
A jackal, who saved a lion when he was in peril of losing his life, is recommended by the lion to his jealous mate.
BWV 053: Friendship knows no Boundaries

The Bodhisatta was one time born as a lowly god in a sacred reed (Kusanāḷi). Nevertheless he was able to save the home of a god who lived in a tree, who then spoke this verse.
BWV 052: Loyalty gets its Reward

A King of the geese is caught by a fowler, but his Commander-in-Chief refuses to leave him. The fowler takes them to the King of Men who, impressed by their virtue, sets them free.
BWV 051: Virtue and Learning

The Bodhisatta wishes to find out which is more important, virtue or learning, and takes a coin a day from the King until on the third day he is arrested. He then understands which is most valued in the world.
BWV 050: The Desire for Happiness

As the Buddha goes on his alms-round he sees a group of boys tormenting a snake for fun. He admonishes them with this verse.
BWV 049: Comparing Oneself with Others

The group of six monks chase off the group of seventeen monks and take their rooms. The Buddha lays down a rule and speaks the following verse.
BWV 048: Lack of Insight
BWV 047: The Impermanence of Desire

A negligent queen gets reborn as a worm, and is made by the Bodhisatta to speak to her grieving King, who when he hears about her love for her new husband abandons his grief.
BWV 046: A Name is Just a Name

In the story a man called Wicked hates his name so he is advised to search for a new one. He comes across Life who had just died, Wealthy who was poor, and Guide who was lost in a forest. Then he realised a name is just a name, nothing more.
BWV 045: Suitability

Through a strategem a sneeze wins a bride and a kingdom for a prince, but a brahmin who sneezes loses his nose.
BWV 044: Craving brings Suffering

The story is of Suppavāsā who carried her child for seven years and took seven days to bear him. Still she desired more children.
Video of the Second Chapter from Buddhist Wisdom Verses

A video made from a reading of the second chapter of my Buddhist Wisdom Verses, with pan and zoom effects of photographs of characters from the wall-murals at Borobudur as a backdrop and subtitles synchronised with the reading.
BWV 043: When Faculties Wane

A vulture who had been stealing things in the city is captured and brought before the King, and the following dialogue takes place.
BWV 042: The Necessity for Effort

The Bodhisatta is nearly lost at sea, but through his courageous and determined effort makes it to land again. Later he reflects on his success.
BWV 041: A Limit to One’s Duties

A queen is neglected by the King who lets her starve. To chastise the King the Bodhisatta spoke these verses, which led to the King repenting.
BWV 040: More than Gentle Persuasion is Sometimes Necessary

A goat tries with kind words to persuade a panther not to attack and eat her; the panther however didn’t listen and got his prey.
Video of the First Chapter from Buddhist Wisdom Verses

A video made from a reading of the first chapter of my Buddhist Wisdom Verses, with pan and zoom effects of photographs of characters from the wall-murals at Borobudur as a backdrop and subtitles synchronised with the reading.
BWV 039: Keeping Quiet

A merchant used to dress his donkey up like a lion to scare away the villagers while it was eating, until one time the donkey gave the game away.
BWV 038: A Cheat is Cheated in Return

Someone stole some ploughshares and when questioned said that mice had taken them away; in return his accusor carried off the thief’s son and said a hawk had done it. This is the Bodhisatta’s comment and solution to the problem.