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

Reading Notes: Week 14 Part B

Lying Man

There once existed a wreath made of flowers that what was given by the gods. When asked what it was for the gods said that it bestowed powers to the one that didn’t have the character flaws they listed. One that didn’t steal, didn’t tell a lie, and the one who didn’t lose his head at the height of fame. There was a false teacher that believed he had all of these. He believed himself to be more than he was for in actuality he violated all of these. He went to the gods and asked them to give him one of these wreaths. They then listed another list that included earning wealth honestly, and he who takes from the cup of pleasure sparingly. And the he asked then for the third wreath that could only be bestowed to he who scorned choice food, never turneth from purpose, and he who keeps faith unchanged. He then asked for the fourth wreath and got even more restrictions that he said he was exempt for. Then when he had the fourth wreath the man felt pain in his head as if thorns were sticking into it. He cried out and cried for mercy and was denied for he spoke falsely. 

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

 

Crown of Thorns by Steve Sullivan