Description:
A collection of Buddhist moral tales from India, Burma, Tibet, China, and Japan, The Wisdom of the Crows and Other Buddhist Tales is as enchanting as it is exotic. Vivid illustrations from tales such as "The Foolish Boy" and "Useless Work" depict the characters in traditional dress, and the page margins of every story are decorated with distinctive, intricate designs. Some of these parables are as short as half a page, such as the Zen story of the four young monks who take a temporary vow of silence only to inadvertently violate it one after the other, with the last one declaring triumphantly, "I am the only one who hasn't talked." Others are several pages long and full of magic and adventure, like "Goodheart and the Goddess of the Forest." In this story, a boy with an excessive penchant for generosity is sent away by his father. On his travels his meddle is tested by a giant, a witch, and a conniving uncle, and his forthright sincerity carries him through each episode until he is able to live happily ever after with his bride, the goddess of the forest, as stars in the sky. All of these stories are lightheartedly retold for children and a delight to read. --Brian Bruya
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