The Jatakamala

I went to my very first Buddhism class last night. I thought that even if I read everything I can, it is very unlikely that I actually LEARN anything without help from others.

It was a really interesting experience. As soon as I walked into the centre I felt very comfortable. I don’t know whether it was explained by the fact that I want to believe Buddhism is a very peaceful, accepting religion, but I can’t deny that I did feel a certain happiness and peacefulness in the place. This is very different from most churches I go into, where I usually feel like a sore thumb, even in the one my dad goes to. The lesson went for three hours. By the end of it, I was very tired, but surprised at how much I learnt. I guess when you are really interested in something, you try and absorb as much as you can even if your legs are killing you and you’re about to drift off into sleep!

The course is currently following the Jatakamala – which is basically translated to mean a garland of birth stories. They are the stories of the past lives of the Buddha, who was later enlightened. The Buddha, on the first watch of the night he achieved enlightenment, remembered thousands of his past lives. The Lama (Tibetan religion teacher) was talking about just how important the Jatakamala stories can be in living. He said that if we can learn lessons from people in biographies, even fictionalised ones, imagine how much we can learn from the stories of the Buddha?

He said there were many Jatakamalas, written throughout different cultures, but he said although some writers had taken poetic license with many stories, they were essentially identical.

For example:

The Pali Jatakas record 357 past lives as a human, 66 as a god, and 123 as an animal.

From - Buddha: Proof of Reincarnation


I can’t remember from which version we were learning, I wrote it down somewhere, but I think the Lama was translating it from Tibetan as he was reading it. Apparently it was a very famous version we were learning.

The Lama read out two stories of the Buddha’s past lives. One was when he was a young boy – I don’t remember his name but it sounded something like “Rimeli”. Anyway, I was surprised how close the story seemed with the story of Jesus in Luke, where as a boy he goes to the Temple by himself while his parents are searching for him everywhere.

The story of the little boy, Rimeli, is very much the same….

The other story was about the Buddha as a king’s son, who decides that he wants to give his whole wealth to the poor. He went out for a walk one day and saw all the suffering in the world, and decided that since his family had a lot of wealth, he would give it all away. Then because his wealth was exhausted he went out to find more so he could give it away again. It was really interesting. And his father, mother, and people who helped him on his travels ended up being reincarnations of his future disciples as the Buddha.

The Lama used this as an example of how nothing in our lives are according to chance, but instead based on our karma. This means that the people in our lives who we love, for example our mother and father, are reincarnations of people we have dealt with in the past. Our karma kind of determines our relationship with these people. That is how I understood what he was saying anyway.

Another important thing about the Jatakamala stories, is that it shows you how to live and what things you should be doing to help your fellow beings. The Lama talked a lot about generosity, and about giving as much as you can to other people.

So overall, it was a very interesting class and I’m definitely going to go back next week!

Here is one of the most famous stories in the Jatakamala:

The Story of the Tigress
During the time prior to his becoming Lord Buddha, the Bodhisattva was born into a most eminent and mighty family of Brahmans. Achieving purity through the religious sacraments, and owing to the innate quickness of his understanding, he eventually obtained mastery over the eighteen branches of science as well as all arts that were compatible with the customs of his family. 

The Brahmans regarded him to be the Holy Word, while those of royal blood venerated him like a king. To the masses he appeared as the embodiment of the thousand-eyed Lord of the Devas; to those who thirsted for knowledge he was a helpful father.

In consequence of prosperous destiny and as a result of merit earned during previous births, he had inherited a storehouse full of wealth, distinction and fame. However, the Bodhisattva took no delight in such things.

With a clear mind he perceived the many kinds of sin which can come from indulging in worldly pleasures. Shaking off the worldly life as if it were a sickness, he retired to a plateau from where his wisdom-brightened tranquillity and friendliness radiated outward. It penetrated the hearts of ferocious animals, thereby causing them to cease all injurious activities and live like ascetics in the forest.

Having abandoned all desire for gain, glory and pleasure and therefore wanting little, the Bodhisattva knew not the art of hypocrisy. For this reason even the Devas were worshipful. 

Upon hearing of the Bodhisattva's new life as an ascetic, those whose affections he had previously gained left their families and, embracing the Bodhisattva as the embodiment of salvation, became his disciples. He taught them all as best as he could, through his good conduct, chastity, purification of the sense organs, constant attentiveness, and detachment from the world. By means of mind concentration, meditation on friendliness and the rest, the holy road to salvation was revealed so that the disciples could attain perfection.

Story continued at this link....