{"id":307,"date":"2021-08-13T06:36:41","date_gmt":"2021-08-13T06:36:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/qsconsultants.in\/blog\/?p=307"},"modified":"2021-08-13T06:36:43","modified_gmt":"2021-08-13T06:36:43","slug":"the-jatakas-birth-stories-of-the-bodhisatta-the-story-of-kimsuka-tree-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-kimsuka-tree-translated-from-the-pali-by-sara-shaw\/","title":{"rendered":"The J\u0100TAKAS \u2013 Birth Stories of the Bodhisatta \u2013 The Story of Kimsuka Tree – 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 selection of 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\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 Kimsuka Tree<\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once upon a time in V\u0101r\u0101\u0146asi, during the reign of Brahmadatta, the king had four sons. They sent for their charioteer and said, \u2018We\u2019d like to see a kimsuka, a thingumme tree. Show us a kimsuka tree.\u2019 The charioteer said, \u2018Very well, I\u2019ll show you one.\u2019 But he did not show it to them when they were together. He got the elder brother to sit upon the chariot, took him to the forest and showed him one, pointing out, \u2018This is kimsuka\u2019. He showed him the tree at a time when there were just buds on the trunk. Another he showed when the leaves were fresh, another at a time when it was flowering and another at a time when it was bearing fruit. In the due course the four brothers were sitting down and one said, \u2018What kind of a tree is a kimsuka?\u2019 One put forward the observation, \u2018It is just like a charred stump.\u2019 A second, \u2018It is like a banyan tree.\u2019 A third it is like a piece of flesh.\u2019 A fourth, \u2018It is like an acacia.\u2019 As they were not satisfied with one another\u2019s explanation they went to their father. \u2018Sire, what kind of a tree is a kimsuka?\u2019 \u2018How have you all explained it?\u2019 he asked. So they told him the way that each had described it. The king said, \u2018You four saw the kimsuka tree. The charioteer showed you the whole of the kimsuka, but you did not question him in detail and ask, \u201cWhat is it like in this season?\u201d or \u201cwhat is it like in that season?\u201d So doubts arose in you.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I end the 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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