The Kanha Jataka: Spiritual Purity and Selflessness

In the Kanha Jataka, the Bodhisatta was once a wealthy brahmin who, after giving away all his possessions, forsook the material world in pursuit of spiritual enlightenment. He sought to attain heaven after death by living a life of purity and asceticism. He left behind his former life and traveled to the Himalayas, where he lived in total austerity. He slept under a tree without a hut, ate only uncooked fruits, flowers, leaves, and bark from the tree, and took just one meal a day. His life was one of total simplicity and dedication to his spiritual practice.

Over time, the Bodhisatta developed great spiritual powers and lived in a state of bliss, free from all worldly desires. His virtuous life was so pure that the throne of Indra, the king of the gods, became warm. Indra, noticing this, realized that it was due to the Bodhisatta’s spiritual greatness. Deciding to visit him, Indra appeared before the Bodhisatta, but before revealing his true identity, he tested his resolve.

Indra, disguised and unseen, insulted the Bodhisatta, criticizing him for his dark skin. Despite the insult, the Bodhisatta, who knew it was Indra, responded calmly, explaining that the darkness of his skin was a result of past sins, but in this life, he was pure of heart. He then began to speak of virtue and the importance of living a righteous life.

Impressed by the Bodhisatta’s equanimity, Indra offered him a reward, asking him to make a wish. The Bodhisatta, having few desires, asked only to be free from malice, hatred, desire, and lust. Indra, pleased with his request, granted this wish and offered him two more. The Bodhisatta requested good health and that all creatures might live without harm. Indra, deeply moved by the Bodhisatta’s wisdom and purity, granted the wishes and made his tree bear fruit endlessly. After paying his respects, Indra returned to heaven, leaving the Bodhisatta to continue his life in bliss and meditation, undisturbed by worldly desires.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha: The Buddha’s Reflection on His Past Life

In the lifetime of the Buddha, one day while the Buddha and his disciples were walking, Ananda, the Buddha’s chief disciple, noticed the Buddha smiling. Curious, Ananda asked why the Buddha smiled. The Buddha explained that he had once lived as an ascetic in that very spot, just as he had in his past life, when the throne of Indra grew warm because of his virtuous meditation and purity. The Buddha then recounted the story of the Kanha Jataka to his disciples, revealing that Indra was an earlier birth of Anuruddha, one of the Buddha’s closest and most enlightened disciples.

Moral of the Story:

The Kanha Jataka teaches that a life of pure virtue, selflessness, and spiritual dedication leads to profound peace and happiness, free from desire and malice. The Bodhisatta’s ascetic life, free from attachments and worldly concerns, demonstrated the highest ideals of spiritual practice. His wishes reflected his deep compassion for all living beings, not selfish desires.

Indra’s visit to the Bodhisatta symbolizes the recognition of true spiritual merit by the divine, and the Bodhisatta’s requests for wishes highlight the profound selflessness and wisdom that come with spiritual purity. By living a life of simplicity and virtue, the Bodhisatta attained not only heavenly blessings but also a state of everlasting bliss and peace. This Jataka emphasizes the importance of inner purity and renunciation of worldly desires in attaining spiritual liberation.