Jataka stories (stories about the previous births of the Buddha) are very popular in Theravada Buddhist countries, where they are commonly used in sermons, children's books, plays, poetry, temple illustrations, rituals and festivals. Buddhist tradition tells us that the stories illustrate the gradual path to perfection exemplified by the Buddha in his previous births, when he was a bodhisatta (buddha-to-be). This book explores the shifting role of the stories in Buddhist doctrine, practice, and creative expression, finally placing this integral Buddhist genre back in the centre of scholarly understandings of the religion. Excerpted from Jataka Stories in Theravada Buddhism: Narrating the Bodhisatta Path by Naomi Appleton All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
