Kumbhakāra-Jātaka

Continued from Paniya Jataka which Sayadaw U Vimala had shared with us last week, tonight talk is about Kumhakara Jataka.

In this story there was a king who had taken a bunch of mango from a mango tree. After eating some, the king who had left the rest of the mangos to his retinue. Here, Sayadaw said that this behavior should be followed by Buddhists. If we have leftovers, we should give it to other people or animals. When we see a hungry animal such as a cat, we should not hurt it by not giving it any food. Instead by giving food to the cat when it is hungry we are performing dana too.

Picture from http://www.kriyayoga.com

Back to the story, later in the evening as the king was going back to his palace, the mango tree that was beautiful in the morning is now looked ugly. This is because all its fruits had been taken and the tree had been abused. Compare to another tree nearby that is barren of fruit, the  barren tree was saved from calamities.

Reflecting on this the king thought of himself who has lots of things and therefore will face a lot of worries as everyone will want to take things from him.

Contemplating on the matter of the tree, he reflects on the three characteristics of anicca, dukkha and anatta. Then contemplating simila to himself internally as matter with anicca, dukkha and anatta, the king attain Pacceka Buddha