Reading Week 15: Jataka Part B

Unfriendly Crow

There once was a pigeon that was a Bodhisatta. He lived happily in the kitchen of a cook. The cook hung up for him a basket for him to live alongside the other cooks. Everyday the pigeon would fly out in search of food and at night return. A crow happened to be passing by smelt the food and went in search of it. The crow saw the pigeon fly in and out of the house at will. The crow needed to figure out a ay to get into the house so that he might taste of the food. So, one day the pigeon flew out of the house and the crow followed him. The pigeon asked the crow why he was following him, and he said he wanted to be by his side. The Bodhisatta said that was fine but the crow didn’t eat what he did. The crow said that was fine he would get his own food and just wanted to be by his side. The pigeon allowed it and they eventually headed home back to the kitchen. When they got there the cooks hung up a second basket for the crow. The crow lived in the basket with the pigeon for sometime until he figured it was safe to eat the food. He played sick all night until morning. The pigeon knew his plan and tried to council him out of it. The Bodhisatta to no avail at swaying the pigeon left and said don’t be greedy. He came back to find the crow with his feathers plucked about to be killed for attempted theft. 

Bibliography: Jataka Tales by H.T Francis and E. J Thomas

 

Corvidae by Unkown

Reading Week 15: Jataka Part A

Cold Half of the Month

There once was two friends that lived together in a cave. One was a monkey one was a tiger. They once got into an argument about the cold. One said that it was cold in the light half the month. The other said it was cold in the dark half the month. They couldn’t establish who was correct and kept arguing about it for some time. They decided to get a third opinion on this and went and asked the Bodhistta that lived at the bottom of the hill. The Bodhistta told that whether it be dark or light it be cold because of the wind. Because the cold is brought by the wind and that both are correct. The Bodhistta told them to make up and settle this dispute amongst them. 

Bibligraphy: Cold Half of the Month by H.T. Francis and E. J. Thomas

 

Cold by Emily Kagey

Week 14 Story

Lying Man

Once upon a time there was a golden circlet that the gods made to give powers to humans that deserved it. The gods said if you didn’t lie, didn’t steal, and didn’t kill you were worthy of this circlet to wear upon your head.

There was a proud man that felt himself above all others. His self-righteousness had no bounds and he thought himself the only person to truly be worthy of these circlets. The man decided to approach the gods and to tell them of his greatness and that he was most worthy of the circlet. When he got to the gods alter, he was asked to step forward and say his name. The man stepped forward and said, “My name is Donald Trump and I am worthy of these circlets.” “I have a yuge respect for others, so I never lie, steal or kill.” Trump explained. The gods then bestowed the first circlet upon his head.

Then Trump saw the next circlet on the alter. The gods then said, “To be worthy of the second circlet the person must be humble, must not lose his head at the height of fame, and must earn his wealth honestly.” Trump thought to himself, smiled, and said, “I of course meet all of these qualifications. I am the humblest person, I never lose my head even though I am the most famous person, and all my wealth has been earned honestly.” The gods then placed the second circlet upon his head.

The third circlet seemed to shine the brightest and Trump so wanted it. “What do I have to be to get the last circlet?” asked Trump. The gods said, “You must be kind hearted, respecting of others, and most of all must value others above yourself.” Trump said, “I have all of these of course. I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t. Place the last circlet upon my head.” Then the gods placed the last circlet upon his head.

Trump felt a burning in his head he never felt before. He cried out to the gods, “Please take this pain away I meet all the qualifications….” “You have lied before us and shall live in pain for the rest of your days. Also, all your hair shall fall out and you shall forever stand out.” From that day on Trump had to wear a toupee and was orange.

Author’s Note: The original story is about a man that thought himself greater than he was. The gods had wreaths they would bestow upon men’s heads if they were worthy and met the qualifications. So, the man lied and said he had the qualifications that the gods were asking for. In the end he suffered greatly for his lies. When reading this I thought of Donald Trump so decided to go with a satire story about it. I also included why he looks the way he does. I changed up a bit of the qualifications but kept much of the story the same. I also changed the consequences to orange skin and balding.

Bibliography: The Man Who Told a Lie by Marie L. Shedlock

 

Medieval Circlet 3 by Madonna of Veveri