Week 12 Reading Notes: The Life of Buddha, Part B

prince Siddartha's characters could definitely be mocked in a way that I could use in my story for this coming week.

I've never thought about dividing a story like this to make it seem like chapters almost, but I could still do this with a very short story. It just might be weird.

A dream that a character has is a very intriguing concept to include in a story, as it could contribute to the foreshadowing that so many of the stories we have read portray.

I also like the idea of a character searching for the truth about life. This is because it is something that affects every person, whether a character in a story or a real person. We all want to know the truth about life.

The relationship with parents seems to mean so much more than that in the stories we read today. I believe this is because it is a reflection of how different times were back then.

I've just realized how much of an emphesis is put on the weeping of characters. It seems as though even the most powerful characters are shpwn to have a sensitive side.

Perhaps my favorite aspect of these stories is the actions of those close to the main character in the story. A lot of the time they will turn their backs on the main character.


Bibliography: Herold. The Life of Buddha. Link

                                                                Picture of Buddha. Link

Week 12 Reading Notes: The Life of Buddha, Part A

The description of a magnificent city, like that in the King Suddhodana annd Queen Maya story could be a very interesting way to start a story.

"The kings knew that the Gods were speaking" is a cool way of explainging the introduction of fake gods into a story.

Siddhartha's birth being its own story only shows how important it is, and gives me idea for a birth story I could do.

A prediction or premonition of sorts could be essential to the core story.

 As much info I have retained about the Buddhist religion thanks to this class, I am surprised I haven't implemented a temple into one of my stories.

Meditation could also be used in my next story. Maybe a character meditates and enters a new realm or something. Just an idea.

Marriage is an mazaing piece of symbolism that could spice up any story.

Bibliography: Herold. The Life of Buddha. Link

                                                                Picture of Buddha. Link

Week 11 Storyplanning: Rama's sleepwalking

The story I am planning to write for Week 12 is Rama's sleepwalking problem. This week I read another story about Rama and Sita. I feel Rama and Sita are always good characters to write about because they can represent the normal wife and husband that we think of today, especially with the problems they face. Like they have in many of the stories we have read about them, they will find a way to overcome this obstacle. Sita will have to convince Rama that he does sleep walk. She will find out that Rama does crazy things in his sleep, and even becomes violent.

The style I am planning to write is going to be more vivid than what I am accustomed to writing. I may somehow give this story a bit of a dark twist. I'm hoping to be able to make a very crazy story out of the sleepwalking. I believe I can convey Rama's sleepwalking in a way that produces some very weird and crazy things.

There will be three characters in this story: Rama, Sita, and their dog Ravanese...

Rama: He will be in denial for a while and Sita is going to have to convince him that he actually sleepwalks. Once he finds out that he does actually sleepwalk, he will be terrified of himself.

Sita: The wife of Rama, first discovers Rama sleepwalking and doesn't think anything of it. Over time, crazy things begin to happen and she is scared of Rama.

Ravanese: Rama and Sita's dog. He may or may not become a victim to Rama's sleepwalking.

 Sleepwalking man. Link
Bibliography: Monro. Indian Gods and Heroes: Rama and Sita. Link

Week 11 Reading Notes: Indian Gods and Heroes: Rama and Sita, Part A

I initially chose this story to read because of the title. Rama and Sita have interested me greatly ever since reading the Ramayana.

Also, I had forgotten that I had written a story some weeks ago that involved Rama and Sita.It would be cool to see any similarities, if any, between Rama and Sita in this story and in mine,

iI'm noticing that I'm not remembering any of these names from the Ramayana beside Ravana, lord of the Rakshakas

I would much rather read the public domain Ramayana than this,  as the reading is a bit slow and more complex.

I would probably never do writing like this, as it reads like what I would consider the Bible.

I'm a big fan of how Rama was portrayed in this part of the reading. He was a very wise person in the story, much liek he was in the Ramayana.

One idea I could use for my next story is to include more descriptive language, but not so much that it becauses draggy and too complex.

A draing from the book. Link

Bibliography: Monro. Indian Gods and Heroes: Rama and Sita. Link

Week 10 Story: The Trickster Monkey

Once upon a time, there was a very smart monkey named Jaroo. The smartest monkey throughout all of the kingdom, to be exact. But Jaroo had issues. See, he didn't use his genius monkey brain for good. Instead, Jaroo used it to play tricks on unsuspecting animals throughout the Kingdom. 

One day while Jaroo was swinging from tree to tree, looking for his next target, he spotted an elephant in the distance. Immediately, Jaroo knew he wanted to mess with him. 

"I'm bored, so I think I'll have some fun with this big guy." Jaroo said to himself.

Jaroo swung as fast as he could and caught up to the elephant. He swooped down from the tree and landed on the elephant's back. 

"What the heck,,,?" the elephant said.

