| J.356 |
Kaara.n.diya Jaataka | Kaarandiya Jaataka |
Once the bodhisatva was born as a brahmin youth named Karandiya in Benares. He became
the chief pupil of a world-famed teacher in Takkasila, who was in the habit of preaching
the moral law to whomever he met regardless of their readiness to receive it. One
day the teacher Karandiya sent and his fellows to accept some cakes offered by some
benefactors and to return with the teacherís share. On the way back, Karandiya saw
a cave and started throwing stones into it. Told of this by the other boys, the teacher
questioned Karandiya who replied that it was no less stupid to level off (the mouth
of a cave) by filling it with stones than it would be to make the whole of the world
equally moral. The teacher understood and accepted the lesson. The story was told
in reference to Sariputta who preached to all, including hunters and fishermen. They
listened to him with respect, but failed to follow his teaching. When criticized
by his fellows, Sariputta was offended, and the matter came to the Buddha, who revealed
Sariputta as the teacher of old. |
58/750 |
Jaataka |
Khuddhaka |
J.iii.170ff. |
appropriate teaching |