Rabbit’s Great Dana

We had a Spring Higan Service at the Buddhist Temple of San Diego last month. As you all know, higan is Japanese for the Sanskrit word paramita and means the transition from “this shore” of the world of delusion to “the other shore” of the world of enlightenment. In other words, it is a precious calling voice that is urging us to board Amida Buddha’s great vessel that will take us from this world of delusion to the world of enlightenment. Once again, I deeply appreciate that your ancestors who immigrated to America over 100 years ago brought and protected the invaluable Japanese original Buddhist Service.

Mahayana Buddhism recommends that we practice the Six Paramitas as a way to reach the other shore. Dana is the first of the Six Paramitas.

Dana is a very difficult practice because we must try earnestly to act for others’ benefit, not only by giving money and property. This type of giving never demands a reward and it is very important to try to do whatever you can for others with pleasure. If a person who performs the Dana is able to appreciate that he was able to do so, it is a real Dana. Don’t you think that it is very difficult practice?

For this month’s message, I would like to relate “Rabbit’s Great Dana” from the Jataka Tales.

Once upon a time, a wise rabbit lived in a deep forest. Rabbit had three good friends who were Otter, Wolf, and Monkey. They lived together happily by helping each other.

One morning, Rabbit called them together and said, “Today is the day to give something to poor people who ask for food. If we try to follow this teaching, good things will happen to us. If a person visits us asking for food, let us give it to him with pleasure!”

Those who were sympathetic to his suggestion went out to search for food.

Otter caught seven fishes in the Ganges. Wolf got the meat of a lizard and a pot containing milk from the watchman’s house by the rice field. Monkey picked some mangos in the forest.

Rabbit, on the other hand, was short of food because winter had come. Therefore, Rabbit had no choice but to eat the dry grass which was spread out near his bed.

Rabbit thought, “If a mendicant monk visits me to ask for alms, I won’t be able to give delicious fresh grass. I don’t have even sesame, rice, or beans. So, if somebody asks for alms, I will sacrifice my body with pleasure.”

Well, in Heaven, Sakra-Devendra, who was the lord god, was aware of the animals’ sincerity in trying to follow the precept, and he wanted to make sure whether their feelings were sincere or not. Sakra-Devendra transformed himself into a shabby Brahman priest and approached them and asked for some food.

Otter brought seven fishes, Wolf brought the meat of lizard and the pot of milk, and Monkey brought mangos to the priest. The three animals pleased him greatly.

Then Rabbit, who had been watching, said to the priest, “I don’t have any fresh grass, so I will give you my body. When you have gathered firewood and made a fire, please let me know. When you do that, I will jump into the fire. After my body is cooked, you eat and strive to continue your practice.”

When the Brahman priest heard Rabbit, he nodded his head silently and magically created an instant fire. Like the swan that lives in the flowers of the lotus that blooms in glorious beauty, Rabbit threw himself into crimson flames with a beautiful smile.

However—and nobody knows why—the crimson fire did not burn even one hair of Rabbit’s body.

“The fire that you made is as cold as snow. What happened to me?” asked the bewildered Rabbit.

At that moment, the Brahman priest transformed himself back into Sakra-Devendra. He put his hands together before Rabbit and apologized to him for doubting his sincerity.

Although Rabbit was stunned for a moment, he said clearly, “I see. But, even if everyone from all over the world tests me, not one will be able to shake my willingness to give as I have.”

Sakra-Devendra was moved deeply by Rabbit’s great Dana. He opened his arms to the surrounding mountain range and said, “May your wonderful deed become widely known forever!”

Strangely, the mountain range contracted as if squeezed by his hands. He painted a picture of the Rabbit on the lunar surface with the juice of the mountains. Sakra-Devendra wished Rabbit’s virtue would become a good example for the people of the world forever.

Although there are many methods of Dana, can we inherit Rabbit’s spirit as a Buddhist? Tonight, as we gaze up at the silvery moon, let us praise the Rabbit for his noble Dana practice. Gassho.