The Radiant Deer by Alina Gallo

Translated from Hindi to English by Dana Sawyer Translated from English to Tibetan by Pema Tsewang, Shastri Preface by Khen Rinpoche Lobzang Tsetan Illustrated by Pin-Wei Chiang

This book is dedicated to Maddy, Mia and Maude, three sisters in Maine, and to all the other beautiful children of our world.

Cover design by Pin-Wei Chiang and Alina Gallo Book design by Alina Gallo Printed by J.S. McCarthy, Augusta, Maine. Copyright ÂŠ 2012 by the Siddhartha School Project www.siddharthaschool.org All rights reserved ISBN 10: 0-9821274-1-3 ISBN 13: 978-0-9821274-1-4

Preface by Khen Rinpoche Lobzang Tsetan

I want to thank Pin-Wei Chiang, Dana Sawyer, and Pema Tsewang, Shastri for helping to bring this important story of the Ruru Deer to everyone. This book can be helpful and meaningful for Tibetan, Ladakhi and American children, to teach them about caring for each other, treating each other with respect, and caring for the natural environment. The animals of our world are very precious for us and they should be treated kindly and with respect. Today too many of them have become endangered and are threatened with extinction by our greed. The queen in the story of the Ruru Deer should not have let her desire for a beautiful coat, only to flatter her ego, cause her to try to kill the deer. This is not how to live on the earth with gentleness and compassion. Children should learn about love, peace and respect, both for each other and for their environment. We must learn to live in harmony with our world and with each other, and we should work on this every day, while we still have this precious human life. This is a very important lesson and the story of the Ruru Deer provides it. I hope everyone will enjoy the story and I am happy that the Siddhartha School Project is making it available in English with so many beautiful illustrations.

Blessings, Khen Rinpoche Lobzang Tsetan

Foreword By Dana Sawyer India is a place that even today is rife with animal life, and like all places abounding with animals – for instance, Africa, it’s traditional narratives abound with animal stories. Among the most famous collections of Indian animal stories are the Jataka Tales, stories of the Buddha’s births (jati) into various animal forms (and a few human forms too) before he became the Buddha. The Tales comprise more than 500 stories in all and are basically moral or cautionary tales that convey simple Buddhist teachings. In fact, the stories are given in such everyday language that even a child can understand them, and so the Jataka Tales are commonly told as bedtime stories throughout the Buddhist world. Today they often serve very much in the way that fairy tales once served in Europe or how Aesop’s Fables may once have functioned in Greece. Related to this point, as many as twelve of the Jataka Tales share a nearly identical plot line with those of Aesop’s, though few scholars agree on which set of stories came first. The Jataka Tales are, as I’ve said, used to instruct and entertain children, but this is not to say that what appeals to children is in any way childish or without profound import for the adult mind. These tales are like Zen stories that cut directly to the heart of an issue, or the heart of a teaching, without the intellectual abstractions of philosophy that sometimes cloud the meaning of other texts. In the book you now hold, you will hear about the dangers of greed, and about the immorality of going back on your promises, and no reader, young or old will fail to grasp their important lessons. Certainly there is a kind of genius in that, and certainly that is why the Jataka Tales are still told in the Buddhist world today. In fact, so powerful are the messages of the Jataka Tales that most of them are included in the various Buddhist Canons as authoritative scriptures. The Theravada Canon contains the largest collection of them, 547 in all, appearing in the Khuddaka Nikaya of the Sutta Pitaka. This particular story, the tale of the “Ruru Deer” (Ruru simply referring to a type of Indian deer), is dated to the 4th century B.C.E. but most likely relies on oral versions from a much earlier period. It is, as you’ll see, a story of action, passion, adventure, and insight, and I first came across it in Hindi while I was a graduate student at the University of Iowa back in the mid-1980s. Though the version I read then was very short, it captured my imagination completely, and I was delighted a few years later to come across it again while visiting a friend in Delhi. I was sitting in front of the television with his young son, who was, by the way, a professional magician, and together we watched a half-hour, animated cartoon called “The Nine Colored Deer,” produced by the Shanghai Animation Film Studio and translated into Hindi for Indian TV. The next day I scoured the bazaar at Cannaught Place for books that might contain the story because back home I had two young daughters, Sophie and Emma (today ‘old ladies’ of 25 and 23), who I knew would love it. As luck would have it, I located three books containing slightly different versions of the tale, all in Hindi and each with its own charms, though all were again very brief (some scholars believe the tales were meant to be catalogued in brief written statements, later to be expanded on in verbal discourse). Only one of the versions claimed to be a translation from scripture, rather than a retelling, but this didn’t bother me at all since in each case the import of the narrative stayed intact, and sometimes the embellishments were actually more fun than the scriptural version, as my daughters later agreed. In

