Extra Credit Reading: Eastern Stories and Legends by Shedlock
For this assignment, I decided to continue my reading on Buddha and read some more of Eastern Stories and Legends by Shedlock. A link to these stories can be found here.
1. The Hawk and the Osprey
This is a story about a male hawk who married a female hawk and she told him that they needed friends to protect them. She recommended the Osprey, the Lion and the Tortoise. One day, there were men in the area and they were going to roast the hawk's babies for dinner. They called upon the osprey and he came and put out the fire of the men several times to distract them from getting the baby birds. Then when the osprey was tire, they called upon the tortoise to help. He gathered mud from the lake and also put out the fire several times to distract the men from getting the hawk's babies. Then, once the tortoise was tired, they called upon the lion. The lion roared and the men ran away. And they lived happily ever after.
I think this story is a wonderful telling of true friendship. I think there are many stories that can be written about how you go to great lengths to help your friends. This story is also about loyalty and teamwork and self-sacrifice. Each couldn't have done this without the other.
2. The Elephant that Spared Life
This is a story about Buddha that is born into a man. He comes to a village and teaches them all the 5 commandments. Don't destroy things, don't take life, treat others with kindness and love and so forth. One of the townspeople, who was profiting off criminals, went to the king and told him about all his prisoners. The ordered that they be put to death by elephant stomping. When the elephant arrived, it refused to stomp them. The king asked why and the Buddha explained to him that the elephant also was upholding the 5 commandments.
3. How the Antelope was Caught
This is a story about how a gardener was trying to catch an antelope that frequented the area. He told the king that if he had honey, he could lure it to the palace. He gave some honey to the antelope and the antelope was hooked. He came back more frequently and even let the gardener around him. The gardener lured him all the way to the palace. When the antelope saw all the people, he freaked out. This was a story about greed and having a taste for something so bad that you give up your beliefs and look past your fears for it. Even when you shouldn't.
4. The Banyan Deer
This is a story about two herds of deer that are being slaughtered for the king's meals. The two head of the herds come together and make a deal that each day, a deer will sacrifice itself so that other deer don't have to be shot down. And they would alternate which herd the sacrifice came from. Then a pregnant deer went to her leader and begged for her life. He would not listen so she went to the Buddha and he offered to sacrifice himself in her place. When the king saw his sacrifice, he granted him and the pregnant female's life. Then the Buddha talked the king into sparing all creature's lives. And all was happily ever after. This story is about sacrifice for someone else. I think this is the common theme for a lot of Buddha stories that I've read.
1. The Hawk and the Osprey
This is a story about a male hawk who married a female hawk and she told him that they needed friends to protect them. She recommended the Osprey, the Lion and the Tortoise. One day, there were men in the area and they were going to roast the hawk's babies for dinner. They called upon the osprey and he came and put out the fire of the men several times to distract them from getting the baby birds. Then when the osprey was tire, they called upon the tortoise to help. He gathered mud from the lake and also put out the fire several times to distract the men from getting the hawk's babies. Then, once the tortoise was tired, they called upon the lion. The lion roared and the men ran away. And they lived happily ever after.
I think this story is a wonderful telling of true friendship. I think there are many stories that can be written about how you go to great lengths to help your friends. This story is also about loyalty and teamwork and self-sacrifice. Each couldn't have done this without the other.
2. The Elephant that Spared Life
This is a story about Buddha that is born into a man. He comes to a village and teaches them all the 5 commandments. Don't destroy things, don't take life, treat others with kindness and love and so forth. One of the townspeople, who was profiting off criminals, went to the king and told him about all his prisoners. The ordered that they be put to death by elephant stomping. When the elephant arrived, it refused to stomp them. The king asked why and the Buddha explained to him that the elephant also was upholding the 5 commandments.
3. How the Antelope was Caught
This is a story about how a gardener was trying to catch an antelope that frequented the area. He told the king that if he had honey, he could lure it to the palace. He gave some honey to the antelope and the antelope was hooked. He came back more frequently and even let the gardener around him. The gardener lured him all the way to the palace. When the antelope saw all the people, he freaked out. This was a story about greed and having a taste for something so bad that you give up your beliefs and look past your fears for it. Even when you shouldn't.
4. The Banyan Deer
This is a story about two herds of deer that are being slaughtered for the king's meals. The two head of the herds come together and make a deal that each day, a deer will sacrifice itself so that other deer don't have to be shot down. And they would alternate which herd the sacrifice came from. Then a pregnant deer went to her leader and begged for her life. He would not listen so she went to the Buddha and he offered to sacrifice himself in her place. When the king saw his sacrifice, he granted him and the pregnant female's life. Then the Buddha talked the king into sparing all creature's lives. And all was happily ever after. This story is about sacrifice for someone else. I think this is the common theme for a lot of Buddha stories that I've read.
Title: Spotted Deer
Source: Peak PX
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