C. Baker and P. Phongpaichit, "From the Fifty J?taka: Selections from the Thai Paññ?sa J?taka" (Silkworm Books, 2019) - a podcast by Marshall Poe

The J?taka tales, or stories of the Buddha’s previous lives as a bodhisatta, are included in the P?li Canon and have for centuries been a rich source of inspiration in Theravada Buddhism. In addition to these classical J?taka, a number of other non-canonical J?taka tales emerged in Southeast Asia and were widely circulated throughout the region. Collections of these tales are conventionally referred to as the Paññ?sa J?taka, or the “Fifty J?taka”. Once considered minor and apocryphal, the Paññ?sa J?taka are now recognized as the lifeblood of the region’s literature and an important source of traditional culture.
Chris Baker and Pasuk Pongpaichit have translated twenty-one of the best-known tales from the Thai collection of the Paññ?sa J?taka in their recently published book From the Fifty J?taka: Selections from the Thai Paññ?sa J?taka (Silkworm Books, 2019). In addition to the elegant and approachable translations, Baker and Phongpaichit have included an insightful introduction on the Paññ?sa J?taka and have also provided synopses of all sixty-one tales. Both an entertaining and informative book, “From the Fifty J?taka” will be appreciated both by the layman as well as the scholar.
Please join us as we explore these fascinating tales and the origins of some risqué Thai tree names on today’s podcast.
Alex Carroll studies Buddhist Studies at the University of South Wales and is primarily interested in Therav?da and early Buddhism. He lives in Oslo, Norway and can be reached via his website here.
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