MN 27 · Perumpamaan Jejak Kaki Gajah yang Lebih Pendek

Tokoh, tempat, dan gagasan utamanya

Terkesan oleh pujian pengembara Pilotika terhadap Buddha, brahmana Jāṇussoṇi menemui Buddha sendiri, yang lalu menjelaskan perumpamaan jejak kaki gajah untuk menggambarkan keyakinan yang belum dan sudah teruji sepenuhnya.

TOKOH

Buddha

Guru yang menjelaskan perumpamaan jejak kaki gajah kepada brahmana Jāṇussoṇi.

TOKOH

Jāṇussoṇi

Brahmana yang terkesan oleh pujian pengembara Pilotika terhadap Buddha, lalu menemui Buddha sendiri untuk mendengar penjelasannya.

TEMPAT

Jetavana

Wihara di Sāvatthī, tempat Jāṇussoṇi akhirnya menemui Buddha.

KONSEP

Jejak kaki gajah

Seperti jejak kaki gajah yang besar belum tentu berasal dari gajah terbesar sebelum dilihat langsung, keyakinan pada Buddha juga perlu diuji secara bertahap, bukan sekadar dari kesan awal.

Visual pengantar Tiga Keranjang · bukan bagian dari teks kanonik.

Sinopsis singkat

Brahmana Jāṇussoṇi bertanya kepada pengembara Pilotika tentang Buddha. Pilotika menjawab dengan perumpamaan jejak kaki gajah: dari jejak yang besar seseorang menduga ada gajah besar, tetapi kepastian baru diperoleh setelah melihat hewan itu sendiri. Ketika kisah percakapan tersebut disampaikan kepada Buddha, Buddha memperluas perumpamaan itu. Ia menggambarkan bagaimana seseorang mendengar tentang Tathāgata, memperoleh keyakinan, meninggalkan kehidupan rumah tangga, melatih sila dan penjagaan indra, mengatasi rintangan, memasuki jhāna, lalu memperoleh pengetahuan langsung. Hanya setelah pengalaman pembebasan itulah ‘jejak gajah’ menjadi lengkap dan keyakinan terhadap Buddha tidak lagi sekadar berdasarkan kesan dari luar.

BAGIAN 13

mn27:13.1 Once they’ve gone forth, they take up the training and livelihood of the mendicants. They give up killing living creatures, renouncing the rod and the sword. They’re scrupulous and kind, living full of sympathy for all living beings.

mn27:13.2 They give up stealing. They take only what’s given, and expect only what’s given. They keep themselves clean by not thieving.

mn27:13.3 They give up unchastity. They are chaste, set apart, refraining from the vulgar act of sex.

mn27:13.4 They give up lying. They speak the truth and stick to the truth. They’re honest and dependable, and don’t trick the world with their words.

mn27:13.5 They give up backbiting. They don’t repeat in one place what they heard in another so as to divide people against each other. Instead, they reconcile those who are divided and support those who are united, delighting in harmony, loving harmony, speaking words that promote harmony.

mn27:13.6 They give up harsh speech. They speak in a way that’s mellow, pleasing to the ear, endearing, going to the heart, polite, likable, and agreeable to the people.

mn27:13.7 They give up talking nonsense. Their words are timely, true, and meaningful, in line with the teaching and training. They say things at the right time which are valuable, reasonable, succinct, and beneficial.

mn27:13.8 They refrain from injuring plants and seeds.

mn27:13.9 They eat in one part of the day, abstaining from eating at night and at the wrong time.

mn27:13.10 They refrain from seeing shows of dancing, singing, and music.

mn27:13.11 They refrain from attiring and adorning themselves with garlands, fragrance, and makeup.

mn27:13.12 They refrain from high and luxurious beds.

mn27:13.13 They refrain from receiving gold and currency,

mn27:13.14 raw grains,

mn27:13.15 raw meat,

mn27:13.16 women and girls,

mn27:13.17 male and female bondservants,

mn27:13.18 goats and sheep,

mn27:13.19 chickens and pigs,

mn27:13.20 elephants, cows, horses, and mares,

mn27:13.21 and fields and land.

mn27:13.22 They refrain from running errands and messages;

mn27:13.23 buying and selling;

mn27:13.24 falsifying weights, metals, or measures;

mn27:13.25 bribery, fraud, cheating, and duplicity;

mn27:13.26 mutilation, murder, abduction, banditry, plunder, and violence.