Reading Notes: Babbitt. Jataka Tales Part A

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The first nine tails in the Jataka list was full of greed and or selfishness. Many of them had to do with animals but these animals all represented, at least in my opinion, ways many humans can act. They are stories of lessons in which one side is foolish and the other is wise and smart. The two parties interact and teach one another southing. Although it did not involve any animals like the others, one of my favorites was of the two merchants and the grandmother with her granddaughter. I loved how the grandmother valued the honesty of the second merchant who told her that her bowl was made of gold and there was no way he could take it. The other, and I have read it before, I enjoyed and can learn a great deal from was the turtle and the geese. All the turtle was asked to do was to hang on and not speak but he would not stop talking. I personally have a problem at times of talking too much and can practice listening more. On the other hand the geese were being greedy and taking him home to eat so although he died he also in a way saved himself from two he thought were his friends.

The other story I thought was good was about the owner and the ox. This owner had a great and strong ox he was very proud of but when he decided to place a bet on the ox’s strength he became greedy and nervous. He yelled at the ox and ordered him to behave but this was not the correct way to treat his animal. The ox let him know he did not respect it and to treat him fairly. The two went back and won the money back as the owner was kind and gentle with his friend.

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