The Jātakas: Birth Stories of the BodhisattaAssociated with the living traditions of folk tale, drama and epic, the Jatakas recount the development of the Bodhisatta - the being destined to become the present Buddha in his final life - not just through the events of one lifetime but of hundreds. Written in Pali, the language of the Theravada Buddhist canon, the Jatakas comprise one of the largest and oldest collections of stories in the world dating from the fifth century BCE to the third century CE. Generations in South and South-East Asia have grown up with these tales. This volume contains twenty-six stories drawn from various ancient sources, and each story reflects one of the ten perfections - giving, restraint, renunciation, wisdom, strength, acceptance, truthfulness, resolve, loving kindness and equanimity. A detailed introduction elaborates on the ten perfections, explains the forms of enlightenment as well as the structure, and the historical and geographical contexts of the stories. Sarah Shaw brings to life the teachings of Buddhism for the scholar and lay reader alike. |
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Contents
Acknowledgements | ix |
Authors note | xvii |
The Bodhisatta | 1 |
Copyright | |
11 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
abhidhamma aeons alms Anathapindika animal arahat arahatship arrow ascetic asked attained become bhikkhus birth Bodhisatta body Brahma Brahma heaven brahmin Buddhaghosa Buddhist charioteer death deer described dhamma dhamma talk disciples elephant enlightenment equanimity father five precepts forest four four noble truths fruit gave generosity give goddess gods Gotama happiness heard hell homage human hundred Indian Jataka stories Jetavana Jetavana Grove kamma keep the uposatha killed king of Kasi kingdom leaf hut lives look loving kindness Mahajanaka mind Mithila monkey monks mother naga naga king naga realm nibbdna paccekabuddhas palace Pali parents past Once path perfection practice prince queen reborn renunciation replied royal Sakka samatha Sariputta Savatthi Slvall snake spoke stream-entry Sutta take the going tale teaching Temiya texts thought told this story took rebirth translation treasure tree Triple Gem truth uposatha Varanasi verse virtue wisdom wise yakkha yojanas