About The Book
One of the great treasures of Buddhist literature, is mDo-mdzangs-blun or the Sutra of the Wise and the Foolish as it is known to the Mongols. The text was translated to Mongolian from Tibetan as the Uliger-un dalai or Ocean of Narratives. It is one of the most interesting, enjoyable and readable Buddhist scriptures. For centuries, it has been an inexhaustible source of inspiration, instruction and pleasure for all who have been able to read it. The History of this unusual scripture is still uncertain. Legend has it that the tales were heard in Khotan by Chinese monks, who translated them (but from what language?) into Chinese, from which it was translated into Tibetan, then into Mongolian and Oirat.
The Narratives are Jatakas, or rebirth stories, tracing the causes of present tragedy in human lives to events which took place in former lifetimes. The theme of each Narrative is the same : The tragedy of the human condition, the reason for this tragedy and the possibility of transcending it. But unlike Greek tragedy, Buddhist tragedy is never an end in itself, i.e. a catharsis, but a call to transcend that which can be transcended and need not be endlessly endured. The people we meet in the Sutra of the Wise and the Foolish, although supposedly living in the India of the Buddha's time, might also be living at present in New York City, a small Rural town or Leningrad, and the problems they Face are the same problems that men have had to face always and everywhere. Herein lies the timeless appeal of this profound Buddhist scripture.
Contents
Foreword
1. The Beginning of the Narratives
2. Prince Mahasattva Gives his Body to the Tigress
3. The Mendicant Keeps the Precepts
4. The Boy who Sold Himself to Make an Offering
5. The Sea-God Asks Questions
6. The Devaputra Gangadhara
7. Prince Swasti
8. Vajra, the Daughter of King Prasenajit
9. Golden Gem
10. Flower of the Gods
11. Jewel of the Gods
12. Ksantivadin, or the Patient Rishi
13. King Maitrabala Makes a Gift
14. The Taming of the Six-Heretic Teachers
15. The Kunda Beast gives His Body
16. In Praise of the Blessing of the Monk
17. The Monk Keeps the Precepts
18. The Householder Without Organs
19. The Beggar Woman Gives her Clothing
20. The Slave Woman Sells her Poverty to the Monk Mahakatyayana
21. Golden God
22. The Man with Two Families
23. King Chandraprabha Gives his Head
24. The Seven Sons of Minister Mrgara
25. Maha Kapina
26. Utpala the Nun
27. Sudolagarne
28. King Asoka
29. The Pot of Gold
30. Joy, the Brahmin's Wife
31. Great Charity Goes to the Sea
32. King Mirror-Face
33. Good Searcher and Evil Searcher
34. Prince Virtuous
35. The Householder Named 'Pacifier'
36. The Prince whose Eyes Were Opened
37. Angulimala, or Finger-Necklace
38. The Beggar-Woman Named 'Relying on Joy'
39. Bhasicara
40. The Householder Dandadhara
41. Excellent Honey
42. The Householder Tasila
43. Elephant Helper
44. The Brahmin Gives Patches
45. The First Compassion of the Buddha
46. King Forehead-Born
47. The Ten Sons of Sumana
48. Upagupta
49. The Five Hundred Swans who were Born as Gods
50. The Lion with the Firm Mind
51. The History of the Lizard
52. The Monk Kyunte