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| (thehollywoodgossip.com) |
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| I won't be outdone by that kid! |
The Real Thing
Dhr. Seven, Wisdom Quarterly translation; C.B. Varma (Baveru Jataka, Jt. 313, 339)
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| Buddha, Mandalay (gorbulas_sandybanks/flickr.com) |
Some remarked, “Look at its glossy color!” Others said, “Look at its silky fur! Still others marvelled, “Look at its pretty beak and jeweled eyes!” In this way many people praised the crow.
They approached the merchants and pleaded, “Sirs, you have others like this in your land. Sell us this one, and you find another.” They offered one piece of money for the bird. The merchants agreed to sell but demanded a higher price. Finally, they made a deal -- 100 pieces for the crow.
The islanders gleefully carried their new pet in a pompous procession throughout the island then placed it in a golden cage. The crow was treated to a variety of foods and desserts and lived happily in spite of being known for ten evil characteristics, enjoying all sorts of gain and praise.
A New Arrival
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| Merchants arrive with new bird (jathakakatha.org) |
The new peacock proved far more alluring than the old crow. Charmed, the people went to the merchants and eagerly expressed a desire to purchase it. They reasoned with the merchants: “Sirs, you have birds like this in your land. Sell us this one, and you find another in your land”
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| Royal peacock (geraldguild.com) |
The people placed the peacock in a cage made of seven jewels. They then treated it to all sorts of food, honey, fried snacks, and so on. The crow hardly got any attention at all. Nobody offered it anything.
One day seizing the opportunity it flew out of its cage with a shrill “Caw, caw!” and settled on a dunghill.
Till the Buddha the full light of truth displayed:
For when the sweet-sounding Buddha preached the law,
From heretics their gifts and praise people withdraw.
The Buddha concluded the Rebirth Tale (Jataka) with these stanzas and by pointing out that in the past the crow had been the Nigantha Nataputta (Mahavira, the founder of Jainism) and the Bodhisatta himself had been the peacock.












