Saketa Jataka: Buddha’s Past Life Family Cycle Revealed

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was involved in a unique and complex cycle of family relationships. He was born as the son, nephew, and grandson of the same man in 1,500 successive lives, with 500 lives for each of these relationships. This cycle repeated itself, and he was then born into the same three relationships (son, nephew, and grandson) to the same man in another 1,500 successive lives.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

During the Buddha’s travels, he encountered a stranger who threw himself at the Buddha’s feet and addressed him as “son.” The man asked why the Buddha had not visited for such a long time and insisted that the Buddha should come to his house to see his “mother.” When the Buddha accepted their hospitality, the woman also fell at his feet and criticized him for being away so long.After the Buddha gave a sermon about old age, he left the house. The disciples traveling with the Buddha were confused about why this family did not recognize the Buddha’s real parents and why the Buddha did not correct them.To clarify this situation, the Buddha told them the story of the Saketa Jataka. He explained that the man and woman were individuals with whom he had shared the complex cycle of family relationships in earlier births, as described above. This story helped the disciples understand the deep and recurring connections between the Buddha and this family across multiple lifetimes.

Moral

The Saketa Jataka teaches us about the intricate and often mysterious nature of karma and the cycles of rebirth. The story highlights the idea that relationships can be deeply intertwined across multiple lifetimes, reflecting the Buddhist concept of samsara and the interconnectedness of all beings. This tale underscores the importance of understanding and accepting the complexities of past lives and their influences on present relationships, while also emphasizing the Buddha’s compassion and wisdom in dealing with such situations.