The elephant was completely shocked at first, as Jaroo began flapping the elephant's ears around. 

"Hahahahaha!!" Jaroo was laughing uncontrollably. He knew the elephant wasn't able to get him off his back, as he was able to hang on very tightly.

"Wait a second, I know you! I see you haven't changed, Jaroo." said the elephant. 

"Tamlar! I didn't know that was you! It's good to mess with you again!" Jaroo replied. 

Tamlar, had dealt with Jaroo before. They grew up in neighboring communities in the Kingdom. Tamlar was a very easy going elephant. It was very hard to make him mad. He let Jaroo get his laugh and thought nothing of it. Jaroo then began to swing from Tamlar's tail.

"Look Jaroo, I know you like to play around with other animals, but you gotta be careful. Not everybody in the Kingdom is as easy going as me." Tamlar said.

"Yeah, yeah ,yeah, whatever!" Jaroo replied. 

Jaroo got bored messing with Tamlar and climbed back into the trees. Jaroo began swinging from branch to branch in search of his next target. Suddenly, Jaroo spots a male lion taking a nap.

"Oh, this will be fun!" Jaroo said to himself.

Jaroo hopped down from the tree and stealthily approached the lion. Jaroo then thought of a funny idea. He found a leaf in the shape of a bowl and scooped water from a nearby creek into it. He then carefully placed one of the lion's paws into the leaf with the water. Jaroo waited...and waited...and waited...and then it happened. The lion peed on himself in his sleep. 

"HAHAHAHAHA!!!!" Jaroo coudln't stop laughing. The lion woke up.

In a daze, the lion wasn't sure what was going on. He saw a monkey laughing and noticed that he was lying in some liquid.

"What the f###?" said the lion. He then noticed the leaf bowl with water. He connected all of the dots and was very angry. Jaroo, not noticing how angry the lion was (due to his nonstop laughing) said, "oh man, I got you so good. Hahahahaha!" 

The lion then charged at Jaroo and slashed Jaroo's face with his claws. Jaroo laid there, shaking, with a very bloody face. He was scared to death. The lion's paw was pressed on the throat of Jaroo.

"Never mess with me, Jahko, ever again. Now go!" yelled the lion, who Jaroo now knows is Jahko. 

Jaroo had heard tales about a lion named Jahko, but he never thought them to be true. Jahko was the most dangerous animal in the history of the kingdom. He had never lost a battle.

Jaroo, lucky to be alive, scurried away. He would never mess with another animal ever again, and he would live with a large ugly scar on his face for the rest of his life. 

                                          A drawing of a monkey I found online that I liked. Link

Bibliography: Inayat. Twenty Jataka Tales. Link

Week 10 reading notes: Jataka Tales, Reading L

I like the idea of stories with kings who rule righteously because that idea of power allows for an endless possibility of stories.

Another idea I could throw around in some of my stories in the revolting of a King. You kind of get a sense of that in the beginning of the first story for this section. 

Supernatural powers always add a significantly cooler touch to stories than most normal thigns because no matter what, you are able to use the idea of those powers to make it through any and every situation.

I'm not a fan of the layout of the first story. It makes the story very hard to read and is definitely something I would purposely try to avoid doing in future stories.

The length of the Ugly Bridegroom seems like a bit too much. I feel the could have broken the stroy down in order to not lose the reader. 

Another mention of "The Great Being" is interesting because, before reading these Jataka tales, I had never heard of a god (or higher power) mentioned in this type of wording.

The layout for The Nineteen Problems makes the story very easy to read.

I am very much a fan now of The Great Being concept an I may therefore use it.

                               A cool cartton cover for Jataka tales that I found interesting. Link

Bibliography: Jataka Tales. Link

Week 10 reading notes: Jataka Tales, Reading K

The Jakata tales I read last week interested me, so I decided to choose another book of Jakata tales to read for this week.

It is interesting that the birds are of different types. This is something I didn't expect to be the case. A sort of "surprise" is something I could implement into my next writing.

Also, I think it's cool to have a sort of prelude (I think that's the right word) to what the story is going to be about when the king asks one of his assistants to climb  the tree and look in the nest.

The reader can make an educated guess as to what the next will behold (the three wise birds).

I initially found it strange that the king would call the birds his sons because for one, they are birds, and for two, how would he know that the birds would be male?

I thought it was cool that the king was reluctant in deisplaying the wiseness of the birds he possesed.

Also, I though tit was funny that people were like "WTF?" when finding out the king had birds that he called his children.

This story took a different turn for me, as I didn't think it would go as in depth as it did. The story sort of tried to involve religion and moral beliefs. I figured this would be more of a silly story, based on the title.

Again, there is a mention of "The Great Being' to what I assume is a reinenforcement of the idea of having a strong religious input.

                                          Three Wise Birds drawing I found online. Link
Bibliography: Jataka Tales. Link