Monkey Tales

One of the first things that attracted me to the comics of India was folk tales.

Growing up around the globe, local folk tales and traditions always held fascination for me. I found they told me far more about where i was than the official histories. And, frankly, they were more fun.

This held true for the great mythic tales of the global pantheons and the little stories of life. And tales of fools and magicians always held a special place in my heart, as well as those of tricksters. While one might naturally expect Monkey Stories to be trickster based - and likely fool, too - the Jataka Tales themselves are a singular collection. With some 550 stories believed to have originated between 300BC - 500AD, they are stories of the previous lives of Bodhisatva. The tales in this collection are from his time born as a monkey, and of the lessons learned and taught then.

I've got some personal confusion on Bodhisatva. Growing up, i was taught that he was one who had attained the status of Buddha, but has chosen not to progress onward, rather staying behind for now to teach. In more recent years, i'm always told that Bodhisatva is one who strives to become a Buddha. I suggest we go listen to Steely Dan* and see if we can figure it out. But that's for later.

For now, here's a trio of tales from the book shown above. For a rare change, we have creator info - these stories were adapted by Meena Khanna and illustrated by Jeffrey Fowler -

I can't say why, but i really love Jeffrey Fowler's crocodiles.

pages by Meena Khanna and Jeffrey Fowler for Jataka Tales Monkey Stories (1973)

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*(Bodhisattva, would you take me by the hand
Bodhisattva, would you take me by the hand
Can you show me the shine of your Japan
The sparkle of your China, can you show me

Bodhisattva, Bodhisattva
I'm gonna sell my house in town
Bodhisattva
I'm gonna sell my house in town

And I'll be there to shine in your Japan
To sparkle in your China, yes I'll be there
Bodhisattva, Bodhisattva

Bodhisattva, would you take me by the hand
Bodhisattva, would you take me by the hand
Can you show me the shine of your Japan
The sparkle of your China, can you show me

Bodhisattva, Bodhisattva
I'm gonna sell my house in town
Bodhisattva
I'm gonna sell my house in town

And I'll be there to shine in your Japan
To sparkle in your China, yes I'll be there
Bodhisattva, Bodhisattva,Bodhisattva, Bodhisattva
Bodhisattva, Bodhisattva

Nope. That didn't really help.)