Recorded on October 15, 2023; the 2nd day of the annual Jataka Sesshin held at the Vermont Zen Center.

Roshi Rafe Martin explores the central role of trees in many Jataka tales.  Tales shared:

Bhadda-Kunala Jataka (#465), the Rajovada Jataka (#334), and the Ganatindu Jataka number (#520) in the Pali Jataka  in the of 547 such past-life tales

Jatakas are stories told by the Buddha 2500 years ago of his past lives.  They were one of his central ways of teaching.  Through these tales he resolved complex issues in his Sangha by revealing root causes and demonstrating the working of cause and effect.


Image: Buddhist mythology and legends depicted at a Vipassana Meditation Center, Ms Sarah Welch, CC0, via Wikimedia Commonsfrom Wikimedia

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