The Mora Jataka: A Golden Peacock’s Lesson on Desire and Wisdom

The Mora Jataka centers on themes of desire, temptation, wisdom, and the power of spiritual integrity. In this story, the Bodhisatta is born as a golden peacock, and through his experience, the narrative explores the dangers of unbridled desires and the importance of maintaining spiritual discipline, even in the face of worldly allure.

The Story:

In a previous life, the Bodhisatta was a golden peacock who lived in the remote Dandaka Forest, far from human civilization. To ensure his safety, he remained in the forest and would recite two protective spells each day: one in worship of the sun and another to honor the past Buddhas. These daily rituals exemplified his spiritual commitment and his desire for protection from harm.

One day, the queen of the kingdom had a dream in which she saw a golden peacock preaching to her. Upon awakening, she told the king of her vision and expressed a deep desire to see the golden peacock in real life. The king, eager to please her, consulted his chaplains, who confirmed that such a bird existed. The king sent a hunter to capture the peacock, but for seven years, despite setting snares around the peacock’s feeding grounds, the Bodhisatta was protected by his spiritual practices. Even when he stepped into the traps, they would not close on him.

Sadly, the queen died from grief, her wish unfulfilled. In her sorrow, the king had an inscription made on a golden tablet proclaiming that the golden peacock lived in the Dandaka Forest and that anyone who ate its flesh would gain immortality and remain forever young.

Following the death of the king, each of his successors continued the search for the peacock, but none succeeded in capturing him. However, a clever hunter was eventually employed by the next king. This hunter observed that the snares did not work, so he devised a new plan: he captured and trained a peahen to dance to the sound of clapping and to cry out when the hunter snapped his fingers.

Early the next morning, the hunter went to the forest and snapped his fingers. The Bodhisatta, hearing the peahen’s call, was filled with desire and went in search of her. In his pursuit, he was caught in the hunter’s net.

The hunter brought the Bodhisatta to the king, who was overjoyed at the capture. Before the Bodhisatta was killed, the king sat with him and questioned him. The Bodhisatta explained that his golden color was not a magical enchantment, and eating him would not grant immortality because, like all beings, he was not immortal. He then revealed his true identity: that he had once been the king of that very realm, but after his death, he was reborn as a peacock due to some sin from his past life. The golden color he wore was a result of the five precepts he had kept when he ruled—both in himself and in his kingdom.

The king was astonished and asked for proof. The Bodhisatta directed him to a jeweled chariot buried in the royal lake. The king ordered the lake drained, and indeed, the chariot was found, just as the Bodhisatta had said. Realizing the truth of the Bodhisatta’s words, the king’s heart was filled with peace and spiritual understanding.

The king, now a changed man, offered his kingdom to the Bodhisatta, asking him to rule. However, the Bodhisatta refused the offer, choosing instead to return to his forest home where he could continue to live a life of spiritual practice and peace.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha:

In the time of the Buddha, one of his disciples began to lust after a woman who wore beautiful clothes. The disciple became so distracted by his desires that he could no longer focus on his study of the dharma. The Buddha, seeing that the disciple was struggling with temptation, told him this story of his past life as the golden peacock. The Buddha used this tale to show how easily a person could be led astray by desire, even in his previous lives, despite his spiritual attainment. The lesson was clear: desire, if unchecked, can lead one away from the path of spiritual progress.

The king who encountered the golden peacock in this story was later identified as Ananda, one of the Buddha’s top disciples. Ananda was known for his deep wisdom and devotion, and this story highlights the potential for spiritual growth and transformation, even in the face of worldly temptations.

Moral Lessons:

1. The Dangers of Desire: The Bodhisatta’s encounter with the peahen illustrates how desire can lead one astray, even if one is spiritually disciplined. Despite his years of reciting protection spells and maintaining a virtuous life, the Bodhisatta was momentarily overcome by his longing for the peahen, leading to his capture.
2. Spiritual Integrity: The Bodhisatta’s explanation to the king that his golden hue was due to his past adherence to the five precepts emphasizes the importance of spiritual integrity and how virtuous actions in one’s past life can shape future lives. Living in accordance with moral principles brings peace and purity.
3. The Illusion of Immortality: The king’s belief that eating the golden peacock would grant immortality reflects a common illusion held by many people: that external things or mystical powers can offer eternal life. The Bodhisatta dispels this myth, teaching that true immortality is found not in the body, but in the cultivation of virtue and spiritual wisdom.
4. The Role of Temptation: The story is also a reminder of how easily one can become distracted by worldly desires, whether they are for pleasure, wealth, or power. The Buddha’s disciple’s distraction by a woman’s beauty parallels the Bodhisatta’s moment of weakness, showing that desire can cause one to lose focus on the higher path of dharma.
5. The Power of True Wisdom: The transformation of the king, from a man driven by worldly desires to one who seeks spiritual wisdom, shows the healing power of wisdom. When the king realized the truth of the Bodhisatta’s words, his heart was filled with peace, demonstrating that understanding and spiritual insight can bring about profound change in one’s life.
6. Generosity of Spirit: Despite the king’s offer to rule, the Bodhisatta’s decision to return to the forest highlights the importance of choosing a life of inner peace over external rewards. The Bodhisatta demonstrates the virtue of renunciation—the ability to choose spiritual development over worldly gain.

Conclusion:

The Mora Jataka teaches powerful lessons about desire, temptation, and the importance of maintaining spiritual integrity. The story warns of the dangers of being led astray by worldly temptations, but also highlights the transformative power of wisdom. Through his actions, the Bodhisatta shows how one can live with virtue, humility, and peace, and how understanding and following the five precepts can lead to spiritual fulfillment. The tale also emphasizes that immortality and true happiness are not found in physical beauty or material gains, but in spiritual wisdom and virtuous living.