Wednesday, 09. January 2008
The Illustrated Jataka & Other Stories of the Buddha

The Story of Nigrodha Deer

Once the Bodhisattva was born as a golden deer in a forest of Varanasi. His eyes were like round gems; horns like silver; and he was bigger in size than other deer. He headed a band of five hundred deer and was called Nigrodharaja. In the same forest there lived another golden deer Sakha, who, too, headed a band of five hundred deer.

As the king of Varanasi was very fond of the deer meet, he asked his men to bring him at least one deer every day. His men, one day, decided to catch all the deer of the forest and bring them to the royal garden to please the king. So, they besieged the forest from all directions by keeping the garden-path clear and approached the centre with noise and drum-beating ...

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The king shooting the deer : Thai version


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Yaksa General Punnaka flying on his horse

The Wisdom of Vidhura Pandita

Once there lived a wise man named Vidhura Pandita. He became the minister of king Dhananjaya, who ruled the kingdom of Kuru with Indapatta (modern Indrastha of the Delhi region) as his capital. The king was virtuous; and so were the other three contemporary kings, namely, Sakka, the king of the devas; Varuna, the king of the Nagas; and Venateyya the king of the Supannas or garudas (large golden eagles).

Once all the four kings met in a garden on some occasion, where each claimed to be the most virtuous. So, the dispute began, which was not resolved by them. So, they requested Vidhurapandita, the wisest person of the time to settle the dispute. Vidhura satisfied all of them by telling that each was equal just like the four spokes of a wheel ...


Dhamma-Chakka-Pavattana-Katha

After the attainment of Enlightenment and becoming a Buddha, Gotama Budddha thought of delivering his first sermon to some receptive ascetics. So, he thought of revealing his doctrine first to Alara Kalama, who was his first guru; and who he had left because his doctrine could not satisfy him. So, he looked for Alara by his divine eye; and learnt of his death.

He then thought of teaching his other guru Uddaka Ramaputta, who he had deserted because he, too, was not convincing. So, he thought of delivering the first sermon to him. But he, too, was dead.

Now, he thought about his five companions with whom he had practised penances in Uruvela for six years before separating from them ...

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Buddha in the dhammacakka-pavattana mudra


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Mara : Thai Version

The Buddha’s Victory over Mara

Mara in the Buddhist tradition can be best understood as Satan, who always tried to dissuade the Buddha or any one from the righteous path.

He is also called ‘Namuchi’ as none can escape him (Namuci iti Maro); and ‘Vasavatti’ as he rules all (Maro nama Vassavati sabbesam upari vasam vattati).

When Gotama renounced the world and passed through the city gates on his horse Kanthaka, Mara appeared before him and tempted him by the offer to make him a universal monarch in seven days, if he was to change his mind. Siddhattha, however, did not pay any attention to him ...


First see the Introduction and then read all fables, classics and legends:
The Illustrated Jataka & Other Stories of the Buddha by C.B. Varma.
Don't miss the digital images [ Set 1 | Set 2 ]
Category: Myths & Sagas |




The Global Brain

Based on the themes in the book The Global Brain, this moving audio-visual presentation explores the idea that the Earth is an integrated, self-regulating living organism and asks what function humanity might have for this planetary being. It suggests that we stand on the threshold of a major leap in evolution, as significant as the emergence of life itself, and the essence of this leap is inner spiritual evolution. Moreover, Peter Russell maintains that it is only through such a shift in consciousness that we will be able to manage successfully the global crisis now facing us.

Using a rich variety of visual images and specially generated graphics, this award-winning video presents an inspiring and optimistic vision of humanity's future in a dynamic and captivating form. Praised by educators and politicians, and used by many international corporations, "The Global Brain video is compelling, challenging and above all timely."

'The Global Brain' by Peter Russell - with music by Iasos.
Duration: 35 minutes.



You may also like the Transcript.

See also Peter Russell's Website with more clips and information.
Category: Movies & TV |


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