{"id":296,"date":"2021-07-25T01:25:31","date_gmt":"2021-07-25T01:25:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/qsconsultants.in\/blog\/?p=296"},"modified":"2021-07-25T01:25:33","modified_gmt":"2021-07-25T01:25:33","slug":"the-jatakas-birth-stories-of-the-bodhisatta-the-story-of-the-partridge-translated-from-the-pali-by-sara-shaw","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/qsconsultants.in\/blog\/the-jatakas-birth-stories-of-the-bodhisatta-the-story-of-the-partridge-translated-from-the-pali-by-sara-shaw\/","title":{"rendered":"The J\u0100TAKAS \u2013 Birth Stories of the Bodhisatta \u2013 The Story of the Partridge – Translated from the P\u00e3li by Sara Shaw"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Namaste, Welcome to SAM-VAD (Together In Conversation), This week let me bring to your attention another monumental work, \u2018The J\u0100TAKAS \u2013 Birth Stories of the Bodhisatta<\/em><\/strong> (the one bound for, or to, enlightenment). A J\u0101taka<\/em><\/strong> is a story about a birth, and this collection of tales is about the repeated births \u2013 and \u2013 deaths of the Bodhisatta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Sara Shaw <\/em><\/strong>only a selectionof 26 stories have been included in this current translation out of the 547 stories with at least one story linked in one ancient source to each perfection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ten Perfections (p\u0101ramis<\/strong>)<\/em> are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Generosity (d\u0101na<\/em><\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Virtue (s\u00edla<\/em><\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Renunciation (nekkhamma<\/em><\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wisdom (pa\u00f1\u00f1\u0101<\/em><\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Effort (viriya<\/em><\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Forebearance (khanti<\/em><\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Truth (sacca<\/em><\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resolve (adhi\u0163\u0163h\u0101na<\/em><\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Loving Kindness (mett\u0101<\/em><\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Equanimity (upekkh\u0101<\/em><\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The characters in J\u0101takas inhabit an intricately meshed network of almost familial relationships. They are constantly interacting with each other, discussing their problems and giving advice on how to live. Links between characters extend far back into the past; events tend to recur as old habits are repeated in later lifetimes. Underneath it all is the assumption of the J\u0101takas that each being lives as an independent locus of consciousness, capable of choice and of finding enlightenment for him or herself.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Story of the Partridge<\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once upon a time, on the slopes of the Himalayas, there lived three friends beside a single large banyan tree: a partridge, a monkey and an elephant. But they became disrespectful, lacking in deference and common courtesy towards one another. So they then thought, \u2018It is not right that we live like this. Why don\u2019t we live so that we accord due respect to the one of us who is the eldest?\u2019 \u2018But which of us is the eldest?\u2019 they wondered. One day as the three of them sat at the roots of the tree they had an idea as to how to find out. The partridge and the monkey asked the elephant, \u2018Good elephant, what size was this banyan tree when you first knew it?\u2019 He said, \u2018When I was a baby this banyan tree was just a shrub too and I could walk so that it went between my thighs. When I stood over it its highest branch brushed against my navel. So I have known this tree from the time when it was just a bush.\u2019 Then the elephant and the partridge asked the monkey according to the same method. He said, \u2018Friends, when I was a baby monkey I used to sit on the ground and even without having to stretch my neck I could eat the uppermost buds of this young banyan tree. So I have known it since it was just a sapling.\u2019 Then the monkey and the elephant asked the partridge in the same way. \u2018Friends, at one time there was a very large banyan tree at such and such a place. I ate the fruits and then expelled excrement over this spot. This tree grew from that. So I have known it from the time even before it existed. Therefore I am older than both of you.\u2019 At these words the monkey and the elephant said to the wise partridge, \u2018Friend, you are the eldest amongst us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I end this tale here.          <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can buy your copy from any of the bookstores near you or via any on-line portal selling books or also by clicking the following link:  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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