Early literature including, Indian, Persian, Chinese and Sanskrit.

Tao Te Ching

Lao Tzu is traditionally credited as the author, “classic of the way of power”, This is the central Taoist text, written as a guide for rulers, defined the Tao (way) and established the philosophical basis of Taoism. references the uncarved block, referring to the unschooled, empty mind favored by Taoism. Characters include Lao Tzu, Saint, Spirit, Kings, Government, and mother nature.

uncarved block

a metaphor for the unschooled, empty mind that is favored by Taoism.

Chuang Chou (Zhuang Zhou)

nicknames Chuang Tzu or master Chuang, live during the warring states period. he was one of the earliest thinkers to contribute to the philosophy now known as Daojia (school of the Way). A contemporary of the confusion thinker Mencius. Disciple of Lao Tzu and a critic of Confucianism.

Zhuangzi

written by Zhuang Zhou and maybe others, a foundational text of Taoism. Consists of a large collection of anecdotes, parables, and fables, which are often humorous or irrelevant. Regarded as one of the greatest literary works in Chinese history.

The butterfly dream

The most famous of all Zhuangzi stories “Zhuang Zhou Dreams of being a butterfly”- Appears at the end of the second chapter, “on the equality of Things”. In this story, Zhuangzi wonders if he is a man who dreams of being a butterfly or a butterfly dreaming of being a man

The death of a wonton

The emperor of the southern seas was Lickety, the emperor of the northern sea was split, and the emperor of the center was wonton. Lickety and Split often met each other in the land of Wonton, and Wonton treated them very well. Wanting to repay Wonton’s kindness, Lickety and Split said, “All people have seven holes for seeing, hearing, eating, and breathing. Wonton alone lacks them, “Let’s try boring some holes for him.” So, every day they bored one hole in him and on the seventh day wonton died.

The debate on the joy of fish

Zhuangzi and Huizi discuss the feeling of fish and how impossible to know how a fish feels (Huizi) because one is not a fish. Zhuangzi insists he can know how the fish feel.

drumming on a tub and singing

Zhuangzi expresses his feelings that death is not to be feared

The jataka tales

One of the oldest classes of Buddhist literature. dated as early as second century BCE. eventually came to be composed in classical Sanskrit. collection of Buddhist morality stories in which the buddha recounts some of his past live on his long road to enlightenment. part of the Pali Canon but more folktale than religious text.

Pali Canon

The Buddhist equivalent of the bible

Vessantara jataka

The most important and most famous jataka tale. The Bodhisatta Vessantara is a generous king who gives everything he owns away. After he gave away an elephant that reputedly brought rain, his subjects were horrified and wanted Vessantara sent away. He is banished and his wife and children go with him. The gods are pleased with his generosity and reunite him with what he gives away. After he was banished, he gave his children away to a man who beat them, but the gods protect the children.

The Mahabharata

One of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India. authorship traditionally ascribed to the sage Vyasa. It narrates the struggle between two groups of cousins in the Kurukshetra War and the fates of the Kaurava and the Pandava princess sand their successors. Begins when Pandu becomes king because his older brother is blinded. Pandu is cursed to not have children, but the gods help his wife, and he has five children fathered by gods. Pandi dies, jealousy becomes rampant and the Pandavas are exiled. They later come back where they face battles and then the brothers attempt to make their way to Indra’s heaven, only Yudhishtria survives but he eventually reunites with his brothers Daupadai and Kauravas in peaceful bliss.

The Bhagavad-Gita

a 700-verse Hindu scripture that is part of the epic Mahabharata (chapters 23-30 of book 6 of the Mahabharata called the Bhishma Parva dated to the second half of the first millennium BCE

The Ramayana of Valmiki

Written by the sage Valmiki is one of the great epics of the Sanskrit language and is dated to approximately 200 BCE. Rama is the eldest son of the great king Dasharatha and is considered to be the seventh incarnation of the great god Vishnu. Rama’s wife is Sita, whose hand he won in an archery contest. The king Bharata is convinced by his wife to exile Rama for 14 years. Rama’s brother and wife go with him. A spirit falls in love with Rama and her brother, Raavana, the most dangerous demon on earth, kidnaps Sita. Rama and his brother assist the monkey king who then dedicates his finest general, Hanuman son of the wind, to them. He locates Sita and when Rama rescues Sita he questions her purity.

Panchatantra

A collection of Indian animal fables. Known in Europe as the fables of Bidpai. The introduction attributes stories to a learned Brahmin names Vishnu Sharman, who used the form of animal fables to instruct the three dull-whited sons of a king. Most likely discovered in the third and fifth century AD. The story of Lion and the Rabbit, for example, tells a tale of a king lion who is greedy by eating more animals than necessary and who is eventually overcome by a clever rabbit who tricks him into falling into a well.

The epic of gilgamesh

An epic poem from ancient Mesopotamia, regarded as the earliest surviving notable literature and the second oldest religious text, after the pyramid texts. Begins with five Sumerian poems about Gilgamesh. Originally written on twelve clay tables in cuneiform script and is about the adventures of the historical king of Uruk. Gilgamesh is two thirds god and one third man and is intelligent handsome clever and cruel. The gods intervene his cruelty by sending Enkidu to earth. Enkidu is a wild man and is sent to the temple harlot, Shamhat. He confronts Gilgamesh after being tamed. Gilgamesh prevails and they become best friends. They defeat the sun god Shamash. the god of love falls in love with Gilgamesh and anu send the bull of heaven to punish Enkidu, bringing seven years of famine. Gilgamesh goes on a quest to find Utnapishtim, a man who survived the great flood. He meets up with Siduri, a veiled tavern keeper and she directs him to Urshanabi, a ferryman who guides him through the waters of death to find him. Gilgamesh wants immortality but does not get it and returns to Uruk a much wiser man.

The conference of the birds

Persian literature/epic. Written By Farid Ud-Din Attar. Begins with birds of the world gathering for a conference during which they realize they must pick a leader/king. Unable to reach a consensus, they turn to the hoopoe bird for assistance. He suggests Simurgh, the great bird, who lives on Mr. Kaf. To get to Simurgh, the birds must travel through seven valleys. The valley of the quest, the valley of love, the valley of knowledge, the valley of detachment, the valley of unity, the valley of wonderment, the valley of poverty and annihilation. only 30 birds remain at the end of the valleys and now simorgh is inside of them because they have survived. The ending is connected with the Sufi teachings.

The recognition of Shakuntala

Written by Kalidasa, widely considered the greatest poet and dramatist who wrote in the classical Sanskrit language. Begins when King Dusyanta comes across Shakuntala the daughter of the great sage Kance. The two fall in love and the king gives her a signature ring and secretly marries her. Shakuntala is cursed so that the king will forget her. Priyamvada, her friend, says the king will remember her when he sees the signature ring. She loses the ring and is secreted away outside of the kingdom. Later the king finds a fisherman and remembers his wife, but he cannot find her. The king spends 6 years fighting demons and then ride with matali to visit a celestial community where he sees his son and his long-lost wife. The sons name is Sarvadamana.