some as charity.To make the gold bar more manageable, the Bodhisatta had the idea to cut it into four pieces. He then carried each piece to his home, thus distributing the wealth in a way that was both practical and beneficial.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

This tale has a significant connection to the Buddha’s later life. A man who had recently become a disciple of the Buddha felt overwhelmed by the many rules of morality he was expected to learn. Despite his desire to follow the path, he felt he would be unable to fulfill his vows and decided to return to his life as a layman.His teachers urged him to speak with the Buddha before making any decisions. The Buddha scolded the teachers for not explaining the teachings clearly and then simplified the moral rules for the disciple. He told him that there were only three key moral rules to remember: guard against doing evil through speech, thought, and action.Full of joy and relief over this insight, the disciple remained a monk and became an arahant just a few days later. When the Buddha heard his disciples discussing this event, he told them the story of the farmer and the gold bar to explain that heavy burdens become light when broken into smaller, more manageable pieces.

Moral

The Kancanakkhandha Jataka teaches us about the importance of managing tasks and responsibilities in a practical and manageable way. The story highlights that even the most daunting challenges can be overcome by breaking them down into smaller, more manageable parts. This tale underscores the Buddhist principle of simplicity and clarity in teaching and practice, emphasizing that complex rules and responsibilities can be simplified to make them more accessible and achievable.By sharing this story, the Buddha illustrated that just as the farmer made the gold bar manageable by cutting it into four pieces, one can make spiritual and moral obligations more manageable by focusing on the essential principles and breaking them down into simpler, more actionable steps.