Twenty Jataka Tales [Paperback]

Noor Inayat Khan (Author), H. Willebeek Le Mair (Illustrator)

Book Description

These twenty tales have been drawn from famous legends concerning the former lives of the Buddha. Beloved by children and adults alike, they tell of people and animals moved to acts of sacrifice by the noble example of their fellow creatures. The flavor is often suggestive of Aesop, as are the lessons that are so subtly and keenly conveyed.

Presented in a simplified narrative, the tales maintain the magical and timeless beauty of their Far Eastern origins. The stories are ideal for reading to children, as they tell of highly dramatic adventures that are resolved by non-violent and compassionate means. Challenging circumstances bring forth courage and the capacity to love, opening the way to solutions against seemingly impossible odds.

This book will also be coveted for its exquisite illustrations by the well-known illustrator H. Willebeek Le Mair.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Noor Inayat Khan remains, in the minds and hearts of many, an exemplary figure whose life has been their inspiration."
(Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan, Head of Sufi Order founded in 1910 by Hazrat Inayat Khan )

"All these stories helped me learn the lessons the Buddha did, and when Iread them, I can't help but hope I will become strong and wise like the Buddha, too. . . . Kids who like books with magical, fairy-take-like elements would enjoy this book, and kids who like stories like Aesop's Fabes should read this." (
Olivia Donstov, age 10, writer
)

From the Back Cover

LITERATURE

"Noor Inayat Khan remains, in the minds and hearts of many, an exemplary figure whose life has been their inspiration."
Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan, Head of Sufi Order founded in 1910 by Hazrat Inayat Khan

These twenty tales have been drawn from famous legends concerning the former lives of the Buddha. Beloved by children and adults alike, they tell of people and animals moved to acts of sacrifice by the noble example of their fellow creatures. The flavor is often suggestive of Aesop, as are the lessons that are so subtly and keenly conveyed. Presented in a simplified narrative, the tales maintain the magical and timeless beauty of their Far Eastern origins. The stories are ideal for reading to children, as they tell of highly dramatic adventures that are resolved by non-violent and compassionate means. Challenging circumstances bring forth courage and the capacity to love, opening the way to solutions against seemingly impossible odds. This book will also be coveted for its exquisite illustrations by the well-known illustrator H. Willebeek Le Mair.

Product Details

• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: Inner Traditions (May 1, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892813237
• ISBN-13: 978-0892813230
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #304,401 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Much nicer than Aesop, January 3, 2003

By 

Lady "lady-in-nj" (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Twenty Jataka Tales (Paperback)

Gentle tales of/from Buddha. Mostly tales of animal kindness and you have no idea it is Buddha. Anyone could read them to children with no problems - OK, as long as their parents allow them to hear stories about talking, caring, feeling animals. The morals are more for you to determine; you are not hit over the head with them.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lessons for life, February 27, 2002

By 

K. Drew (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Twenty Jataka Tales (Paperback)

Princess Noor Inayat Khan was a World War II heroine. A "spy" who could not tell a lie. As a SOE radio operator in occupied France, she gave her life in the fight for the liberation of her adopted homeland. As the daughter of a Sufi teacher, these tales reflect her view of life and from which one can see the foundation for the philosophies that shaped her life and martyred death. The stories are retold so to be easily read and/or understood by children, but the lessons they teach are for adults as well. The lessons taught are universal in application.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jataka Tales, Seeds of Mindfulness, March 27, 2008

By 

J. E. Hill "squidpuppy" (Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Twenty Jataka Tales (Paperback)

The "Twenty Jataka Tales" is a great book to read out loud to kids. I read several of these stories to my students at my elementary school recently. Because the heroes of these stories are different from those in most literature, books and television shows, they definitely caught the students' interest. The kids of today are not often exposed to stories that are NOT resolved with violence or by dominance of will or physical might. Since the stories were resolved through acts of compassion and lovingkindness, they stood out in contrast to most of the images and ideas children are accustomed to in modern culture. I was pleased to offer the children some new ways to view ourselves and others. The book is full of non-violent means to resolving conflict that benefit all parties in the stories. These are the stories that Buddha told to children during his own lifetime. These stories will plant seeds that may lead these children toward more thoughtful, empathetic ways to view themselves and others. They also provide alternative means for approaching disagreements, misunderstandings, and conflict in their own lives.