Week 15 Story

The Deer

There once was a family of deer who lived deep in the forest. They were a large family and had lived in this forest for a long time. They started to notice farmers moving into their forest. The deer saw the farmers as invaders. The farmers were taking up land that the deer would forage in and started to destroy the forest.
The family of deer tried to avoid the farmers as much as possible. However, a time came when they were running out of food. The youngest deer in the family told his parents that it is time for him to venture out and support their family. The parents were older now and could not provide as much as they used to be able to. They agreed to let the youngest deer leave. The parents were worried because the youngest deer was unique. He didn't have the traditional coloring that all the other members of the family had. The youngest had a white coat with ash spots. All his family were traditional in coloring, they had a light brown coat with white spots. Regardless of the worry the parents had, they let the youngest deer go.

The foragers had little success finding food for the rest of the group. The young deer decided to go further and look around the farmer's field. He found so much food! More than they have seen in months. So the young one got the rest of the foragers and they ate what they could. Then they took food back to the rest of the family.

Silhouette of a deer

What they didn't know is that the farmer saw the deer take his food. He also saw the young white deer and wanted to capture it. He decided to lay out a trap and wait until they came again.
The young deer was so excited to have a successful forage that he couldn't wait to go again. The parents were grateful to have their son provide for them.
The next day came, the foragers went out again to the farm. To the farmer's plan the young deer got caught in the trap. The others ran away in fear, leaving the young one behind. The farmer came to the beautiful white deer and was in awe of his unique color.
The farmer asked, "Why are you stealing my food?"
The deer was shaking with fear, but got the courage to speak, "You stole our foraging grounds. I am just here to provide for my family. Please let me go back to my family."
The farmer felt for the deer. He too was providing for his family. He decided to make a deal with the deer. "You can come here and eat from the far fields so that you and your family will not have to fear being hungry."
And so, the family of deer and the farmer coexisted for a long time. The deer didn't have to worry about food and the farmer got to watch the beautiful deer come to the farm to eat. They lived a happy life.


Author's Note- I took inspiration from The Young Parrot, which is a Jataka Tale. The original story was about a beautiful parrot who provided for his parents. The parrot got caught by the person who he was taking food from. The person let the parrot go as long as he came back to take food from the person. They struck this deal because the person wanted to see the beauty of the parrot. I switched the parrot to a deer. However, I kept a similar theme, "Help your parent's in their old age."

The young parrot
Twenty Jātaka tales, retold by Noor Inayat

Reading notes week 15: The Forest Fire

The Forest Fire

Twenty Jātaka tales, retold by Noor Inayat

There was a family of quails
The mother and father fed the babies
First 6 ate well
The 7th didn't eat well.
The 7th didn't develop strong wings
A fire started in the forrest
The family all flew away and left the 7th
the 7th stood up to the fire and it died.

Quail family 

Reading Notes Week 15: Young Parrrot

Thr young parrot young parrot

Twenty Jātaka tales, retold by Noor Inayat

There once was a parrot more beautiful than any others
When he was old enough, he'd go get rice for his family
The farmer of the field wanted to see the bird
He decided to trap the bird and was successful
He let the bird go because he was helping his parents.

A parrot

Tech Tip: Canvas Mobile App

Canvas

I have had the app on my phone for about 3 years. It has been an okay experience. My brother is going to be a student at OUin the fall so i decided to save the video for him so that he can learn how to navigate the app when he gets to OU. I personally use it on my iPhone. I also use canvas on my desktop for all my major work. I often revert to my desktop because I just prefer the bigger screen. 

Canvas Logo

In the dry hot desert there lived a great elephant. He lived in an oasis that was the only place of refuge for all life in the fiery heat of the desert. He was lovable and kind. No one ever had anything bad to say about this grand elephant. He was always happy and jolly. He was often seen singing and swaying to his own tunes. The other animals were always mesmerized by his grandness.

One day the grand elephant was singing through the oasis and snacking on fallen fruit. Then he heard, with his mighty ears, a cry. "This can't be the cry of an animal here. It sounds like the cry of a human." The great elephant took off running in the direction of the cries. The other animals have never seen the elephant run with such ferocity. The elephant could tell form the cries that these people needed his help.

After running for awhile the elephant came across the people producing the cries. It was a group of men who looked tired and weary. "Why are you in the middle of this desert?" exclaimed the elephant. The leader of the group gathered as much strength as he could to explain, "We have been exiled by our king for practicing our faith that was different than his."

