A
Story to Share
Selfless
Charity
This
tale is from Jataka Stories.
Once
upon a time a Hare lived in the forest. It was the
Bodhisattva who took birth as the Hare. So, he was
an unusual Hare – kind, wise and loving.
He
had many followers to listen to his counsel and teachings.
Since he didn’t charge any fees there were even
more audience, more friends, more talkers.
Some
of his followers advised him on business proposals
– “O Great Teacher, it will be beneficial
if we launch a Business school; we could even have
a tie-up with the B-schools of United States.”
There
were three students of the Hare who were sincere to
his teachings and tried to apply those in their lives.
They were a monkey, a jackal and an otter.
One
beautiful evening the Hare was giving special class
to these three students. The subtle notes of the rivulet,
scores of the cicadas, deep smell of the wild flowers
set a wonderful setting.
Then
silently and slowly the cool rays of the full moon
started descending on the faces of the students and
the Hare.
The
Hare got a revelation.
He
said: “O today is full moon; here is an opportunity
for us to do our ritual; tomorrow we need to await
a person needy of help and offer our services”.
The
next day the three students – monkey, jackal
and otter – awaited for a needy passer-by. Hours
went by.
When
the sun was in its peak, when the birds were hiding
behind leaves, when the animals rested due to heat
exhaustion, there came a tired and weary Brahmin traveller.
He walked as if he hadn’t eaten a morsel of rice
for days together.
Infact
this Brahmin traveller was none other than Indra who
decided to test the goodness of the Hare. If someone
in the earth becomes too good then the Indra seat
begins to shake. And Indra has to come down from the
clouds and test the person.
The
tired Brahmin sat under a tree near the home of the
Hare. The Hare along with his three students were
awaiting for a person needy of help.
Indeed
God has sent a person for them to offer their services
– they thought. The three students went to the
Brahmin and asked him what he needed.
“I
need to satiate my hunger. I haven’t eaten for
days. And then this sun is making me weaker. I am
hungry and thirsty.”
The
otter brought him seven salmon fishes from the river.
The jackal brought him a dead lizard from the pathway
and sour milk some one had left behind. The monkey
brought five ripe mango from the nearby fruit tree.
The
Great Hare thought: “What can I offer! If it
is the grass that I eat, then it is of no use to the
Brahmin; what can I offer him”.
With
this thought the Hare told the Brahmin: “Our
revered Guest, I have nothing worthwhile to offer
you; therefore please accept my body that you may
cook and eat”.
To
further test the genuineness of the Hare’s goodness,
Indra in the guise of the Brahmin said: “Humm!
But I cant kill you who have helped me and is my host;
You have been good to me”.
The
Hare responded: “O the most compassionate One,
I am moved by your concern. Let me stay near you and
think of a way by which I can offer myself”.
Meanwhile
the Brahmin started making fire and cook the fishes
on the red coal.
The
Hare got up and jumped into the fire with this prayer
to the Brahmin: “I am thankful to you for giving
me an opportunity to be of some use to the needy.
Please accept me.”
The
Brahmin took his real form of Indra, pulled out the
Hare from the fire. The tongues of fire only caressed
and not burnt the Hare.
The
Hare ascended to the Heavens as the Bodhisattva, along
with his three students. Indra was so overcome by
the charity of the Hare that he kept a picture of
the Hare in his palace.
And
the full moon reflected this picture and permanently
carried the silhouette of the Hare then onwards when
it arose in the horizon.
Story
Retold by
Prof. Sangeetha Menon
Bangalore
