Week 3 Extra Credit Reading: Eastern Stories and Legends Cont.

For this reading diary I will be commenting on Part B of Eastern Stories and Legends by Marie Shedlock. Click here for the link. 

• Just looking at the titles of these short stories I notice a lot of them involve animals again. I have been thinking about this recently, and I can't recall many stories from Abrahamic religions that involve talking and thinking animals. 
• I like the story of Bodisat. It's a great story about how far a compliment can take you, and how much damage an insult can do to your relationships with others. It also teaches you to demand fair treatment from others. 
• Bodisat is born as a bull who is fed on rice and gruel again. If he does it once more you could call it a habit. 
• The second story about Bodisat as a bull is another story about being a good human being. Much as children should respect their parents and take care of them, Bodisat shows gratitude to his owner. So far these Bodisat stories strike me as stories told to children to impart early lessons about morality. 
• The story about Buddha as the horse is about loyalty and perseverance. Buddha gives his life to accomplish the task given to him by his King, even after being gravely wounded once in battle. 
• Buddha is reborn as the King of Monkeys. From what I understand, Buddha has lived all the possible lifestyles, but clearly some are more outlandish than the others. I know that it may have something to do with the fact that there are other outlandish characters like ogres involved in this story, but even if Buddha was a human in this story I am just as likely to believe there was actually an ogre.  
• I think the story of the ogre also tells readers not to be greedy, since someone smarter will always come along. The story of Buddha as the mallard accomplishes the same task. 
• I'm not sure what this story of Buddha as merchant accomplishes except reminding those that are born in a lower caste that the people born in the higher caste are smart and successful. 



Buddha and an Elephant, courtesy of What Buddha Said

• The next story about Buddha and the elephant seems to remind those in higher caste to still treat those in lower caste with respect. Life is all about balance.

Thanks for reading guys, look for more on these stories in the upcoming extra credit readings.