Ja 169 Arakajātaka
The Story about (the Teacher) Araka (2s)
In the present the Buddha teaches the monastics the benefits of practising loving-kindness. He then tells how he gave a similar teaching as an ascetic in a previous life and attained heaven when he passed away.
The Bodhisatta = the teacher Araka (Arako satthā),
the Buddha’s disciples = the sage’s followers (isigaṇa).
Keywords: Loving-kindness, Compassion.
“The heart that boundless pity feels.” This story the Teacher told at Jetavana, about the Discourse on Loving-kindness.
On one occasion the Teacher thus addressed the Saṅgha, “Monks, loving-kindness practised with all devotion of thought,
In the past, in a former age, the Bodhisatta was born in a brahmin’s family. When he grew up, he forsook his sensual desires and embraced the ascetic life, and attained the four Divine Abidings. His name was Araka, and he became a Teacher, and lived in the Himālayas region, with a large body of followers. Admonishing his band of sages, he said: “A recluse must show loving-kindness, sympathetic must he be both in joy and sorrow, and full of equanimity; for this thought of loving-kindness attained by resolve prepares him for Brahmā’s Realm.” And explaining the blessing of loving-kindness, he repeated these verses:
1. “The heart that boundless pity feels for all things that have birth,
In heaven above, in realms below, and on this middle earth,
2. Filled full of pity infinite, infinite generosity,
In such a heart nought narrow or confined can ever be.”
Thus did the Bodhisatta discourse to his pupils on the practice of loving-kindness and its blessings. And without a moment’s interruption of his Absorption, he was reborn in the Brahmā Realm, and for seven ages, each with his time to wax and wane, he came no more to this world.
After finishing this discourse, the Teacher identified the Jātaka, “The band of sages of that time are now the Buddha’s followers; and I myself am he that was the Teacher Araka.”