Before Buddha Was Buddha: Learning from the Jataka Tales

I have known Rafe for over 35 years, since before he set up the Oxcart Bookstore in the 1970's. In that time I have witnessed his burgeoning fascination, involvement, and (positively meant) obsession with the Jataka Tales. The Jatakas are the stories of the Buddha "before he was Buddha," living through many lives of development, overcoming obstacles, reborn in various forms, struggling and meeting adverse circumstances. "The Buddhas and ancestors were like us; in the future we shall become Buddhas and ancestors." This is Rafe's third long-book treatment of the Jatakas. The first was The Hungry Tigress (1990); then Endless Path (2010); finally the present volume (2018). In the course of these years he received dharma transmission from Danan Henry Roshi as an independent Zen teacher in the Kapleau and Aitken branches of the Harada-Yasutani lineage. The evolution of Rafe's writing from book to book is quite notable. The Hungry Tigress was rather careful and stiff; Before Buddha Was Buddha is much more wide-ranging, confident, sensitive, deeper, and especially freer--more and more individuated. Rafe has always been a serious writer, and this gradual change in voice is certainly a manifestation of what Torei Zenji called the Long Maturation--the deepening integration and actualization of insight in daily life and work--as unmistakable as the refinement of calligraphy throughout the life of a long-lived teacher, steadily growing more skilled, natural, confident, deft, and playful.

The reviewer Hogen Bays, co-abbot of Great Vow Zen Monastery says on the back jacket, “Clearly the result of decades of practice and insight, written by a very mature teacher.” With that I would whole heartedly agree. However, it also is written by someone with the insight of, to quote a lyric from David Bowie, “An absolute beginner”. Therein lies the beauty and intimacy of this book. Rafe Martin shares these jataka tales of the Buddha’s past lives and shows us a Buddha to be beginning again and again, face to face with challenges similar to those many of us must deal with (or not) in our own lives. The tales are amazing, their relevance to us a thousand or two thousand years’ later spot on. But what helps to really bring them home is Rafe Martin’s commentary and his ability to connect these ancient yet timeless jatakas to a host of other classic and contemporary writers and events. The works of William Blake, Leonard Cohen, James Joyce, Bob Dylan and the Brothers Grimm etc. are all quoted and infuse the tales with a language that speaks from multiple sources across the ages. Quite simply; simple, profound and beautiful.

This book just arrived and I'm already halfway through - and enthralled! Rafe Martin is a master storyteller (truly - he's received numerous awards and accolades for his oral storytelling) and a well-seasoned hand in Zen practice. Now a Zen teacher, Rafe brings his insight and compassionate outlook to an explanation of these ancient stories (Jataka Tales) of the Buddha in his prior lifetimes (as "The Bodhisattva") - making them clear and pertinent to practitioners (like me) in the 21st Century West.Rafe, uniquely, has led numerous "Jataka sesshins" where he has delivered a daily dharma talk on any one of these several hundred Tales in the Buddhist canon. His interest in these stories is decades-old, and his grasp of the many essential teaching points is inspiring. Easy to read (I'm starting to read the book aloud with a friend) and fun to explore, this book will be a helpful companion to anyone on a spiritual path or just trying to live a better, more human, life. Highly recommended!

Rafe Martin does something marvelous in this short book of commentaries on 16 Jataka Tales (and 1 koan). In his lucid and colloquial prose, Martin introduces us to an extraordinarily human Bodhisattva prior to his enlightenment as the Buddha—human even when he incarnates as a deer, a quail, a monkey or a parrot. Each tale illuminates the difficulty of the path, the many setbacks he encountered, and his drive to learn from each experience until all learning was extinguished. But in doing so, Martin reveals how much our own issues are of the same substance as the Buddha’s, and how the Buddha’s path is one not that dissimilar from our own. Out of that arises a profound inspiration to continue, to practice, to fully engage in our lives. Martin’s writing is down to earth, and his commentaries illuminating, subtle and yet easy to grasp. He has brought these ancient tales to life, making them relevant to all today, whether you are Buddhist or not.

I have read many books on Buddhism, zen, religion and philosophy. This was the first book, however, that I have read on the Jataka Tales. From what I have read I would imagine that these stories would speak to different people, young and old, the neophyte and adept, those seeking and those otherwise engaged. I have found this book to be insightful and inspiring, written with perspective, clarity and depth. I hope these stories find their way to broader society, as they have clear applicability and value outside of "Buddhism".

This is an important book for Buddhist practice and a great help for practitioners. These stories show the Buddha in difficult life circumstances, not unlike our own. The Buddha, in these tales, could be blinded by the same sticky everyday habits that we have. But he also always pressed forward and that is an inspiration to us all. These stories and Rafe Martin's penetrating commentary, show us that our failings are not absolute and that grappling with them is in actuality what Buddhist practice is about. Highly recommended!

There's no better guide through the rich and subtle terrain of jataka tales than master storyteller & Zen teacher Rafe Martin. In his latest book, Before Buddha was Buddha, Martin is at the height of his powers. In Martin's capable hands, these narratives of Buddha's former lives (whether human or animal) are not abstract fairy tales about reincarnation. They are, rather, practical guides to living an ordinary life with extraordinary meaning and depth.

Rafe writes with such elegance, wisdom and erudition that I felt I was hearing the stories straight from Budhha himself. I have been a seeker of the spiritual path for a long long time and very very familiar with the Jataka tales (since childhood). But never, ever had I heard such beautiful enlightening commentary of the stories. Rafe combines Zen philosophy with the stories and what struck out for me was the practical definition of enlightenment. Please please please read this book if you are on the spiritual path or wondering what spirituality is.

This is an excellent re-telling of some of the jataka tales, thoroughly enjoyable to read (and re-read), and packed with wisdom made relevant for our normal, everyday lives. I find that these stories touch on very deep aspects of existence/experience, and although that may sound heavy, the author uses a good sense of humor and a friendly tone, especially for his insightful commentaries. Suitable for a total new-comer to Buddhist teachings, or for an advanced student of the dharma. Timeless teachings, highly recommended!

Un volume decisamente ottimo per apprezzare alcune delle storie più significative della vita del Buddha con l’ottimo commento di un maestro zen.