The Javana-Hamsa Jataka: The Swiftness of Impermanence

In the Javana-Hamsa Jataka, the Bodhisatta was once a goose, the king of a flock of ninety thousand geese. One day, the King of Varanasi saw the Bodhisatta and his flock flying across the sky and, recognizing the Bodhisatta as a king among geese, wished to meet him. The king gathered garlands, perfumes, and lotions, and set out in a grand procession with musicians to find the Bodhisatta. Touched by the king’s respect, the Bodhisatta befriended him, and occasionally even sprinkled the king with water and sandalwood powder as a gesture of goodwill.

The king became very fond of the Bodhisatta and would often watch the sky, hoping to see him fly by. However, a race between the sun and two young geese in the Bodhisatta’s flock eventually became a turning point in the story.

The two youngest geese, eager to test their wings, decided to race the sun. The Bodhisatta, wise and cautious, warned them that they would surely die if they attempted such a feat. Despite his warning, the young geese were headstrong and ignored his advice. One morning, before sunrise, they flew to a mountain peak, and as the sun rose, they began their race.

The Bodhisatta, hearing of their foolishness, joined the race to protect them. He managed to rescue the first young goose, who grew faint from exhaustion, and carried him back to safety. He then returned to rescue the second young goose, who was also overcome by fatigue. Having already flown for half the day, the Bodhisatta decided to finish the race alone. He flew around the entire world while the sun remained high in the sky, pondering the pointlessness of racing and the impermanence of life.

After completing his long journey, the Bodhisatta landed at the king’s palace, where the king welcomed him with great honors—golden seats, sweet rice, and refined ointments. The king was eager to see the Bodhisatta fly faster than the sun, but the Bodhisatta, though acknowledging the king’s admiration, explained that no one could see him fly faster than the sun. However, he came up with a demonstration to show his swiftness.

The king’s four best archers stood with their backs to a stone column in the royal courtyard. They simultaneously shot arrows in the four directions. The Bodhisatta, perched atop the column, caught all four arrows before they hit the ground. He laid the arrows at the feet of the archers and returned to his perch. His speed was so great that the king never saw him move, but he heard the tinkling of the bell around the Bodhisatta’s neck.

Impressed, the king asked if there was anything faster than the Bodhisatta. The Bodhisatta replied, “There is something far faster than me—the decay of the elements of life.” He explained that the world of form is constantly decaying and that death comes swiftly for all beings.

Upon hearing this, the king was struck by the realization of his mortality and fainted. When revived, the king asked the Bodhisatta to stay in the city and become his teacher, helping him to live righteously. The Bodhisatta, however, declined, explaining that friendship is fleeting and that if he stayed in the palace, the king would lose interest in him and might even become careless or indulgent. The Bodhisatta promised to visit again one day, but for now, he would return to his mountain home.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha:

The Buddha once told the Parable of the Strong Men to his followers. He described four great archers standing at the four points of the compass, shooting arrows in the four directions, and a man who could catch all four arrows before they fell to the ground. This man would be the fastest of all. However, the Buddha pointed out that even this man, or the gods who can outrun the sun and moon, are slower than the decay of life.

The Buddha explained that the decay of the elements that make up life is one hundred thousand times faster than anything the physical world can produce. And because death is inevitable, one must always be mindful of the impermanence of life.

When some of his disciples praised him for this lesson on impermanence, the Buddha humbly explained that it was not a remarkable feat for him, as Buddhas possess perfect knowledge. He then recounted the Javana-Hamsa Jataka to show that he had once taught the same lesson before attaining omniscience as a Buddha.

The king in this story was an earlier birth of Ananda, one of the Buddha’s closest disciples. The two young geese were earlier births of Moggallana and Sariputta, two other prominent disciples of the Buddha. The rest of the geese in the flock were earlier births of the Buddha’s followers, all of whom shared the same teachings on the impermanence of life.

Moral Reflection:

The Javana-Hamsa Jataka teaches a profound lesson about impermanence and the fleeting nature of life. While the Bodhisatta’s swiftness was a marvel to the king, the true lesson he imparted was that nothing in life—no matter how fast or impressive—is faster than the decay of life. Every element of our existence is subject to change and ultimately, death.

The king’s reaction to this realization—fainting and contemplating his mortality—reminds us all that awareness of our own impermanence is an essential part of wisdom. The Bodhisatta’s decision to decline the king’s offer to stay in the palace further underscores the idea that friendship, status, and material wealth are ultimately fleeting. True wisdom lies in recognizing the transient nature of all things and in living in accordance with righteousness.

This story serves as a reminder to value the present moment, to reflect on our actions, and to live with the understanding that all things are subject to decay. By cultivating awareness of impermanence, we can avoid attachment and suffering, and live more mindfully in the face of life’s inevitable changes.

Final Takeaway:

The Javana-Hamsa Jataka encourages us to focus on the impermanence of life. While we may pursue achievements, status, and admiration, we must recognize that these too will pass. The speed with which life decays is the true swiftness, and it is through understanding this that we can live in harmony with the world around us, free from the attachments that cause suffering. The Bodhisatta’s lesson to the king and to all beings is clear: impermanence is the only true constant, and we must live with mindfulness, wisdom, and righteousness, aware of our own inevitable mortality.