Jataka Tales - The Monkey Stories

JATAKA TALES - THE MONKEY STORIES

Jataka Tales of Wile and Wisdom


Monkeys frolic through these pages, imparting lessons in leadership and common sense. Murderous crocodiles, powerful kings and fearsome ogres are easily outwitted by these winsome creatures. All they seem to need is careful thought and a lot of courage. But be warned: do not let monkeys loose in your garden or you may well lose sight of their virtues!


The Jataka Tales, on which the present title is based, is a collection of 550 stories included in the Pali canon. These are based on folklore, legends and ballads of ancient India. We cannot assign a definite date to the Jataka stories.