Reading Notes: Jataka Tales Part A

These notes are over the Jataka Tales by Ellen C. Babbitt. The turtle used reverse psychology very effectively. Also, the men being afraid of what they do not understand was telling of their character. The strongest characteristic of the turtle is his patience. He sat quietly and let the men bring up the option of throwing him in the river. If he had brought this up himself, they would have known the turtle wanted to be thrown in the river and would never have done it.
I enjoyed the Jataka about the turtle who could not stop talking. This plot emphasizes the importance of silence, which is so integral to Buddhist teachings, specifically the silence of the mind. I think it is very effective to have the characters ultimately cause their own suffering. This encourages the reader to assess how they do this in their own lives and how they can change their own actions.
The story of the valuer was interesting. The King's greed was his fatal flaw and the peasant's ignorance was his. The peasant's ignorance was not his fault though. Kings having problems because they force their subjects into a state of ignorance is a solid theme that illustrates reality very well. The King's other fatal flaw was his lack of care for his subjects, who would serve him better if they were his equals instead of his servants.

Baby Turtle on Wikimedia Commons