Buddhist and Hindu schools are few in number in the United States, but draw from a rich tradition of Jataka tales and other stories that highlight compassion, wisdom, and service. In this section, we also feature Confucian wisdom. You can help us expand this list by sending your suggestions to [email protected].
Compassion
I Was Once a Monkey: Stories Buddha Told. Jeanne M. Lee Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 1999. (2-4) Compassion Six tales of Buddha’s former lives are charmingly retold to illustrate his principal teachings of compassion, truthfulness, and harmony. Excellent for use with 2nd grade unit on Buddhism in ancient India.
Great Gift and the Wish Fulfilling Gem. A Jataka Tale. Lama Mipham Illustrated by Terry McSweeney. Dharma Publishing, 1989. (K-3) Compassion, Courage A prince, moved by the suffering of his people, sets forth on a dangerous quest to find the wish fulfilling gem that will end all suffering. A story of courage and compassion.
Generosity
Heart of Gold: A Jataka Tale. Dharma Editorial Staff. Illustrated by Rosalyn White. Dharma Publishing, 1989. (K-2) Generosity, Compassion In this Buddhist tale, Heart-of Gold, a generous and wealthy man, is put to the test when the god Shakra takes away his wealth. Shakra wants to discover if Heart of Gold will remain generous and compassionate even in poverty. Bright and beautiful illustrations.
Honesty
The Power of a Promise. Buddha. Adapted by Dharma Publishing Editorial Staff. Illustrated by Rosalyn White. Dharma Press, 1989. (2-6) Honesty, Compassion In this beautifully illustrated Jataka tale, a prince armed only with the truth ends up converting Kalamasha, the evil lion-monster, to the ways of compassion and goodness. Unwilling to default on a promise even to his enemy, the prince teaches Kalamasha that “courage and all other virtues rest upon the truth.”
Hope
The Rumor. A Jataka Tale from India.Jan Thornhill Maple Tree, 2002. (K-3) Hope This is the richly illustrated and delightful tale of a worry-wart rabbit, who just cannot stop fretting! Reminiscent of Henny Penny and “the sky is falling,” it is a Buddhist tale of a hare who hears a mango fall and concludes the world is about to split asunder. She alerts the forest and terror spreads! This charming tale reinforces Buddhist ideals of calm and detachment in the face of a threatening world, but reinforces anyone’s desire to live in hope and avoiding premature judgment! (Grade 2, Buddha connection)
The Dalai Lama. Demi. Henry Holt, 1999. (2-5) Lives to Learn From When the thirteenth Dalai Lama died in 1933, a search party began to look for the one who would take his place. They believed the Lama’s spirit would be reborn in a child. They find Lhamo, who at the age of two, saw the search party coming to his village and said, ” Now I am going home!” He was taken with his family to the temple in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa. Taught by the Buddhist monks, he was well schooled in their ways of kindness and compassion. The takeover of Tibet by Communist China is not glossed over in this book. The Dalai Lama continues to work to advance peace for his people. Demi’s beautiful two-page spreads evoke the height and breadth of Tibetan mountains and the peacefulness of the Buddhist people. Could be used fruitfully with the Core Knowledge second grade unit on Buddhism.
Loyalty
“Dog Steals and Rooster Crows,” in The Ch’i-Lin Purse. Linda Fang. See General Collections. (2 or 4-6) Loyalty Set in the period of the Warring States (time of Confucius), this is the tale of a generous prime minister who gives hospitality and protection to two vagabonds with unusual talents—one barks like a dog and formerly used that talent to steal, the other crows like a rooster, and is able to wake other roosters. When the Prime Minister is captured by a rival lord their loyalty and unusual talents win him release. Use with unit on ancient China.
The Golden Goose King: A Tale of the Buddha. Judith Ernst Parvardigar Press, 1995. (4-6) Loyalty The art and design of ancient India illustrate this Jataka tale. This is the story of Buddha incarnated as King of the Golden Geese. Lots of text. Could be used with medieval China unit.
The Value of Friends: A Jataka Tale. Dharma Editorial Staff. Illustrated by Michael Harman. Dharma Publishing, 1986. (K-2) Loyalty, Faithfulness A hawk and his family are supported in their hour of need by lion, osprey, and tortoise which rescue the hawk children and show the value of faithful friends.
Respect
Buddha. Demi. Henry Holt, 1996. (2-6) Respect Legends and stories of the Prince Siddhartha (who became the Buddha) are told with loving detail and through the eyes of faith. In the foothills of the Himalayas, as the Prince grew and saw human suffering outside his palace, he yearned to discover the Truth of Life. He began by casting off his princely clothes and putting on the robe of a monk. As he journeyed, he met wise men and evil spirits. When he gained enlightenment, he set out to teach. Many monks followed his way of the Eightfold Path. Life was not easy, even for an enlightened one. Many evil spirits wanted to stop him. But Buddha survived until age eighty, when he entered Nirvana. Read the book and find out what that means. Demi’s ornate illustrations, accented with gold throughout are ornate, are inspired by Asian tradition. This could be read over two days with the second grade Core Knowledge unit on ancient India and Buddhism, but if not read in a Buddhist school, the teacher should explain that the writer is a Buddhist and is telling the stories as a Buddhist believer would tell them.
Confucius. Great Teacher of China Demi. Lee and Low, 2018 (2-6) Lives to Learn From, Respect, Courtesy A beautiful book and great introduction to the life story of Confucius. Spare but elegant illustrations trace his story from a prophecy before his birth, through childhood, and finally, to his quest for wisdom and service. He taught many followers his ways and wrote extensively, seeking to influence society. He succeeded, giving us one of the earliest forms of the Golden Rule. "Never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself." Twenty-five-hundred years after his death, his principles continue to inspire. Many of his precepts are woven throughout the stunning text. The book has a bit more text than usual for second grade Morning Gathering, but could be read fruitfully over two mornings to second graders studying the Core Knowledge ancient China unit. Definitely a life to learn from!
Service
Hidden in Sand. Margaret Hodges Illustrated by Paul Birling. Macmillan, 1994. (2-4)Service, Diligence Set in the Rajasthan Desert in northern India, a small boy’s tireless effort and enterprise save his caravan from death in the desert. One of the Jataka tales.