An image of a grand elephant 

The great elephant was overwhelmed with sadness and heartbreak. For the first time in his life the elephant's eyes welled with tears. The group of people were composed of men, women, and children. There were babies and elders. They all could not make it another day without water or food. The elephant felt for these people. He came up with a plan. "There is a hill in the distance, about 100 yards from where you are. Take the strongest people in this group and go to that hill. There is a body of an elephant there that you can eat and nearby there is a stream with water. Go there and re-energize yourself. Then carry the rest of your people to the food and water. After you feel strong enough to travel again head east and you will see a small town where you can seek refuge." The people had no options so they listened to the elephant.

The elephant took off in an opposite direction so that the group would not see him. Then he turned around and went towards the hill that he told the people about. He ran up the hill with great speed. When he reached the top the elephant jumped off the hill. He fell to his death. The elephant sacrificed himself so that the group could live.

The group came to the hill and saw that it was their kind great elephant who was at the bottom of the hill. The group could not come to eat this elephant. However, one individual said that the sacrifice of the elephant can not be in vain. The group followed the direction of the great elephant. They gained some strength and headed east. They went to the town and got settled. These people never stopped telling the story of the great elephant and his ultimate sacrifice.


Author's Note-
I liked retelling children's stories. So I retold the Great Elephant and just added more detail. I kept most of the original story. The elephant was known for being happy and lived in an oasis. He was a hermit. He did make a sacrifice for the group.
I just added more detail to the story.


The Great Elephant


Twenty Jātaka tales, retold by Noor Inayat

Reading notes Twenty Jataka Tales

The Great Elephant


Twenty Jātaka tales, retold by Noor Inayat


Hermit elephant
Lots of imagery
lives in the desert
hear the voices of unhappy men
The elephant followed the voices
found a group of men at deaths door
for the first time in his happy life his eyes filled with tears
The elephant asked who they were
the men were banished by their king
there was 100 but perished on the way.
men begged for food and water
the elephant told them to go toeards a hill where they will find an elephant to eat and water nearby.
the elephant ran off with great speed.
the elephant went to the hill and jumped to his end
the men arrived to see it was their friend the elephant who was dead before them.

Beautiful elephant

The Guilty Dogs: Twenty Jataka Tales Reading A

Twenty Jataka Tales

king and chariot
6 white horses
chariot destroyed by palace dogs
The king was angry
"kill them all" even in the city

palace dog

Twenty Jātaka tales, retold by Noor Inayat

Week 13 Story- The Cranes

The Cranes

There once was a young boy named Joe. He was good at school and well behaved. Joe did not have very many friends. He did not mind not having friends. He kept to himself most of the time. His favorite past time was to explore.
Joe lived in the Himalayas with his family. Often he would go hiking or visit the nearby lakes. He enjoyed feeling high above the town he lived in. The crisp glacier lakes were too cold to swim in, but Joe would just enjoy the view.
One day Joe decided to go for a hike. He decided to go to the nearby mountain so he could get home before dinner. He reached the top of the peak and watched over the town.  Joe thought to himself, "It's nice to avoid the people sometimes... but... I wish I had a friend to share this with."
Just as he thought he wanted a friend two cranes flew next to him. This was strange because cranes do not live in the Himalayas. Before Joe could question it, the cranes asked him if he wanted to go explore a new cave they found. "Where is it and how would we get there?" Joe asked. The cranes said, "The cave is in a nearby mountain that is near a neighboring town. We would have to fly there." Joe laughed at the idea of him flying, "How could I fly? I don't have wings."
The cranes got an idea! They flew down the mountain and got a stick and brought it back to where Joe was. "We will each hold one end of the stick in our mouth and you have to hold onto the stick with your hands. Then we will all take flight an explore the new cave." said one of the cranes. Joe agreed even though it seemed a little dangerous.
They took flight! They flew high above the town. They landed at the new mountain. They hiked to the new cave. It wasn't very far. When they reached the cave Joe was excited. They explored all day until they had to go back home.
So the cranes took him back home. Joe was so happy to have these two cranes as his new friends. They made this a weekly tradition. The cranes would come and pick him up and they would go on an adventure.

Bibliography-Twenty Jātaka tales, retold by Noor Inayat,

Authors Note- I took inspiration from Twenty Jātaka Tales- The Tortoise and the Geese. In the original story the geese take the tortoise away to stay with them. The tortoise couldn't hold on to the stick that the geese carried in their beaks. It fell into a kings court. The story ended with the king being taught a lesson "Bad things happen to those who don't bite their tongue. 
I strayed from this story a lot. I just wanted to incorporated birds helping something that can't fly.

