Sunday, March 15, 2020

Reading Notes: Twenty Jataka Tales Part A

The Guilty Dogs: Source

The royal dogs chew on the leather straps of the king's chariot. The King commands that all of the dogs in the city be killed as a result. The king of the dogs goes to the king of the city and asks how his decision can possibly be fair. The king implies that because he does not know who ruined his chariot, all dogs must suffer. The king of the dogs reveals who actually ruined the chariot; it was the royal dogs.
The lesson to take away: do not punish the many for the actions of the few.


The Fairy and the Hare: Source

A hare and hist three animal friends search for food everyday. One day, they feel the urge to help others. They decide that any food they find with be given to others so they may eat as well. The hare's three friends each find/steal food to give to others. The hare decides he will offer himself as food. A fairy disguises herself as an old starving man. She turns down the food offered by the hare's friends. The hare offers up himself as food. The fairy makes a fire. The hare leaps in, but doesn't cook. It's a magical fire! The fairy thanks the hare for his kindness.
The lesson: Self-sacrifice is the greatest form of sacrifice.


The Golden Feathers: Source

A man sets out on a quest to find riches for his family. Wandering the forest, he finds a fairy who asks what he is doing. He explains he is looking for riches for his family. The fairy turns the man into a golden goose! He flies back to his family, gives them a single feather for them to sell, and he flies away. The mother sells the feather. She tells her daughters that they have to trap the golden goose if he returns that so that might stay wealthy. The goose returns and is trapped. Yet, his feathers, forcefully taken from him, are white rather than golden. The goose is now useless. They release the goose, and his feathers become golden again. He lives out his days in the forest with the other birds.
The lesson: Don't be selfish when offered something out of kindness.


The Swan Kingdom: Source

Sixty thousand swans live in the world's most gorgeous lake, ruled by the king swan. A human king wants to meet the swan king but does not know where to find him. The humans build the most gorgeous lake in the world, even more beautiful than the swans' lake. Each day they cry out that all swans are welcome at this lake. Eventually, two swans of the swan kingdom visit the lake. They return home to tell the others of this lake. The king swan, overwhelmed by the will of his people, decrees that they should go to the new lake. While there, the king swan is trapped. All of the swans abandon their king except one loyal swan. The swan's loyalty inspires the human king. He treats the swans as a guest and eventually sets them free.
The lesson: Loyalty is one of the world's most desirable qualities.

Two inseparable swans, like in the story

The Master's Test: Source

An old teacher is teaching his younger students. He tells them that they need to get money so that he may continue living. He tells the students to find a place where no one is watching and steal from the rich. One pupil questions the teacher as the other students leave. He says he cannot steal, as even if "no one" is watching, he is still watching himself. The other students are ashamed that they did not understand this message, but they learn from their mistakes.


No comments:

Post a Comment