Reading Notes: Francis and Thomas Jataka Tales, Part C
The Great Dreams
This story was really a set of prophecies regarding the coming doom of humanity, disguised in the form of sixteen great dreams experienced by a reigning king and interpreted by the Bodhisatta.
The Converted Miser
This story involves an older father who masquerades as his miserly son in order to teach him a lesson about generosity. Felt more like a prank than anything else.
The Valiant Dwarf
Bodhisatta, a dwarf in this life, lives vicariously through the puppet archer he uses to cement his place within the King's retinue.
The Stolen Jewels
A monkey secretly snatches the queen's pearl necklace, and the blame is passed from one to another of the court retinue.
The Too-Clever Merchant
This was an adorable story about two merchants: Wise and Wisest. Wisest decided he deserved two shares from their venture (because with names like that, they'd be fools not to work together), and arranges for his father to hide in a log and pretend to be the voice of god decreeing that "Wisest gets a double share." Wise (the Bodhisatta), sets the tree on fire, and the share is split equally.
The Loquacious Brahmin
I really didn't think I'd be reading about a priest accidentally swallowing goat dung. However, as a treatment for overly talkative individuals, it is highly effective. A skilled marksman shoots pieces of dung into the jaws of a priest who never shuts up, and the priest is rendered speechless from that day forward.
The Three Fishes
This parable dealt with thoughtfulness, and the three fishes Very-Thoughtful, Thoughtless, and Duly-Thoughtful escape from the clutches of a farmers net through Duly-Thoughtful's quick thinking and good advice.
The Lucky Sneeze
The footnotes for this text say that Buddha tells the tale as a way of ridiculing the superstition regarding sneezing, and certainly illustrates the power of a sneeze in various situations. A pair of lovers, a mock kidnapping, douching (yes, really), and a fake nose all come together in this light-hearted tale.
The Hypocritical Jackal
A hungry jackal impersonates a saintly being in an effort to consume a gathering of rats ruled by the Bodhisatta. The breatharian reference was funny. Over a period of time the rats realize their numbers are shrinking, and the Bodhisatta realizes his saintly friend was really a treacherous predator. The rats eat the entirety of the jackal.
The Golden Goose
This is essentially the same story told in other cultures (Aesop's Fables). But, the goose is actually the reborn Bodhisatta, who chooses to take care of his widow and children by allowing them to take a golden feather each day. They become wary that he will desert them, and pluck them all! His plumage grows back plain white, leaving them without a steady income once more. Kind of sad, really.
The Grateful Mouse
This could honestly be the origins of Tom and Jerry; The Bodhisatta helps a kind mouse escape the daily tribute exerted by several village cats, in an albeit gory manner. Together the mouse and the Bodhisatta live in harmony for all their days.
Bibleography
Jataka Tales, H.T. Francis and E.J. Thomas
This story was really a set of prophecies regarding the coming doom of humanity, disguised in the form of sixteen great dreams experienced by a reigning king and interpreted by the Bodhisatta.
The Converted Miser
This story involves an older father who masquerades as his miserly son in order to teach him a lesson about generosity. Felt more like a prank than anything else.
The Valiant Dwarf
Bodhisatta, a dwarf in this life, lives vicariously through the puppet archer he uses to cement his place within the King's retinue.
The Stolen Jewels
A monkey secretly snatches the queen's pearl necklace, and the blame is passed from one to another of the court retinue.
The Too-Clever Merchant
This was an adorable story about two merchants: Wise and Wisest. Wisest decided he deserved two shares from their venture (because with names like that, they'd be fools not to work together), and arranges for his father to hide in a log and pretend to be the voice of god decreeing that "Wisest gets a double share." Wise (the Bodhisatta), sets the tree on fire, and the share is split equally.
The Loquacious Brahmin
I really didn't think I'd be reading about a priest accidentally swallowing goat dung. However, as a treatment for overly talkative individuals, it is highly effective. A skilled marksman shoots pieces of dung into the jaws of a priest who never shuts up, and the priest is rendered speechless from that day forward.
The Three Fishes
This parable dealt with thoughtfulness, and the three fishes Very-Thoughtful, Thoughtless, and Duly-Thoughtful escape from the clutches of a farmers net through Duly-Thoughtful's quick thinking and good advice.
The Lucky Sneeze
The footnotes for this text say that Buddha tells the tale as a way of ridiculing the superstition regarding sneezing, and certainly illustrates the power of a sneeze in various situations. A pair of lovers, a mock kidnapping, douching (yes, really), and a fake nose all come together in this light-hearted tale.
The Hypocritical Jackal
A hungry jackal impersonates a saintly being in an effort to consume a gathering of rats ruled by the Bodhisatta. The breatharian reference was funny. Over a period of time the rats realize their numbers are shrinking, and the Bodhisatta realizes his saintly friend was really a treacherous predator. The rats eat the entirety of the jackal.
The Golden Goose
This is essentially the same story told in other cultures (Aesop's Fables). But, the goose is actually the reborn Bodhisatta, who chooses to take care of his widow and children by allowing them to take a golden feather each day. They become wary that he will desert them, and pluck them all! His plumage grows back plain white, leaving them without a steady income once more. Kind of sad, really.
The Grateful Mouse
This could honestly be the origins of Tom and Jerry; The Bodhisatta helps a kind mouse escape the daily tribute exerted by several village cats, in an albeit gory manner. Together the mouse and the Bodhisatta live in harmony for all their days.
Bhutanese painted thanka of the Jataka Tales, 18th-19th Century, Phajoding Gonpa, Thimphu, Bhutan
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
Bibleography
Jataka Tales, H.T. Francis and E.J. Thomas
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