Unity and Wisdom: The Rukkhadhamma Jataka Tale

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was once a tree fairy living in a forest. When a new king took the throne, he granted permission to all the fairies of the forest to live wherever they wanted. The Bodhisatta advised his relatives to stay in the forest with him and not to move to trees that stood alone, as these trees were more vulnerable to dangers.However, some of the fairies were attracted to the big trees near towns because they received the highest praise and most offerings from the local people. Despite the Bodhisatta’s warning, they chose to live in these isolated trees.One day, a tremendous storm passed over the land, and all the big lone trees were blown down, while the trees packed together in the forest suffered no damage. The fairies who lived in the toppled trees went to the forest and told the Bodhisatta about their misfortune.The Bodhisatta explained that families and communities should stick together, just like the trees in the forest, to provide mutual support and protection. He emphasized that the fairies who lost their homes suffered because they did not follow his advice to stay together.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

This tale has a significant connection to the Buddha’s later life. During the Buddha’s time, his Sakya clan was involved in a bitter dispute with another clan over water rights for their crops after their shared dam ran low at the end of the dry season. The dispute escalated to the point where tempers flared, and people came to blows, with the two clans declaring war.The Buddha intervened to quell the feud. When the clans saw him, every man threw down his weapon to listen to his words. The Buddha taught them that life was more valuable than water and emphasized the importance of unity, self-control, and avoiding blind obedience to others. He denounced fighting and encouraged them to settle their dispute peacefully.To drive home the value of cooperation and unity, the Buddha told them the story of the Rukkhadhamma Jataka. This narrative helped convince the clans to settle their dispute peacefully.

Earlier Births

The fairies in the story were revealed to be earlier births of the Buddha’s followers. This connection highlighted the recurring theme of the importance of unity and cooperation across different lifetimes.

Moral

The Rukkhadhamma Jataka teaches us about the importance of unity, cooperation, and mutual support. The story emphasizes that just as trees in a forest provide protection and stability for each other, families and communities should stick together to face challenges. The Bodhisatta’s advice serves as a model for how to maintain harmony and avoid the dangers of isolation. This tale underscores the Buddhist principle of promoting unity and self-control, and it highlights the value of peaceful resolution of conflicts over material interests.