A Tale of Two Merchants | Apannaka Jataka | Animated Buddhist Stories

Summary

In this story, Anathapindika brings five hundred of his friends to meet the Buddha, but after the Buddha leaves, they lose their faith. The Buddha teaches them the importance of refuge in the Triple Gem and the dangers of following unreliable paths. He then shares a past story about a wise merchant and a foolish merchant. The foolish merchant is deceived by a yakkha, losing his entire group, while the wise merchant avoids the trap and succeeds. The Buddha concludes by emphasizing the importance of following the path of truth and wisdom to achieve enlightenment and avoid suffering.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Buddha's teachings highlight the importance of taking refuge in the Triple Gem (Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha) as the ultimate source of safety and spiritual guidance.
• 😀 People who abandon the refuge in the Buddha's teachings for other doctrines are at risk of going astray and missing the path to liberation.
• 😀 The story emphasizes the contrast between following truth and being misled by deceitful promises, which can lead to destruction.
• 😀 In ancient times, people who sought refuge in unreliable things often met disastrous fates, while those who followed the path of truth prospered.
• 😀 Meditation on the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha leads to various stages of enlightenment and ultimate liberation from suffering.
• 😀 The Buddha teaches that walking the path of truth, in line with the teachings of the Buddha, results in positive outcomes such as heavenly rebirths and enlightenment.
• 😀 A story is told of a wise merchant who avoided disaster by rejecting deceptive offers and instead carefully planned his journey, focusing on truth.
• 😀 The foolish merchant's decision to discard his supplies based on false promises led to the destruction of his entire caravan by a yakkha, symbolizing the dangers of ignoring truth.
• 😀 The wise merchant, guided by discernment, avoided similar traps and ensured the safety and prosperity of his caravan, demonstrating the importance of wisdom and careful decision-making.
• 😀 The story of the merchants serves as a metaphor for the choices we make in life: following falsehoods leads to suffering, while following the path of truth leads to safety, success, and spiritual advancement.

Q & A

Why did the five hundred friends of Anathapindika lose their faith after the Buddha left for Rajagaha?

The five hundred friends lost their faith because, without the Buddha's presence and teachings, they reverted to following other doctrines, as they lacked the steadfast commitment to the Buddha's teachings.

What was the Buddha's main message to the five hundred friends when they expressed regret?

The Buddha emphasized that there is nothing in the world that compares to a Buddha, and that those who seek refuge in the Triple Gem (Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha) will be reborn in a better state, avoiding hell and suffering.

What does the story of the Bodhisatta's past life as a wise merchant teach about wisdom and decision-making?

The story highlights the importance of making decisions based on careful thought and discernment, rather than acting out of greed or immediate desires. The Bodhisatta's wisdom in waiting and observing before making decisions allowed him to avoid pitfalls, while the foolish merchant's impulsive decision led to disaster.

What role did the yakkha play in the foolish merchant's downfall?

The yakkha used deception by presenting a false narrative about abundant water and resources, tricking the foolish merchant into discarding his water supply. This led to the merchant's group's eventual death by dehydration and the yakkha’s feast on their remains.

How did the Bodhisatta's behavior differ from the foolish merchant's when they encountered the yakkha?

Unlike the foolish merchant, the Bodhisatta remained cautious, skeptical of the yakkha's promises, and focused on logical reasoning. He noticed inconsistencies in the yakkha's story, such as the lack of clouds and the yakkha’s shadowless appearance, which led him to avoid the trap.

What lesson can be drawn from the Bodhisatta’s decision to wait six weeks before starting his journey?

The Bodhisatta's decision to wait and prepare thoroughly teaches the importance of patience, careful planning, and not rushing into decisions without considering all factors, especially when facing uncertainty or potential risks.

What did the Bodhisatta's men learn from his response to the yakkha’s deception?

The Bodhisatta’s men learned to prioritize truth over temptation. His reasoning and ability to see beyond surface-level attractions taught them to trust their own discernment and avoid falling for false promises.

How did the Bodhisatta's caravan ensure their safety and success during the journey?

The Bodhisatta’s caravan ensured their safety by maintaining careful vigilance, strictly controlling their water usage, and preparing for potential threats. They also had a plan in place to deal with the harsh environment, showing foresight and practicality.

What does the contrast between the two merchants symbolize in the context of the Buddha’s teachings?

The contrast symbolizes the difference between acting out of wisdom and discernment versus acting out of greed and ignorance. The wise merchant (the Bodhisatta) represents those who follow the Buddha’s teachings and avoid distractions, while the foolish merchant (Devadatta) represents those who pursue false doctrines and suffer the consequences.

How does the Buddha use the story of the merchants to teach about the consequences of following false teachings?

The Buddha uses the story to show that following false teachings, represented by the foolish merchant’s actions, leads to destruction and suffering. In contrast, following the path of truth, wisdom, and the Buddha’s teachings ensures safety, prosperity, and spiritual liberation.