Khuddaka Nikaya JATAKA STORIES 550 Stories retold by Buddha A Gift of Dhamma Page 1 of 231 A Gift of Dhamma Maung Paw, Ca;ifornia Khuddaka Nikaya JATAKA STORIES Buddha Previous Lives’ Stories (550 STORIES) Buddha Delivering Abhidhamma Discourse in Tavatimsa Heaven A Gift of Dhamma Page 2 of 231 A Gift of Dhamma Maung Paw, Ca;ifornia "The Buddha has begun to teach. Let the world rejoice !" The Noble Eightfold Path. i. Right view, ii. Right thought, iii. Right speech, iv. Right bodily action, v. Right livelihood, vi. Right endeavor, vii. Right mindfulness, viii. Right Concentration Buddha relates his past existences in 547 stories and are recorded under the Sutta Pitaka. These stories were told to his disciples to relate to instances of his experiences on how he had perfected the ten perfections through the course of the Samsara. Jataka stories are recorded under Sutta Pitaka that contain all the central teachings of the Theravada Buddhism. Jataka comes under the main title – Khuddaka Nikaya – (collection of little texts) . Khuddaka Nikaya : Khuddakapatha, Dhammapad, Udana, Invuttaka, Sutta Nipata, Vimanavatthu, Petavatthu, Theragata, Therigatha, Jataka, Niddesa, Patisambhidamagga, Apadana, Buddhavamsa, Carriyapitaka, Nettippakarana (only included the Burmese edition of the Tipitaka) Petakopadesa ('') Milindapañha ('') Buddha going austere practice to attain self-enlightenment Page 3 of 231 A Gift of Dhamma Maung Paw, Ca;ifornia TIPITAKA CHART | +-----------------------+--------------------------+ | | | Vinaya Pitaka Abhidhamma Pitaka Sutta Pitaka | | | Suttavibhanga Dhammasangani | Mahavagga Vibhanga | Cullavagga Dhatukatha | Parivara Puggalapaññatti | Kathavatthu | Yamaka | Patthana | | +-------------+--------------+---------------+-----+-----+ | | | | | Digha Nikaya | Samyutta Nikaya | | Majjhima Nikaya Anguttara Nikaya | | Khuddaka Nikaya | +----------------------------+ | +---------+----+----+-------+----+------+--+-----+------+ | | | | | | | | | | Khuddakapatha | | | | | | | | | Dhammapada | | | | | | | | Udana | | | | | | | Itivuttaka | | | | | | Sutta Nipata | | | | | Vimanavatthu | | | | Petavatthu | | | Theragatha | | Therigatha | Jataka Niddesa tisambhidamagga Apadana Buddhavamsa Cariyapitaka Nettippakarana Petakopadesa Milindapañha Jataka comes under one of Sutta Pitaka By the Power of the Truth May all your wishes be fulfilled Page 4 of 231 A Gift of Dhamma Maung Paw, Ca;ifornia Introduction - The stories of Buddha past existences stories that Buddha relates to his devotees and Monks of his endeavor on how he strive to fulfilled the ten perfections through countless cycles of rebirth and world cycles.. He finally attained the self-enlightenment and delivered the “Turning the Wheel of Dhamma” Dhammasekkya Ta Ya Daw – (Eightfold Noble Paths) (Maggin Shit Par) to lead us to the deathless – Nibbana. May the readers be inspired by these stories and make their own aspiration for Nibbana. There are in all – 547 stories – Starting with J 001 through J547 stories. Page 5 of 231 A Gift of Dhamma Maung Paw, Ca;ifornia JATAKA STORIES J.001 Apa.n.naka Jaataka The five hundred friends of Anathapindika had previously been converted to Buddhism by the Buddha. Later, in the Buddha’s absence, they reverted to their former faiths. They met again with the Buddha at Savatthi. The Jataka concerns two merchants, who travel with caravans across a desert. One, beguiled by a yakka, throws away his drinking water and is devoured with all his people and cattle. The other, not believing the yakka, makes his journey in safety. The morale of the story is that the followers of false teachers are led astray. The foolish merchant was Devadatta. This Jataka will be among the last to be forgotten when the Dhamma disappears from the world at the end of the world era. J.002 Va.n.nupatha Jaataka The bodhisatta was once a merchant leader of a caravan of 500 carts. One night, while crossing a desert of sixty leagues, the pilot fell asleep and the oxen turned round. All the provisions of wood and water were exhausted, but the Bodhisatta had his men dig a well. After digging sixty cubits down, they came across bedrock. The men were all filled with despair, but the Bodhisatta had the rock broken through by a serving lad who still showed courage and obtained water. The Jataka was related about a young man of Savatthi who entered the Order and practiced meditation, but was unable to attain insight. He was filled with despair and his companions took him to the Buddha. He is identified with the serving lad of the story. J 003 Serivaa.nija Jaataka The Bodhisatta was once a hawker of Seriva and was called Serivaa. Once, in the company of a greedy merchant of the same name, he crossed the Telavaaha and entered Andhapura. In that city was a family who had fallen Page 6 of 231 A