The Tale of the Wise Teacher: Durajana Jataka

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was once a renowned teacher, famous across the world, with five hundred students. One of his students was particularly troubled by his wife, who exhibited contradictory behavior – she was meek and submissive on days when she had done something wrong, but impulsive and tyrannical on other days. This erratic behavior caused the student significant stress, often leading him to miss his lessons.When the Bodhisatta learned about the student’s absences and the reason behind them, he explained that this behavior was inherent to all women. He described women’s nature as inherently sinful and as unknowable as the path of a fish through water. The Bodhisatta advised the student to stop caring about what his wife liked or disliked and to accept her nature as it was.The student took the Bodhisatta’s advice to heart, and when his wife heard what the Bodhisatta had said about her, she improved her behavior. This change was likely due to the student’s altered attitude and approach to dealing with her.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

This tale has a significant connection to the Buddha’s later life. A layman who was deeply devoted to the Buddha had not visited him for over a week, and when the Buddha inquired about his absence, the layman explained that his wife’s behavior was causing him immense stress. She was meek and submissive on days she did wrong but impulsive and tyrannical at other times.The Buddha told the layman that he and the same woman had been a married couple with the same issue in earlier births. He then shared this story to give the layman the same advice about the nature of women and how men should treat them. Just as had happened in the past, the man changed his attitude toward his wife, and she stopped her bad behavior.

Moral

The Durajana Jataka teaches us about the importance of understanding and accepting the nature of others, particularly in the context of marital relationships. The story emphasizes that men should not be overly concerned with the likes and dislikes of their wives, as their nature can be unpredictable. However, it is crucial to note that this tale reflects a historical and cultural perspective that may not align with modern views on gender and relationships.The Bodhisatta’s advice serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of attachment and the importance of maintaining a detached and wise perspective in dealing with life’s challenges. This tale underscores the Buddhist principle of cultivating patience, understanding, and acceptance in personal relationships, although it should be interpreted with sensitivity to contemporary values and gender equality.