Parables of Wisdom
The Six Leshyas and the Jambu Tree
छह लेश्याएँ और जामुन का पेड़ · છ લેશ્યા અને જાંબુનું ઝાડ
Six hungry travellers, one tree, and six colours of the heart
- 4 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- For all ages
Six hungry travellers find a tree full of ripe jamun fruit, and each has an idea for how to eat. Their six ideas become a famous picture of the six leshyas, the colours of the soul.
What it teaches Leshya Ahimsa Inner attitude
The opening of the children's telling
Once upon a time, six friends were walking through a big forest. They were very hungry. Then they saw a tall jamun tree, full of sweet purple fruit. Birds were singing in its branches.
"Yum!" they said. "How shall we eat?"
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
We can meet our needs with very little harm, if our heart chooses the gentle way.
To talk about together
Which of the six travellers would you like to be, and what is one way you can be gentle like him tomorrow?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.