A cow’s love for her calf
Once cannot say such forms of pema never develop into true metta; even a cow’s love for her calf can bring about arising of kusala citta, wholesome consciousness. Once upon a time ac cow was breast-feeding her young calf, with true metta. At that very moment, a hunter threw a spear at her. However, due to her immense metta for her calf, the spear became flaccid like a palm leaf and caused her on harm at all. This is the evidence that love between relatives, friends; husband and wife, parents and children can develop into true metta.
The metta of Queen Suamvati
In the ancient kingdom of Kosambi, King Utena had there queens, namely, Smavati, Magandi and Vasuladattadevi. While Samvatin was devoted to the Tira-tana ( There Gems), Maghadi, since her maiden day bore a grude against the Buddha. She used to fine fault on Samavati, who always practiced metta bhavana. King Utena rotated his visits to the three chambers of his queens respectively; and he was very dexterous with the harp.
Once day, when the turn to visit Samavati’s room came, Magdi put a poisonous snake which she got from her uncle, into the cavity of the king’s harp and placed many garlands so as to stop the snake from coming out. Then she told he king not to go to Samavati’s chameber as she had a horrid nightmare to be interpreted as a bad omen. But the king, heedless of her warnings, went to was very concerned about the king’s safety.
When the king reclined on Savamvati’s couch after dinner, she secretly removed the garlands to let the snake out of the cavity. The snake being full of fury made a hissing sound and approached. The king. Magandi pretended to be shocked, scolded Sammavati and her attendants and blamed the king for not listening to her warnings.
King Utena, being ignorant of Magandi’s sinister plot, got very angry and picked up his bow and arrow to shoot the innocent queen and her attendants.
At the moment Samavati told her attendents not to feel hatred or anger against the kings and Magandi, but only to propagate metta, as they have always been doing (loving- kindness) to them. She said except metta there was no savior in sight at such a time. She urged all to emanate metta thoughts to both the Kings and Magadi as much as possible, and dispel all thoughts of grudge, anger and revenge.
So the attendants, well tamed under the guidance of Queen Samvati, cultivated loving- kindness t King Utena and Magandi. The angry king could not conquer his anger and released an arrow. Due to the power of meta, the arrow turned back towards him. At once the king recovered his senses and, kneeling in front of Samavati, begged for forgiveness. He now realized his own thoughtlessness.
Moral of the Jataka
Queen Magandi was envious and jealous of Queen Samavati who was more beautiful and popular. She was infested with issa and dosa. Therefore, she plotted evil schemes with maya. King Utena, on seeing the snake, was overcome with dosa. When the arrow boomeranged, he experienced great fear under the influence of dosa,domanassa. Queen Samvati and her attendants being good- natured propagated metta even towards their enemies.
In this age, those who want to live a highly virtuous life shoud emulate the attitude and behavior of Queen Samvati, In the the face of envy, jealously and ill-will once should improve one’s mond and extinguish the desire to avenge on others. Given the opportunity to do service others, do so even to those who had been malicious to you. Make good use of the priceless weapon known as metta. Metta is water, dosa is fire. The more the water, the easier it is to fight the flames. Therefore, one ought to try to diminish one’s anger and foster loiving-kindness to all beings.
Once cannot say such forms of pema never develop into true metta; even a cow’s love for her calf can bring about arising of kusala citta, wholesome consciousness. Once upon a time ac cow was breast-feeding her young calf, with true metta. At that very moment, a hunter threw a spear at her. However, due to her immense metta for her calf, the spear became flaccid like a palm leaf and caused her on harm at all. This is the evidence that love between relatives, friends; husband and wife, parents and children can develop into true metta.
The metta of Queen Suamvati
In the ancient kingdom of Kosambi, King Utena had there queens, namely, Smavati, Magandi and Vasuladattadevi. While Samvatin was devoted to the Tira-tana ( There Gems), Maghadi, since her maiden day bore a grude against the Buddha. She used to fine fault on Samavati, who always practiced metta bhavana. King Utena rotated his visits to the three chambers of his queens respectively; and he was very dexterous with the harp.
Once day, when the turn to visit Samavati’s room came, Magdi put a poisonous snake which she got from her uncle, into the cavity of the king’s harp and placed many garlands so as to stop the snake from coming out. Then she told he king not to go to Samavati’s chameber as she had a horrid nightmare to be interpreted as a bad omen. But the king, heedless of her warnings, went to was very concerned about the king’s safety.
When the king reclined on Savamvati’s couch after dinner, she secretly removed the garlands to let the snake out of the cavity. The snake being full of fury made a hissing sound and approached. The king. Magandi pretended to be shocked, scolded Sammavati and her attendants and blamed the king for not listening to her warnings.
King Utena, being ignorant of Magandi’s sinister plot, got very angry and picked up his bow and arrow to shoot the innocent queen and her attendants.
At the moment Samavati told her attendents not to feel hatred or anger against the kings and Magandi, but only to propagate metta, as they have always been doing (loving- kindness) to them. She said except metta there was no savior in sight at such a time. She urged all to emanate metta thoughts to both the Kings and Magadi as much as possible, and dispel all thoughts of grudge, anger and revenge.
So the attendants, well tamed under the guidance of Queen Samvati, cultivated loving- kindness t King Utena and Magandi. The angry king could not conquer his anger and released an arrow. Due to the power of meta, the arrow turned back towards him. At once the king recovered his senses and, kneeling in front of Samavati, begged for forgiveness. He now realized his own thoughtlessness.
Moral of the Jataka
Queen Magandi was envious and jealous of Queen Samavati who was more beautiful and popular. She was infested with issa and dosa. Therefore, she plotted evil schemes with maya. King Utena, on seeing the snake, was overcome with dosa. When the arrow boomeranged, he experienced great fear under the influence of dosa,domanassa. Queen Samvati and her attendants being good- natured propagated metta even towards their enemies.
In this age, those who want to live a highly virtuous life shoud emulate the attitude and behavior of Queen Samvati, In the the face of envy, jealously and ill-will once should improve one’s mond and extinguish the desire to avenge on others. Given the opportunity to do service others, do so even to those who had been malicious to you. Make good use of the priceless weapon known as metta. Metta is water, dosa is fire. The more the water, the easier it is to fight the flames. Therefore, one ought to try to diminish one’s anger and foster loiving-kindness to all beings.
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