Cultures and Religions of the Himalayan Region

Lesson: Interpreting Jataka Tales

• One can access certain beliefs and culture through any story for which they read. Some stories only relate to certain cultures and not others. Reading these stories, we can compare traditions and cultures from others. One can also learn about the physical features, landscape, wildlife, and traditions from a story whose intention might not be to teach readers about these certain aspects. The following questions / lessons will help students learn not only about the moral of the story but other aspects mentioned above.
  

Cultural background of Jataka Tales which can be examined include:

• Families: Nuclear families (tight social unit)
• Children: taught when very young to behave with filial piety and social courtesy.
• Dates and descriptions of certain Asian festivals
• Animal Life: World's greatest variety of mammals & reptiles - tigers, elephants, snow leopards, cobras, pythons, one-horned rhinoceros
• Agriculture: monsoon floods, rice, terracing, etc

1. Introduce students to Jataka Tales, explaining what they are and possibly reading one or two of them in class.

2. Assuming that students know the five themes of geography, have the students examine the Jataka Tales as if they were geographers. Looking at human-environment interaction would be a great way to look at how a Tibetan Buddhist views certain animals for example. There is an interdependence of animals in Himalayan cultures that can also be stressed.

3. Discuss why they tales relate to certain regions, in this case the Himalayan region. What is the symbolism of certain animals? Do these animals belong in this region or do they come from other parts of the world. Looking at why elephants and cows are considered sacred in this region can be used in contrast to the beliefs of a foreign culture (United States).

4. Investigate moral lessons (reverence of life) and discuss if they apply to U.S. culture.

Materials:
Various copies of Jataka Tales can be obtained through:
Jataka Tales - Dharma Publishing
In particular:
The Parrot and the Fig Tree and The Fish King's Power of Truth, which may help teach young children caring and respect for the environment, as well as interdependence of nature and all forms of life.

Jataka Tales 1
Jataka Tales 2
Jataka Tales 3