Whereas Western intellectuals seek the essence of Buddhism in its doctrines and meditation practices, the traditional Buddhists of Asia absorb the ideas and values of their spiritual heritage through its rich narrative literature about the Buddha and his disciples. The most popular collection of Buddhist stories is, without doubt, the Jatakas. These are the stories of the Buddha's past births, relating his experiences as he passed from life to life on the way to becoming a Buddha. At times he takes the form of a bird, at times he is born as a hare, a monkey, a prince, a merchant, or an ascetic, but in each case he uses the challenges he meets to grow in generosity, virtue, patience, wisdom, and compassion.This anthology of Jatakas, ably told by Ken and Visakha Kawasaki, remains faithful to the original yet presents the stories in clear and simple language. It thereby makes the Jatakas accessible even to young readers and to those for whom English is not their first language.

The Jataka Volume I by Robert Chalmers: This book is a collection of Buddhist folk tales and legends from ancient India. The book includes stories of animal fables, moral tales, and religious allegories, providing insight into the social and cultural context of India thousands of years ago. Key Aspects of the Book "The Jataka Volume I": Buddhist Folk Tales: The book is an excellent introduction to the rich tradition of Buddhist folk tales and legends, providing insight into the beliefs and cultural practices of ancient India. Storytelling: The book is filled with engaging stories and characters that will captivate readers of all ages. Religious Allegory: Many of the stories in the book are religious allegories that offer valuable insights into Buddhism and its teachings. Robert Chalmers was a Scottish missionary and folklorist who lived in India in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His work on the Jataka tales is regarded as one of the most important contributions to the study of Buddhist folk tales and Indian culture.

Collects eighteen fables from the Jatakas of India.

This is Volume 1 of a 6 Volume set. The Jataka is a massive collection of Buddhist folklore about previous incarnations of the Buddha, both in human and animal form. Dating to at least 380 BCE.

Whereas Western intellectuals seek the essence of Buddhism in its doctrines and meditation practices, the traditional Buddhists of Asia absorb the ideas and values of their spiritual heritage through its rich narrative literature about the Buddha and his disciples. The most popular collection of Buddhist stories is, without doubt, the Jatakas. These are the stories of the Buddha's past births, relating his experiences as he passed from life to life on the way to becoming a Buddha. At times he takes the form of a bird, at times he is born as a hare, a monkey, a prince, a merchant, or an ascetic, but in each case he uses the challenges he meets to grow in generosity, virtue, patience, wisdom, and compassion.This anthology of Jatakas, ably told by Ken and Visakha Kawasaki, remains faithful to the original yet presents the stories in clear and simple language. It thereby makes the Jatakas accessible even to young readers and to those for whom English is not their first language.