Week 5 Story: Death Defends Herself

My name is Death, and I know you well.

I know you’ve cursed my name.

You’re not alone; it’s everyone

Who thinks I should be tamed.

I assure you, no one ever sees

That I am not to blame,

But instead it is my sister Grief

Who will kick you ‘til you’re lame.

She’ll hold you down and not let go,

She’ll latch on way too tight.

She’ll climb up on your back and stay,

Through day and through the night.

But I, I am the wandering wind,

Looping in and out of sight.

I leave, I don’t I don’t disturb you long!

It’s her you want to fight!

Take this woman, Kisagotami.

Yes, I stole her only son.

It’s just what I’m supposed to do,

And she’s not the only one.

But that doesn’t mean I’m evil, you know.

I’m just a fact you can’t out-run.

Accept me as part of the scenery;

For Death will win as Death has won.

But let’s return to Kisagotami:

I tried to let her be.

I did my task and packed my bags,

Then I left so she could be free.

But Grief came in before I’d closed the door,

And made Kisagotami fall to her knees.

So now the poor woman curses my name,

Because Grief told her the pain was from me!

She holds her son to her breast and crawls without hope.

I never wished that upon her, I swear.

My job is to end what has begun.

It’s the circle of life, and it’s fair.

But what my sister does to her is cruel,

Look how she pulls out her hair!

When I took her son, my eyes were kind,

But Grief is an icy-cold stare.

In time and with hardship this poor mother will learn

That although she cannot avoid Fate,

She need not keep Grief on her back forever;

She must shun her before it’s too late.

And then she will see that it’s not me she fears,

But Grief that put her in such a state.

She will smile and laugh and throw back her head

Once she has finally shed that weight.

Angel of Death, statue in Wrocław, Poland.

Source: Flickr.

Author's Note: This ballad is based on "The Wise Physician," a Jataka tale. Jataka tales are Buddhist stories used for teaching, usually featuring the Buddha in some incarnation. This particular story is about a mother who loses her only son. In her grief, she carries her son around the village and asks everyone for medicine that will heal him. She is pointed toward the Buddha, who tells her that she only needs to bring him some mustard-seed (a very simple and common ingredient), but that it must come from a household in which no one has died. At every house, she learns that someone has died. She comes back to the Buddha and says that she could not find the mustard-seed, but that she has learned that no one can escape death. She learns that everything is impermanent, and she is healed, even though her son is not. Since the story focuses on death and its inevitability, and since the woman ends up healing from the death of her son, I decided to write a ballad from the point of view of Death incarnate, who declares that she is a natural part of living and it is only Grief, who causes one to hang onto the pain of impermanency, that hurts people. I don't necessarily agree that death is easy to get over when we realize that everything is impermanent, but I thought it would be fun to give indignant Death a voice!

Bibliography: "The Wise Physician" from Eastern Stories and Legends by Marie Shedlock. Link to the reading online.

Reading Notes: Jataka Tales, Part B (Shedlock)

The Well-Trained Elephant

The Buddha is a white elephant who is “graced with all beauty.” He is praised for his beauty and put in a high position by the king.

The king’s jealousy is so silly. Of course the king is in a higher position than the elephant! Who gets jealous when people praise an animal for its beauty?! Why did the king choose such a beauty in the first place if he was so insecure? I suppose maybe he did it because he’s so focused on image. What’s even more ridiculous is that he decided the elephant needed to be killed, instead of just sent somewhere else to appease his jealousy. How silly.

I like that the mahout looks out for the elephant. He is obedient to the king until he realizes that the king is against the elephant out of jealousy and foolishness. He is gentle with the elephant.

I was surprised when the elephant actually was able to follow the king’s order to raise all his legs off the ground, and I liked that he used that order to spite him.

Buddha teaching a group of five monks, Thai painting.

Source: Wikimedia Commons.

The Wise Physician

I like this story because the girl who learns a lesson is not really foolish or reprehensible, but someone who cannot get over the death of her only child. She is sympathetic, both as the grieving mother and after she learns the lesson from the Buddha. I think most people can relate to the pain of losing someone special and the difficulty of eventually letting go of the grief and mourning.

The Buddha’s lesson is referred to as medicine. Kisagotami originally thinks that it will be medicine to heal her son, but it ends up being “medicine” that heals her.

I like that the Buddha did not even have to tell Kisagotami the lesson. He gave her simple instructions, knowing that she would figure it out on her own.

I found it surprising that she was able to learn the lesson and let go of her son so quickly. I liked the lesson, but I think it would be difficult for a grieving mother to put into practice.

Bibliography: Eastern Stories and Legends by Marie Shedlock. Link to the reading online.

Reading Notes: Jataka Tales, Part A (Shedlock)

The Parrot that Fed His Parents

When the Parrot's father says that his "strength is spent," the Parrot willingly takes on the leadership role, and won't let his parents do any more work. He seems happy to be able to serve them, and he also seems to believe that it is his duty.

The Parrot thinks of his parents as very dear, and never complains about bringing food for them.

Even when the Parrot is captured, he thinks of others. He does not cry out when he is trapped, even though it must have been very painful, because he does not want to startle his flock before they eat.

It's very sad when the Parrot's flock leaves him when they hear him crying out. However, the Parrot doesn't condemn them, but instead is sad and wonders if he has sinned against them.

Why is the Brahmin so harsh with the Parrot even though he loves him? Maybe to test him?

I like the way the Parrot explains what he is doing with the rice: paying off a debt to his parents, giving a loan to his babies, and storing up treasure for others.

It is made clear that the Parrot has no greed, both when he is captured and when he is rewarded. He only takes what he and his family need and no more, even though more is offered to him. I like that the Parrot has the honor of taking his parents to a wonderful place with enough food for them at the end of the story.

The Elephant that Was Honored in Old Age

In this story, the main character is not Buddha but instead a hard-working elephant. Buddha helps her to be honored again after the king disrespects her. Buddha and the story place the emphasis on the elephant, and Buddha's role is helping her.

The elephant is so pitiful because she devoted her life to working for the king and did a great job but was discarded as soon as she was no longer useful. I think many people have felt, at times, as if some people who they serve would throw them out if they were no longer useful.

The Buddha's line about the king only honoring the elephant because he thought he would continue to get something out of her is very powerful. The king should have honored the elephant because she deserved it, not because he wanted to gain something.

The king does not even realize that he is doing something wrong at first. He answers the Buddha in confusion when asked where the elephant is. He changes his ways after hearing the Buddha's message.

The king reminds me of the Parrots flock in "The Parrot that Fed His Parents." Both leave unprotected and vulnerable someone who has helped and been devoted to them. There is a theme of self-sacrifice as well as a theme of others not recognizing or being grateful for that sacrifice.

Elephant statue outside the Dhammikarama Buddhist Temple in Penang, Malaysia.

Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Bibliography: Eastern Stories and Legends by Marie Shedlock. Link to the reading online.