Jatakas are a collection of Indian folktales that are an important part of Buddhist literature. They are based on the previous lives of the Buddha, who was believed to have lived many lives as different beings before achieving enlightenment. The Jatakas are stories that illustrate Buddhist teachings and values, such as the importance of compassion, wisdom, and good deeds.
Each Jataka
tale tells a story of the Buddha's past life as a human, animal, or other
being. The stories often involve moral lessons, such as the consequences of
selfishness, the power of kindness, and the importance of wisdom. The Jatakas
are still widely read and revered today, and are considered a valuable source
of inspiration for those seeking to understand Buddhist teachings and values.
Here are
some key characteristics of Jatakas:
Past
Lives of the Buddha:
The Jatakas are stories of the Buddha's previous lives as different beings,
including humans, animals, and supernatural creatures.
Moral
Lessons: The Jatakas
often contain moral lessons that illustrate Buddhist teachings and values, such
as the importance of compassion, wisdom, and good deeds.
Illustrating
Buddhist Principles:
The stories in the Jatakas are meant to illustrate and reinforce Buddhist
principles, such as the law of karma, the nature of suffering, and the path to
enlightenment.
Rich
Imagery and Symbolism: The Jatakas are known for their rich imagery and symbolism, which often
convey deeper meanings and messages.
Popular
in Southeast Asia:
The Jatakas are particularly popular in Southeast Asian countries, where they
are still widely read and studied.
Overall,
the Jatakas are a valuable source of inspiration for those seeking to
understand Buddhist teachings and values, and continue to be widely appreciated
for their moral lessons and rich imagery.
The Story of Ruru Deer - Jatak Tales in English
Obviously
Ruru was not an ordinary deer. Her unique beauty was her specialty. But his
greater characteristic was that he was prudent; And was also able to talk like
a human. He knew from the rituals of his previous birth that man is a greedy
creature by nature and due to greed he has been resisting even human
compassion. Yet his compassion for all beings was strong and man was no
exception to his compassion. This compassion was the biggest specialty of Ruru.
One day when
Ruru was roaming freely in the forest, he heard the cry of a man. When he
reached the spot while following, he found a man floating in the stream of the
mountain river there. Ruru's compassion burst forth spontaneously. He
immediately jumped into the water and advised the drowning man to hold his
feet. The drowning man in his panic did not hold Ruru's feet and rode on top of
her. The delicate Ruru could have yanked him away but he didn't. But even after
many difficulties, he carried that person on his back and brought him to the
shore with great restraint and morale.
When the
safe man wanted to thank Ruru, Ruru said to him, "If you really want to
thank me, don't tell anyone that you have been revived by an antelope that is a
special golden-deer; Because when the people of your world learn of my
existence, they will undoubtedly want to hunt me down." In this way, after
leaving that man, Ruru again went to his abode.
Later, the
queen of that kingdom had a dream. He saw Ruru in his dream. Enchanted by
Ruru's beauty; And his longing to possess Ruru was overpowering by his intense
desire to possess everything beautiful. Immediately he urged the king to find
Ruru and bring him. The King who was overwhelmed with power could not turn down
his request. He made a noise in the city that whoever would be helpful in
finding the antelope imagined by the queen, he would be rewarded with a village
and ten beautiful girls.
The sound of the king's trumpet was also heard by the man who was saved by Ruru. That person knew the residence of Ruru. Without losing a moment, he reached the king's court running. Then, gasping for breath, he spilled all the secrets of Ruru in front of the king.
The king and
his soldiers immediately reached the forest with the man and surrounded the
abode of Ruru from all sides. His happiness knew no bounds when he found Ruru
exactly as per the image of Rani. The king then drew his bow and Ruru was right
on target. The surrounded Ruru then said to the king in human language
"Rajan! You kill me but before that tell me how did you know my
whereabouts?"
In reply the
king swung his arrow and stopped it in front of the man whose life was saved by
Ruru. That's why this sentence burst out of Ruru's mouth- "Take the wooden block out of the water,
Never fire an ungrateful person."
When the
king asked Ruru the meaning of his conversation, Ruru told the king the whole
story of the person drowning and being saved. Ruru's compassion had awakened
the king's compassion as well. He also got angry on the gratitude of that
person. When the king wanted to kill that person with the same arrow,
Karunavatar Mrig prayed not to kill that person.
Impressed by
Ruru's specialties, the king invited her to come with him to his kingdom. Ruru
did not reject the king's grace and returned to his abode after accepting the
king's hospitality for a few days.
Summary :
"The
Story of Ruru Deer" is a Jatak tale that tells the story of a
compassionate deer named Ruru who lived in a forest. One day, a hunter came to
the forest to hunt, but Ruru warned the other animals of the danger and stood
outside the cave to protect them. The hunter aimed his bow at Ruru, but was
shocked to hear him speak and asked how this was possible. Ruru explained that
he had lived many good lives and had earned the ability to speak as a result.
The hunter was moved by Ruru's kindness and compassion and decided to spare his
life. This encounter had a positive impact on the hunter, who changed his ways
and became a better person. The story illustrates the importance of compassion,
wisdom, and good deeds and shows how these qualities can have a positive impact
on others.
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