The Jackal’s Nature: Consequences of Actions

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was an ascetic with many followers. Every night, a jackal would come and foul their well, making the water undrinkable. One night, some of the ascetics caught the jackal and brought him before the Bodhisatta. The Bodhisatta asked why the jackal was doing this. The jackal replied that it was the nature of his kind to spoil the places where they drank, explaining that his father and grandfather had done the same. He urged them not to be angry, as it was simply in his nature.

The Bodhisatta, however, was not moved. He condemned the jackals as foul creatures and told the one before him to leave and never return.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

In the Buddha’s time, a jackal had a similar habit of fouling a well at the monastery. When some novices saw the jackal, they pelted him with clods of dirt, and after that, the jackal never returned. Later, when the Buddha heard his disciples discussing the event, he told them that this same jackal had previously spoiled a well in the past, in the time of his ascetic life.

Moral of the Story

The Udapana-Dusaka Jataka teaches several lessons:

1. The Nature of Beings: The jackal’s explanation that spoiling the well was in his nature reflects the idea that certain habits or behaviors can be deeply ingrained in individuals or species. The Bodhisatta’s condemnation of the jackal highlights how some negative behaviors can be seen as innate, though they can still have negative consequences.
2. Justice and Consequences: The Bodhisatta’s response suggests that actions, regardless of the nature of the being committing them, must be addressed. The jackal’s behavior could not be excused because it was simply part of his nature; it still affected the well and the ascetics. This implies that behavior, even when habitual, can and should be corrected.
3. Repetition of Events Across Lifetimes: The Buddha’s story about the same jackal appearing in different lives shows the concept of repetition in karmic cycles. Even when actions are repeated over time, they still carry consequences, and individuals (or beings) continue to deal with their past actions, even across lifetimes.
4. Compassion and Responsibility: While the jackal was acting according to his nature, the Bodhisatta still held him accountable. This shows that even in situations where there may be no ill intent, we are still responsible for the effects of our actions on others.

This Jataka highlights the persistence of certain traits, the need for accountability, and the long-lasting impact of actions, both across lifetimes and within a single life.