Gift of Dhamma Maung Paw, Ca;ifornia on hard times, the sole survivors being a girl and her grandmother. The greedy merchant went to their house with his wares. The girl begged her grandmother to buy a trinket, and suggested that they should give the hawker the golden bowl from which they ate. The bowl was a valuable heirloom, but it had lost its luster and the woman didn’t know its value. The hawker was called in and shown the bowl. He scratched it with a needle and knew it was gold, but wishing to have it for nothing, said it was not worth half a farthing - - so he threw it away and left. Later, the Bodhisatta came to the same street and was offered the same bowl. He told them the truth, gave them all the money he had and his stock, leaving only eight pieces of money for himself. These he gave to the boatman and boarded the boat to cross the river. Meanwhile, the greedy merchant went again to the old woman’s house, hoping to get the bowl in exchange for a few trinkets. When he heard what had happened, he lost command of himself, and throwing down all he had, ran down to the river to find the Bodhisatta's boat in mid-stream. He shouted to the boatman to return, but the Bodhisatta urged him on. The merchant, realizing what he had lost through his greed, was so upset that his heart burst and he fell down dead. The Jataka was told to a monk who had given up striving. The greedy merchant is identified with Devadatta and this was the beginning of his enmity towards the Buddha. J 004 Cullakase.t.thii Jaataka Once, the Bodhisatta was born as Cullakasetthi in Benares. One day, while on the way to the palace, he saw a dead mouse lying on the road, and noticing the position of the stars, he said, any decent young fellow with his wits about him has only to pick up the mouse and he will be made for life. A young man of good family, called Cullantevasika picked up the mouse and sold it for a farthing to a tavern for their cat to eat. With the farthing he bought molasses and drinking water for flower-gatherers. Later he gathered branches and leaves blown down by the wind in the king’s garden and sold them to a potter for a large sum of money. He entered a friendship with a land-trader and a sea-trader and, by using the information he obtained from them, he was able to make 200,000 pieces by means of skilful and far-sighted business dealings. He then visited Cullasetthi to express to him his gratitude and the setthi, on hearing of his skill, was so impressed that he gave him his daughter in marriage. The young man is identified with Cullapanthaka in reference to whom the story is related. J 005 Ta.n.dulanaa.li Jaataka Page 7 of 231 A Gift of Dhamma Maung Paw, Ca;ifornia Once, the Bodhisatta was appraiser to the king of Benares, with whom he always dealt fairly. The king was greedy, and thinking that his appraiser paid too much for things bought for the palace, appointed in his place a rustic who happened to be passing by. This man fixed prices according to whim. One day a dealer brought five hundred horses from Uttarapatha and the appraiser valued the whole lot at a single measure of rice. The horse-dealer sought the Bodhisatta's advice, who suggested that the appraiser should be asked to value a measure of rice. The horse-dealer went to the king, and in the presence of the court, asked the appraiser the value of one measure of rice. The man replied that it was worth all Benares and its suburb the ministers laughed, thus putting the king to shame. He dismissed the fool and reinstated the Bodhisatta. The story was told in reference to Laludayi who had a dispute with Dabba Mallaputta regarding the distribution of food tickets. The monks thereupon asked Laludayi to undertake the task. This he did so badly that great confusion ensued, and the matter was reported to the Buddha, who related the Jataka to show that in the past, too, his stupidity had deprived others of profit. Laludayi is identified with the false appraiser. J 006 Devadhamma Jaataka Once, the Bodhisatta was born as Mahimsasa, son of the king of Benares. His brother was Canda and his stepbrother Suriya. Suriyaís mother, having being granted a boon, claimed the kingdom for him. Mahimamsa and Canda were thereupon exiled to the forest, but Suriya went with them. They arrived in the Himavanta forest, Mahimamsa sent his two brothers to fetch water from a pool. There, first Suriya and then Canda were seized by a demon who had been allowed by Vessavana to eat anyone entering the pond. provided he did not know the Devadhammas. Mahimsasa then went to the pond, but on being questioned by the demon, preached the Devadhammas to him- i.e. hiri and ottappa. The demon was pleased and offered to release one of his victims. Mahimsasa chose Suriya, and gave as the reason that he was afraid of being blamed by others.