The tortoise being carried through the air.

Reading Notes 20 Jataka Tales- The Tortoise and the Geese

Geese and tortoise friends
"Come with us, friend tortoise," said one day two wild geese to a kind old tortoise who lived i a pond in the Himalayas.
    -sentence structure is weird.

The tortoise would go but he said he had no wings.

Birds suggested he hold on to a stick that 2 birds will hold in their beaks.

They flew over Benares and the kids started to make fun of him.

Tortoise got angry and shouted at them. This caused him to open his mouth.

The tortoise fell into a castle

"this fate comes to those who can't hold their tongue"

Lesson

The tortoise being carried through the air.

Week 12 Story - The Terrible Crane

The Terrible Crane

There once was a forest thick and green. It was filled with happy animals. They were all so carefree. They had shelter and plenty of food to feast every night. The predators and prey did not have much conflict. Except for the occasional "sorry I ate your neighbor." The animals did not really have an issue with that. They all understood the circle of life. They all lived in harmony.

Spring was on it's way. The animals were all ready for the new season and all the new life. They waited... and waited... and waited. The rain and new life never came. The animals were scared. The home they knew was not the same. It was starting to change the way the animals were behaving. The once safe oasis now did not feel so safe anymore.

The trees were bare and withered. The birds and monkeys didn't know where to sleep. The lakes, rivers, and ponds all dried up. The fish and aquatic life were all suffering. There was no grass for the animals to graze on. Their paradise had become their own personal hell.

As the animals became desperate. They started to be aggressive and hostile towards each other. They were no longer as peaceful and kind. The fish were bumping into each other as they swam because the water level dropped so low!

One night a hungry crane came to the shallow pond. He told the fish about a pond filled with water deep in the forest and offered to transport them, "hey fish! There is a pond I found deep in the forest. It is filled with water. I will take you there."

A fish adviser asked him how they can trust him, "how can we trust a predator to take us there safely?"

"Send one of your trusted fish to go look with me now. I will bring him back and he can tell you about the oasis."

So they send a representative with the crane. The crane carried the fish in his mouth all the way to a new pond that was filled with water. They turned around and came back to the old pond. The representative convinced all the other fish to transfer over!

The crane took the first fish in his mouth and took it deep into the forest. Away from the oasis. AND ATE HIM! The crane did this every day until the the pond had no more fish.

Authors note: I took inspiration from The Crab and the Crane. In the original the crane eats all the fish then goes for the crab. The crab then cuts his head off. The story focuses on karma. I also wanted to tell the story as a kids story.

Ellen C. Babbitt  The Crab and the Crane

So the Crane put the big Fish on his back and started for the deep woods.

Reading Notes :The Crab and the Crane

The Crab and the Crane

Ellen C. Babbitt

Enviorment -dry, no rain

All animals suffered
--fish suffered most

Crane - main character

Crane wants to help fish??
-why
-seems like a scam

Fish  call a bluff

Crane takes a trusted fish to see the oasis

All the fish wanted to go after hearing about the pond

The crane tool the fish...
One by one
but he didn't take them to the pond...
Took them into the forest and ate them one by one.

Ate all the fish

The crane saw a crab in the pond and wanted to take him to the pond... ie eat him

The crab realized what was happening and cut off the crane's head

So the Crane put the big Fish on his back and started for the deep woods.

Reading Notes : The Measure of Rice

The Measure of Rice

Jataka Talesby  Ellen C. Babbitt

Dishonest king- Man named Valuer in his court

- his conscious? 

jk- sets the price

he is honest

king did not like this

He saw a peasant and asked him to be the valuer.

Drove the original away

Peasant started setting prices

500 horses for some rice

People were unhappy 

Original Valuer told him to go before the king and this court

The new valuer put a price on the kingdom

Was made fun of for not knowing the kingdom is priceless 

He ran away from the laughing crowd.

Story Week 11: Prince Benjamin Makes His Own Pool

Balarama cutting the river 

Prince Benjamin Makes His Own Pool

There lived a prince named Benjamin in a distant kingdom. He had spent most of his life preparing for his role as king. He was known for taking what he wanted. It was not uncommon for Benjamin to take food from the kitchen or take toys from children he would play with when he was younger. He was never told "no" because he was the prince. Everyone feared saying anything to the prince. So as time when on, the prince got older. He got wiser. However, he still had the mentality of taking what he wanted.