one story the arrows that were shot at the deer during the climax of the story turned to dust, while in another the arrows weren’t even shot, since the king stopped the archers before they had a chance to fire (wait till you see what happens in the version you’re about to read!). Intrigued by these differences, I collected a few more iterations of the story over the years and here, in this book, I’ve settled on the narrative that is longest and seems most entertaining. Something now needs to be said about the Ruru Deer himself. In the scriptures, the Ruru Deer is said to be an earlier incarnation of the glorious bodhisattva who later became the Buddha, and he is said to possess a magical pelt that is impossible to describe with words, though the texts give it a try. For instance, we’re told that his hair is generally light gold in color but contains spots “of varied hues like that of rubies, sapphires and emeralds.” We’re also given to believe that his coat looks different from different angles, as though it were somehow reflective and prismatic (or at least silky and shiny), which is why the Chinese cartoon described him as a “Nine Colored Deer.” In the pages ahead you’ll see what Pin-Wei has done with the deer’s appearance, trying both to make it his own while doing justice to the traditional accounts. Hindi versions of the story often call the animal the “Rungeen Hiran,” the “Colorful Deer,” but I have translated rangin as “radiant” to stay closer to what I think was the original intent. For a time I was working with adjectives like “illumined” and “rainbow” and “resplendent,” but I eventually realized no adjective would do justice to the deer’s coat, so I settled on “radiant” as simply one good choice. Like the Buddha that he would become, this deer is difficult to pin down with just one word! A last thing to say about the deer’s appearance is that I asked PinWei to base it on a specific Chinese source. In the Dunhuang Caves of western China, we find paintings of the Ruru Deer that date from the 6th century C.E., and it was this particular concept of the deer’s form (also used in the cartoon I loved from the Shanghai Film Institute!) that is referenced here. My hope is that we are creating a sort of solidarity and continuity with earlier visions of the deer’s appearance, one very old and one quite new, while also giving a broader context to the setting of the story itself, so that it is more inclusive of the Buddhist world than the original narrative based only in India. To finish up this short foreword, this project came about for two reasons and with the help of four people. The first reason was to publish a children’s story that could convey a fundamental Buddhist teaching, while the second reason was to create a fund-raising tool for the Siddhartha School, located in Stok, Ladakh, a village in northern India. The Siddhartha School was founded in 1995 by Khen Rinpoche Lobzang Tsetan, who is the first person who must be mentioned here. He began the school to benefit the children of his native village, and today it is a thriving institution, endorsed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Without Khen Rinpoche there would be no Siddhartha School and, as a mater of fact, no book in your hands, so thanks must go to him. The second person to thank is Pin-Wei Chiang, the illustrator, a Chinese American whom I met as a student at the Maine College of Art. When I first saw his illustrations I was totally amazed, and I couldn’t help wondering how he would interpret the story I had fallen in love with long ago. As you’re about to see, he did a brilliant job. The last two people to mention, and thank, are Alina Gallo, who designed the layout and made the book ready for print, and Pema Tsewang, Shastri, who translated my English text into Tibetan. I am so very grateful to Pema, a Fullbright Scholar who once translated Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations into Tibetan, for working on so humble a project! Lastly, though this book is primarily meant for children of all ages, who will read it either in Hindi, English, or Tibetan, this may also serve as a learning tool for those who would like to learn a new language. The sentence structures herein are very simple and so they may be used for learning to translate from one language to another. Anyway, however the book is approached, and without further ado, it is now time to move along to the glorious story of “The Radiant Deer!” May it benefit all who read it! Dana Sawyer Portland, Maine May 10, 2012

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1. This is something that happened long ago. A foreign ambassador and a caravan of traders from the west were slowly moving across the large lonely desert. Those people, who rode on camels, took with them expensive gifts and many trade goods.

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३. "ज हवा व कड़ा) की सरदी ) कारण / लोग बड़ी 4वकट प4रि8थ4त ; फ=स गए और ब@त कोिशश करB ) बाद जCD-तCD णक जगह 4फर D इकFा @ए ।

2. Suddenly there arose a fierce sandstorm that was accompanied by a blizzard. Darkness was spreading in every direction and in the confusion the ambassador and the traders wandered off the road and became separated. 3. The strong winds and severe cold made their circumstances very dangerous, but somehow, after much effort, they at least were able to assemble in one spot – and so they huddled together against the deadly storm.

