Reading Notes: Jataka Tales, Part A

Jataka Tales, Part A

by Ellen C. Babbitt

The Monkey and the Crocodile

• The Monkey outsmarted the Crocodile. 
• The Crocodile believed everything that the Monkey told him. 
• Lesson: One should not believe everything that is told to him/her.

How the Turtle Saved His Own Life

• The Turtle outsmarted those who were about to kill him through reverse psychology. 
• A proposed way to kill the turtle would actually save the Turtle. So, the Turtle complained about that specific way of "killing" him. Therefore, the men "killed" the Turtle in that way and the Turtle lived.
• Lesson: Reverse psychology works (sometimes).

The Merchant of Seri

• Lesson: Greedy people never win. 
• The grandma was the sweetest in this story. She would give up her only physical remembrance of her late husband to make her granddaughter happy with a gift. 
• The greedy merchant said that her bowl was not worth much at all. 
• The kind merchant said it was worth more than everything he had combined. 
• The kind merchant got the golden bowl.

The Turtle Who Couldn't Stop Talking

• Lesson #1: We have to know when we should keep our mouth shut. 
• My thoughts: Every person has a voice. We have the right to use our voice to speak our minds and to make positive change in this world. However, if what we will use our voices for will insult another, we should keep our mouth shut. (Insulting another did not happen in this tale; however, it is a reason why we should keep our mouth shut.) However, I would like to point out there is a difference between keeping one's mouth shut to prevent someone's feelings from getting hurt and keeping one's mouth shut to not insult another.
• Lesson #2: Don't listen to other people mocking you. Be you.
• Children were mocking the Turtle which caused him to open his mouth.

The Ox Who Won the Forfeit

• Lesson: Be kind. Even if you are in a higher position than another, still, be kind. 

The Sandy Road

• Lesson: Don't every give up. 

The Quarrel of Quails

• Lesson: When find strength in working with each other.

The Measure of Rice

• Lesson: Honesty is the best policy.

The Foolish, Timid Rabbit

• Lesson #1: Do not automatically assume. Check the facts first.
• Lesson #2: One cannot believe everything they hear. 

The image above is from the World Health Organization's website. During this time of the COVID-19 pandemic affecting our entire Earth, we need to find strength in working with each other, rather than against. The story of the Quarrel of the Quails reminded me of this lesson. 

This link provides other tips to help us during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic from the World Health Organization. 

Bibliography: Jataka Tales, Part A. Author: Ellen C. Babbitt. Illustrator: Ellsworth Young. 1912.