Week 4 Reading Diary: Jataka Tales

This weeks reading diary are shot stories come from the Jataka Tales (Babbitt).  These are ancient stories from India, the “birth tales” of the Buddha.   

1. The Monkey and the Crocodile

-I like how the Monkey and Crocodile had conversations, and how they were so blunt with each other.  The crocodile was so focused on getting the monkey’s heart he didn't think though a plan, thankfully for the monkey he was able to see though the dumbness of the crocodile. 

(The Monkey and the Crocodile) 

2. How the Turtle Saved His Own Life

-This story taught me that we shouldn’t make actions against others unless we know about them.  The king and sons judged the turtle, thinking he couldn't swim, and ended up keeping him alive.

3. The Turtle Who Couldn’t Stop Talking

-I have read a story like this, so I knew that the turtle would die because he could not follow the rules, but why couldn't the geese tell him why he couldn’t talk? Maybe if they had explained to him that he couldn’t hang while talking he would have survived. 

4. The Ox Who Won the Forfeit

- When the man said “Why did he (Ox) Shame me today?” that should have been his clue that he had shammed the Ox by calling him names he had never before.  Good message about not looking at our own actions, before judging others.

5. The Quarrel of the Quails

-Because both sides of the net weren’t getting along, they were once again captured, if only they had a little but more communication they could have been saved. 

6. The Foolish, Timid Rabbit

-This is a great story to learn about not being a follower, but to be a leader.  The lion being king instead of following he ran back to see the problem to only find out that there was no problem to start with. 

7. The Banyan Deer

-The Banyan Deer showed great leadership by taking the fault so that another could live. It was sweet to read about how he would take his life so that a baby deer would not be without their mother. 

8. The Princes and the Water –Sprite

-I don't like how the princes had to leave just because the mother wanted the third son to be king.  Maybe if they had talked though this with the son they would have realized that he didn't care as long as he was with his brothers.  

9. The Kings White Elephant

-This story reminds me of the phrase ‘Pass it On’ the elephant was thankful so he made sure he could be helpful.  I didn't like how they took the baby elephant away form the kids to that played with him, just because the king wanted him.. that's annoying.

10. The Ox Who Envied the Pig

 -Great message to not envy other people for we do not know why they are doing what they are doing.  We should only worry about ourselves.

11. The Crab and the Crane

-A dark twist there at the end when the Crane gets his head pinched off by the Crab.  I was really hoping that the Crane wanted to help the fish. 

12. The Girl Monkey and the String of Pearls

-I don't blame the Girl Monkey for taking the pearls, I mean I would probably to the same thing. 

13. The Three Fishes

-I love the idea of the names of the fishes, It would have been more interesting to see that Very-Thoughtful fish was to give his life while helping the other two fish to teach them a lesson about being very-thoughtful.

14. The Tricky Wolf and the Rats

-Can’t be tricky forever… I liked how the Rats were able to overcome the Wolf’s tricks.