The Suhanu Jataka: Lessons on Greed, Wisdom, and Leadership

The Suhanu Jataka centers on the themes of greed, wisdom, and the importance of controlling negative emotions. The Bodhisatta, in this story, acts as a king’s advisor and uses cleverness and insight to teach a valuable lesson to the king about generosity and the consequences of greed.

The Story:

In this previous life, the Bodhisatta was a wise advisor to a king. The king would consult him on various matters, including the buying of horses for the royal stables. The usual practice was that the king allowed the horse dealers to set their own prices, a method that reflected generosity and fairness. However, the king was driven by greed and wanted to buy horses at a lower cost. He decided to replace the Bodhisatta with another advisor and devised a deceptive plan to force the dealers to lower their prices.

The king released a savage, aggressive horse among the horses for sale, knowing that it would attack and injure the other horses. When the dealers saw their horses injured, the king demanded that they reduce their prices. Naturally, the dealers were furious and informed the Bodhisatta of the situation.

The Bodhisatta, knowing the king’s true nature, advised the dealers to bring a similar savage horse with them the next time they came to sell their horses. The dealers agreed and returned with a horse of similar temperament.

When the king repeated his trick and released his vicious horse among the others, this time the horse went straight to the dealers’ horse. The two horses, instead of fighting or attacking, immediately befriended each other, licking each other and ignoring the other horses. The Bodhisatta, upon seeing this, explained to the king that the two savage horses were friendly because of their similar personalities: “Birds of a feather flock together.”

He used this incident as a lesson to the king about the importance of controlling his greed and not letting it dictate his actions. The Bodhisatta emphasized that a person’s nature would often attract them to similar individuals, and in this case, the king’s greed had led him to act in a way that was both dishonest and destructive.

The king was humbled by the Bodhisatta’s wisdom, and from then on, he returned to paying fair prices to the horse dealers, restoring justice and fairness in his dealings.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha:

In the time of the Buddha, the two savage horses were understood to be the earlier births of two disciples who were known for their violent, hot-tempered personalities. One disciple lived in the city, and the other in the country. When the country disciple visited the city, the young disciples of the Buddha thought it would be amusing to see the two men argue, given their known tempers. However, when they met, to everyone’s surprise, the two disciples embraced each other and became friendly and affectionate, as they were drawn to each other’s similar temperaments.

When the Buddha heard about the encounter, he used this incident to teach his disciples, explaining that these two men’s current personalities were shaped by their similar temperaments in past lives. The Buddha’s story highlighted the idea that like attracts like, and that people with similar qualities or tendencies would naturally gravitate towards one another.

The king in the Jataka was identified as an earlier birth of Ananda, one of the Buddha’s chief disciples. Ananda was known for his devotion, compassion, and wisdom, and his earlier life as a king served as a reminder of the potential for spiritual growth and development.

Moral Lessons:

1. The Consequences of Greed: The king’s actions in trying to deceive the horse dealers for his own benefit show the dangers of greed. The lesson is clear: when motivated by greed, one may engage in unethical behavior that can harm others. Generosity and fairness, on the other hand, bring mutual respect and goodwill.
2. Similar Natures Attract Each Other: The story of the two savage horses illustrates the idea that people with similar personalities are naturally drawn to each other. This can be a lesson in both human behavior and relationships, showing how one’s traits and inclinations influence their interactions with others.
3. Wisdom and Compassion in Leadership: The Bodhisatta, in his role as an advisor, exemplifies the qualities of wisdom, insight, and compassion in leadership. Instead of responding with anger or vengeance, he carefully considers the situation and uses it as an opportunity to teach the king a valuable lesson.
4. Controlling Negative Emotions: The Bodhisatta’s advice to the king about controlling greed serves as a reminder that negative emotions, such as greed, anger, or jealousy, should be managed and controlled. Acting with self-restraint leads to greater peace and harmony.
5. The Power of Clear Communication: The Bodhisatta’s use of the saying “Birds of a feather flock together” highlights the power of clear communication in conveying important lessons. The Bodhisatta was able to use this simple observation to teach the king about the importance of overcoming negative tendencies.
6. Transformation of Character: The story of the two hot-tempered disciples shows that through spiritual practice and wisdom, people can transform their nature and learn to act with compassion and understanding rather than violence or anger.

Conclusion:

The Suhanu Jataka is a story of how greed and dishonesty can be countered with wisdom and fairness. The tale emphasizes the importance of controlling one’s emotions, particularly negative tendencies like greed and anger, which can lead to destructive outcomes. By focusing on compassion, generosity, and self-awareness, one can cultivate a more harmonious and just life. Through the Bodhisatta’s wise counsel, the story also teaches us that similar traits attract and that one’s nature can influence the kind of relationships they form, both in this life and in past lives.