 As the time came closer and closer to his coronation, Benjamin decided to take a short vacation. Just to have some time to himself. He decided to go visit a small town near the Yamuna river. 

The prince decided to take a walk through a nearby forest to enjoy some fresh air. While he was walking he noticed a strong fragrance. As he is walking towards the Kadamba tree, he noticed the scent getting stronger. On closer inspection of the tree, he saw that the tree was hollowed out and inside there was a bowl of liquid. The fragrant scent was tempting to the prince. So the prince took the liquid. To his surprise it was wine. He had never had wine that good. He drank it all. 

The prince, warm and giddy from the wine, began to dance and sing. The prince was enjoying his time away from all responsibility and just let loose. 

Afterwards, the prince wanted to swim. He called to the Yamuna river to come to him. The river would not listen. The prince only wanted to swim in the spot he was. He called to the river again, "Yamuna river! Come to me. I wish to swim." Again, the river did not listen.

Angered and outraged, the prince took his plowshare and went to the river. He said, "I am telling you one last time that I want to swim. Go to where I was standing before." 

Benjamin became even more enraged. He went to a nearby tool shed and grabbed a plowshare. He swung the plowshare into the river and dug a channel back to where he wanted to swim. He did not stop until he was back at the exact spot he called to the river the first time. 

The human form of the river is pleading with Balarama.

The river was in agony. She felt her currents get weaker and the life in her began to fade. The river took  human form and followed Benjamin. The woman was young and her face looked miserable. She had tears streaming down from her bright eyes. She cried to the prince and begged him to restore the river, "Please prince... I beg of you to return the river." The prince felt nothing and continued digging. The woman prayed and begged to the prince.

Once the prince was able to reach the original spot he swam, all the while ignoring the woman who was still begging and praying to him. After his swim the prince closed the channel and went on his way, ignoring the woman. Slowly the river gained its currents again. The water level got higher. The woman got stronger. She went back to the river and disappeared. 

Author's note: I took a specific encounter from Adventures of Balarama and Pradyumna and retold it. Balarama is the brother of Krishna! His name means strong- Rama. He is also known as Baladeva, Balabhadra, Haladhara and Halayudha. I'll be referencing him as Balarama. He has strong associations with farming and agriculture. That is why he used a plowshare to cut the river. Also, he used it in the original story. 
I retold the part where Balarama gets drunk on wine and carved a channel to make a pool. He did that because while drunk he asked a river to come to him and create a pool where he was so that he could swim there. The river did not listen to him. This made him mad. He did the same thing in the original story. I wanted to create a back story that would explain why he would cut a channel to bathe in a specific spot. I tried to make him look stubborn and hot-headed. 

Shri Krishna of Dwarka and Other Stories by C. A. Kincaid (1920)

Reading Notes: Adventures of Balarama and Pradyumna.

Adventures of Balarama and Pradyumna.

Shri Krishna of Dwarka and Other Stories by C. A. Kincaid (1920)




Balarama cutting a new channel


Return to home... journey

Kadamba tree- fragrant
- bowl of liquid in the tree

Wine was in the bowl
-From the godess Sura- wine goddess

Balarama drank all of the wine
-began to dance and sing

Balarama called to the Yamuna river.
River did not obey him
So he cut into it to and made another channel. The river took the form of a woman and then prayed for him to stop. He did not until he found the spot he called for her the first time. 
Then he took a bath. THEN he closed the channel. 

I want to elaborate on this part of the story.

I want to tell the story of the river and the pain she was caused. What she looked like as a human. The interaction between the 2 of them. 

Reading Notes Week 11: Shri Krishna of Dwarka

Shri Krishna of Dwarka and Other Stories by C. A. Kincaid (1920)

CHAPTER 2. THE CHILDHOOD OF KRISHNA. 

Krishna, circa 1750

Prince Vasudeva and Devaki was freed by Kansa

- Why even keep them in chains if he knew the prophecy 

Killed all the male children

streets flowed with blood and the air was filled with the wailings of mothers, who mourned for their children. 

-imagery 

Such was the charm of her voice and the sweetness of her face that neither man nor woman could refuse her. 

-Siren

-poisoned breast milk

Krishna would not let go Putana’s breast until he had sucked out her life blood as well, and she had fallen dying on the floor of Nanda’s hut.