Reading Notes: Tibetan Folk Tales, Part B

In the Orchard - Van Gogh 1883 (Wikimedia)

- In the story, The Golden Squash, there are two old men. The first old man is very kind and hard working by nature. He saves a bird who thanks him with a seed that grows into a giant squash made out of gold. The second old man is somewhat greedy and desperately wants to be rich. Seeing the wealth that the first old man acquired, he purposely injures a bird so that he can heal it. He too is given a seed and another giant squash grows from it. However, it is a trap and he is killed.
- For me, the moral of this story is that it doesn't matter what sort of charity that you give if your motives are corrupt or if you use corrupt means to acquire your goal. The second old man's motives are corrupt both in intent and means.
- A story that contrasts two individuals who perform similar actions, but the actions of one are altruistic, while the actions of the other are based off of greed is a common sort of fable. It is also common in real life.
- I would lean towards telling a more contemporary story that doesn't contain the magic element of the golden squash. Instead, it could be some sort of activity, such as a business or career, that leads the first person to wealth. Wealth would not be the goal, being helpful would be the goal. That man would then use his newfound wealth in helping others.
- The second character might be an old friend or classmate who is jealous of the wealth that the other has accumulated. If he were to attempt something similar, but do it in an underhanded way, it would fit with the moral. He, or she, would need to come to a bad end.



Bibliography: Tibetan Folk Tales by A.L. Shelton. Web source.