The Teacher and the Nature of Women: Asatamanta Jataka

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was once a teacher in the city of Taxila, renowned for his wisdom and educational prowess. A wealthy family’s son, upon reaching the age of sixteen, was presented with a choice by his parents: to renounce the world and worship the fire god as an ascetic to ensure rebirth in heaven, or to study and work for the family business. The son, however, preferred a home life and decided to study with the Bodhisatta in Taxila.Despite completing his studies, the son’s parents continued to desire that he follow the religious path. When he returned home, his mother schemed to change his mind by suggesting that he had not properly completed his education. She claimed that he needed to learn the “Anguish Texts,” which did not actually exist. The son, believing his mother, returned to Taxila to learn these texts from the Bodhisatta.The Bodhisatta, understanding the true intent behind the mother’s request, agreed to teach the son about the nature of women. He began by assigning the student to care for his own blind and decrepit 120-year-old mother. The student was tasked with washing, feeding, and praising her beauty, and then reporting back to the Bodhisatta on her responses.As the student cared for the old woman, she began to think he had fallen in love with her, and passion rose in her heart. One day, she confessed her love to the student and suggested that he kill the Bodhisatta so they could be together. The student refused, and she vowed to do it herself.The student reported this to the Bodhisatta, who, in his wisdom, knew that his mother’s fate was sealed. To test her intentions, the Bodhisatta cut down a fig tree, carved a human-sized figure, and placed it in his bed. He then gave his mother an axe and a string tied to the figure, instructing the student to tell her that now was the time to kill him.The old woman, without hesitation, swung the axe down on the throat of the figure, realizing her mistake only when she heard the thud. Overcome with grief and shame, she shrieked and died instantly, as was her fate.The Bodhisatta gave his mother a respectful cremation and then revealed to the student that the true reason he had been sent back to Taxila was to learn about the vile nature of women. This lesson learned, the son rejected family life and chose to live in the forest as a fire-worshipping ascetic.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

This tale has a significant connection to the Buddha’s later life. One of the Buddha’s disciples, while on a morning alms round, saw a woman so beautiful that he fell in love at first sight. This lovesick disciple became lean and could no longer concentrate on his studies or meditation.The Buddha told this story to remind the disciple that women are often associated with misery and distraction. The student, his mother, and his father in the story were revealed to be earlier births of Ananda, Bhadda Kapilani, and Maha Kassapa, three of the Buddha’s top disciples.

Moral

The Asatamanta Jataka teaches us about the dangers of attachment and the importance of discernment. The story highlights the potential for women (or any attachment) to lead individuals away from their spiritual goals and into misery. The Bodhisatta’s wise and compassionate approach serves as a model for how to handle such situations with clarity and wisdom. This tale underscores the Buddhist principle of avoiding attachment and cultivating detachment as a path to spiritual liberation.However, it is important to note that the story’s portrayal of women as “vile creatures” is a product of its historical and cultural context and should not be taken as a universal or modern Buddhist teaching. The core message is about the dangers of attachment and the importance of maintaining a balanced and detached approach to life.