Bibliography: Jataka Tales from the Eastern Stories and Legends by Marie Shedlock.
The Merchant Who Overcame All Obstacles
- Buddha born in merchant fam
- sand was so hot during the day no man could walk on it to traverse the desert
- thus at night they traveled and during the day they set up an awning
- one time a merchant had thought that they would cross the remaining desert in a day...had all supplies that were used during the camp out thrown away
- Merchant leading carts fell asleep because he was tired and at day break they were back where they had started but their supplies they had thrown out weren't
- oxen steered back around instead of going forward
- saw a patch of grass and dug and discovered water spring
- when sun set they put a flag and finished the journey to the market
- sold their merchandise, Bodisat lived a good life and passed away
The Elephant That Was Honored In Old Age
- Buddha = PM for King
- once there was a she-elephant who rendered great strength and capabilities...fought battles and won also pulled many carts and was able to travel 100 leagues in a day
- once she grew old her honors were all stripped away from her
- she roamed the forest and ate grass unprotected
- one day chief Potter had not enough oxen to yoke to the carts, thus King says to strap the she-elephant...
- elephant comes to PM to get help in trying to plead her case to the king
- PM does and says to the King why insult her once you've stripped her of her honors...she-elephant restored to her former glory..king realizes mistake
The Faithful Friend
- Brahma-datta was reigning in Benares, the Bodisat became his Minister
- elephant and dog became really good friends
- once a peasant came and bought the dog...elephant grieved at the loss would not eat, drink, or bathe
- King confused sent the pandit to find out what was wrong...discovery was the loss of the dog
- dog is back and both are happy
Hawk and the Osprey
- shores of a natural lake, a Hawk on the south shore, a She-Hawk on the west shore, on the north a Lion, the king of beasts, on the east the Osprey, the king of birds, in the middle a Tortoise on a small island.
- Hawk asked the She-Hawk to become his wife...she asked do you have any friends..he said no..she said go make some and he did with the others
- group of countrymen come about and hear the cry of the baby hawks...she-hawk sends mate to great osprey...osprey is getting tired near midnight putting out fire after fire
- tortoise is recruited and he drags the men into the water
- lion is asked to come and help he says not to worry to the hawk and men run away upon seeing the lion
- friendship between the unlikely was a savior for all their babies
Grandmother's Golden Dish
- Bodisat was a dealer in tin and brass ware = Seriva
- wealthy family reduced to abject poverty
- only grandma and granddaughter remained didn't know they had a plate made of gold since nobody had ate out of it in a long time and it was covered in a layer of dirt
- avaricious hawker was selfish wanted to take the gold plate offered in exchange for the water pot with out having to give them the water pot so he threw it on the floor and walked out
- another seller, Seriva comes and says that the plate is worth 100,000 and told them he doesn't have nearly enough to give them in exchange
- so he gave them 1000 and they were happy and he left and went to the dock
- Hawk comes back only to discover that the family and discovered the truth and runs to the dock but the boat is already gone....his heart bursts from hatred and he dies
The Elephant That Spared Life
- Bodisat = nobleman's son
- "Magha the young Brahmin"
- stick to the five commandments
- nobody doing anything wrong
- a person who used to profit off of people's wrongdoings is angry goes to king saying there are people robbing the village
- king doesn't inquire he sentences them to be tramped by elephants..elephants won't comply
- King had confidence in them, and gave them all the property in the house of the slanderer, and made him their slave; and bestowed, too, the elephant upon them, and made them a grant of the village
How the Antelope Was Caught
- King of Benares had a gardener named Sanjaya
- antelope had a habit of frequenting the garden but fled upon seeing the gardener
- king gives gardener honey to lure him into the palace
- smear honey on patch of grass frequented by the antelope..lust bound
- antelope gains confidence in encounters with the gardener
- one day gardener smears a path all the way to palace..doors closed, antelope is frightened
- released into the forest by the king
The Pupil Who Taught His Teacher
- Buddha was re-born in a Brahmin family and was known as Dhamapala or Law Keeper
- goes to learn from teacher at Takasila
- Head teacher's son dies, he was young
- Head master to journey to Dhamapala household to learn the way of life to live a long life
- Head master tries to tell the Dhamapala household dad that his son is dead, doesn't believe it
- Headmaster asks why, father says they do not die young since 7 generations because:
- We walk in righteousness. We speak no ill. We flee from things that are evil. We take no heed of the foolish. We follow the counsel of the wise. We delight in giving gifts. We feed the hungry. We are faithful in our marriage vows. We are versed in sacred knowledge. Therefore, the young amongst us never die
The Man Who Told a Lie
- four divine beings made their appearance on the Earth to attend a festival of the Gods
- flowers to only be worn by men possessing certain qualities
- a false priest lied just so he would be believed and get the flowers
- confidence grew with the lies
- gods looked down on him and as soon as they left after bestowing him the flowers he was in pain
- he was being weighted down and poked by the flowers, confessed and begged the gods to remove the flowers
- rebuked him in the presence of the people, they removed the flowers from the head of the repentant man and returned to the abode of the Blest
| Hawk and his friends |
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