Suvannahamsa Jataka: The Dangers of Greed

The Suvannahamsa Jataka is a tale that highlights the destructive nature of greed and the importance of moderation in desires. The Bodhisatta in this story is reborn as a golden mallard, a bird capable of remembering his past life as a human. This Jataka also explores themes of family, generosity, and the impact of excessive greed on one’s life and relationships.

The Story:

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was a man who had a wife and three daughters. After he died, his family fell into poverty. From his new life as a golden mallard, the Bodhisatta visited his former family and, seeing their suffering, decided to help them. He promised that, periodically, he would give them a golden feather, which they could sell to regain their wealth and avoid the humiliation of working for others.

Over time, the family became prosperous again thanks to the golden feathers. However, the widow, fearing that the Bodhisatta might stop helping them, became greedy. She devised a plan to pluck all the feathers from the mallard, so they would have an endless supply of gold. The daughters, realizing their mother’s greed, refused to assist her in the cruel act. But the widow went ahead with her plan and plucked the feathers.

Unbeknownst to her, the Bodhisatta had a special condition: if his feathers were plucked against his will, they would turn ordinary and lose their value. After being plucked clean, the now featherless and flightless Bodhisatta was thrown into a barrel by the widow, where she fed him in hopes of getting more golden feathers. Over time, the Bodhisatta’s feathers began to grow back, but they were no longer golden; they were white and worthless.

Once the Bodhisatta regained the ability to fly, he left the family forever, never to return. His act of kindness was met with greed, which ultimately led to his abandonment and the family’s loss of their newfound wealth.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha:

In the Buddha’s time, a lay follower had offered his female disciples free garlic; they were welcome to come anytime and take as much as they needed. One day, four of the disciples arrived, but there was no garlic left in the house. The estate manager, instead of turning them away, told them they could go into the field to pick more garlic.

However, one of the women—who in a previous life had been the widow of the golden mallard—acted greedily. She gathered a large quantity of garlic, angering both the estate manager and the other three disciples (who were the daughters of the Bodhisatta in a previous life). As a result, they were no longer allowed to pick garlic from the estate.

When the Buddha heard of this incident, he rebuked the greedy woman. He told this story to show the other disciples that the woman had been greedy in a past life as well and had acted out of selfish desire. Through this story, the Buddha taught his followers the importance of moderation and contentment, regardless of how little one might have. Greed leads to destruction, both in this life and in previous lives, as demonstrated by the actions of the widow and her family in the past.

Moral Lessons:

1. The Dangers of Greed: The story illustrates how unchecked greed can destroy even the most generous relationships. The widow’s desire for more gold, despite having already received great benefits, led to the destruction of the Bodhisatta’s kindness and, ultimately, to her own misfortune.
2. Contentment with What One Has: The Buddha’s teachings emphasize contentment, teaching that even a little is enough when one is grateful. The disciples’ over-accumulation of garlic, much like the widow’s desire to pluck all of the golden feathers, demonstrates the folly of excessive desire and the wisdom of being content with what one has.
3. The Consequences of Dishonesty: The widow’s actions were not only selfish but also dishonest, as she plucked the Bodhisatta’s feathers without his consent. This act violated the trust between the Bodhisatta and his family, leading to their eventual downfall. This teaches that dishonesty and greed undermine both personal integrity and social harmony.
4. Transformation of Relationships: The Bodhisatta’s act of generosity was repaid with cruelty and greed, but despite this, he did not return to help them again. This highlights that relationships based on selfishness and exploitation cannot endure and may be permanently broken. The Bodhisatta’s departure is symbolic of how generosity, when met with ingratitude, can lead to irreversible damage.
5. Moderation in Desire: The Buddha’s teaching about the disciple’s greed for garlic parallels the widow’s greed for feathers. The story encourages followers to cultivate moderation and avoid the pitfalls of excessive desire, as it leads to suffering and conflict.

Conclusion:

The Suvannahamsa Jataka is a powerful story that illustrates the destructive effects of greed, both in human and animal lives. It teaches the importance of being content with what we have and the dangers of over-indulgence and selfishness. The story serves as a reminder that generosity should be met with gratitude, and that excessive desire can ruin relationships and lead to downfall. Through the example of the golden mallard, the Buddha’s teachings on moderation, contentment, and the consequences of greed are reinforced, encouraging his disciples to live with a spirit of generosity and mindfulness.