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Not a mere retelling of stories, but a commentary
Delightful Tales by Bhikkuni Sudinna. Reviewed by Dhananjani Silva
When I began reading Bhikkhuni Sudinna’s Delightful Tales, I could not put it down. For a moment I became a child again — a child lost in a world of its own, in stories that are truly delightful and thought-provoking.
The book is a series of Jathaka tales that depict the life of Bodhisatta, compiled into a simplified version.

“From 547 tales, I have chosen 21 stories that could trigger the imagination and interest of a child. They deal with animals and human beings and sometimes even supernatural beings. The animals are human in their approach to life. Every tale carries an underlying message, though it is not emphasized,” says the author.

Even so, a closer look reveals that it is more than a mere retelling of Jathaka tales, it is a fine observation of all the virtues that ‘embody a noble character’. It is, in fact, a study of love, kindness, compassion, generosity, honesty and wisdom among a host of other things.

“O! bhikkhu, like the wise trader who got the golden plate and used it to live a successful and good life, you too should gain spiritual advancement in this life itself. The Dhamma is like that gold plate,” were Lord Buddha’s words to kind Serivanija in Serivanija Jathaka.

Likewise, in Vannupatha Jathaka, we come across wise Bodhisatta who, in his previous birth, was full of energy and able to rescue all the people and their caravans when they went on a desert journey.

After relating this story Buddha advised the bhikkhu not to give up his efforts to attain nibbana. “If in his previous life he could exert so much effort just to get some water, why can’t you try to gain the best in this Dhamma.”

In Sambula Jathaka, it is the story of the virtuous princess Mallika, the queen of Kosala. Quite contrary to the usual norm that bhikkhus do not talk about women, which is against the rules, on this day she was subjected to the bhikkhus’ attention. “She became the most loved and trusted chief queen for her great virtue and goodness,” the author writes.

Vessantara Jathakaya, however revolves around a king who gave away all his wealth and riches including his children to help “those who are sorrowing in this world.”

Sacrificing his children to the old Brahmin was no easy task for king Vessantara —“He felt like running behind the old brahmin and killing him and taking the two children.” Yet he realised that this was wrong thinking. “In order to make his giving complete, he should not feel sorry about it. So he sat down calmly and waited for Madri.”

Meanwhile the list goes on…‘The noble parrot,’ ‘The gem in the Pond,’ ‘The Pandit’s Bride,’ ‘Kanha Jataka,’ ‘Kukkura Jataka,’ ‘Illisa Jataka’....

Last but not least, in the striking illustrations by Sybil Wettasinghe, animals, human and supernatural beings are realistically and compellingly portrayed.
Bhikkhuni Sudinna’s Delightful Tales is a must-read for both young and old.

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