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४. अचानक आकाश ) *ज रोशनी का गोला-सा चमक उठा और हवा 89 मध;र स<गीत भी ग?<ज@ लगा । वाBतव ) यह DभामEडल एक स;Hदर Jहरन का था, जो Lर खङा उनकी ओर Jनहार रहा था । राजLत और Pयापारी यह Rखकर आSयTचJकत हो गए । ५. वह र<गीन Jहरन फौरन उनX साम@ आ गया और बोला ः "आदरणीय 8हमानो, आप लोग ब]त Lर ^ आए _ और यह` म;सीबत ) फaस गए _ । b आप लोगc को राBता Jदखा सकता d< ।" राजLत और अHय लोगc @ नमBकार कर* ]ए उसको धHयवाद Jदया ।

4. Just when the situation seemed most dark, there shone in the sky a circle of strong light and in the wind a sweet song began to resound. Looking intently into the storm, the travellers could see that the circle of light was really a beautiful golden deer and around him shone all the colors of the rainbow. The ambassador and the traders were astonished by this sight. 5. Then the colorful deer came before them and said: “Respectful guests, you have come from very far away and now find yourselves in grave danger. But, I can show you where to find the road you have lost.” The people thanked the stag and bowed before him.

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१५. नदी स' स()* की प-कर ऊपर पहाड़3 तक प5(ची, जह8 र(गीन :हरन घ<म-:फर रहा था । वह फौरन समC गया :क कोई आदमी नदी H :गर गया I । र(गीन :हरन दौड़कर नदी J :कना* आ प5(चा और स()* को बचाM J िलP नदी H कQद पड़ा । १६. उसM ब5त कोिशश करJ स()* को ढ<(ढ़ िलया और अपनी पीठ पर लादकर नदी J :कना* Y आया । र(गीन :हरन M धीमी आवाज H स()* को कई बार प-कारा और :फर अपनी जीभ ' उसJ शरीर को चाटना श-] कर :दया ।

15. The snake charmer’s cry lifted up from the river into the high mountains, just where the radiant deer happened to be wandering. Instantly, the deer knew that someone had fallen into the river. After running swiftly, the colorful deer arrived at the riverbank and plunged into the freezing water to save the snake charmer. 16. After much searching, he located the unconscious snake charmer and, after loading him onto his back, the deer was able to get the man to the riverbank. For some time after that the radiant deer spoke to the snake charmer in a soft voice and then began licking him with his tongue.

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१७. थोड़ी 'र बाद स-.रा होश 1 आ गया । स-.6 7 8हरन को अप7 =ाण बचा7 @ िलC बDत धGयवाद 8दया और वादा 8कया 8क वह 8हरन J अप7 िमल7 की बात 8कसी को नहL बताएगा । १८. उधर शहर 1 चीनी सPाट 7 8व'शी राजSत @ Tवागत-सUकार 1 एक शानदार भोज 8दया । इस भोज 1 राजदरबार की नतX8कयY 7 सZGदर-सZGदर न[Uय भी .श 8कC ।

17. Finally, the snake charmer woke up and thanked the deer very much for saving his life. At the deer’s request, he promised not to tell anyone about having met the deer. 18. Meanwhile, back in the eastern city, the emperor gave a wonderful feast to welcome the foreign ambassador who was travelling with the caravan. To celebrate his arrival, the royal dancing girls presented a beautiful performance.

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२५. ह$थयारब*द शाही र.क0 1 स345 को पकड़कर महारानी ; साम1 4श $कया और कहाः "यह स34रा जानता A $क र3गीन $हरन कहC A ।" स345 1 र3गीन $हरन E अपनी मGलाकात की सारी बाI महारानी को बता दJ ।

25. The snake charmer was brought before the queen by the royal guards, with one of them on each side holding his arms, and the chief guard informed her: “This snake charmer knows where the beautiful deer can be found.” Then the snake charmer told the queen everything about his meeting with the radiant deer.

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२६. अगली स(बह स+ाट . अप. स01नक4 को इक7ा हो. की आ9ा दी । थोड़ी >र बाद स+ाट अप. स01नक4 @ साथ रAगीन 1हरन पकड़. @ िलC रवाना हो गया । लालची सAGरा एक IबJ-पतJ गधM पर सवार होकर इन स01नक4 @ पीN-पीN चल रहा था । २७. #हरन को पकड़+ , िल/ स1#नक2 को आ4 5ख न7हा क9चन प;ी =च#तत हो उठा । वह उड़कर जDदी F रGगीन #हरन , पास जा पIGचा और उF आगाह कर #दया ।

26. The next morning [the queen informed the emperor about everything the snake charmer had said, and so] the emperor ordered that his soldiers be gathered together for a hunt. Soon afterwards, the emperor and his soldiers set out to capture the sacred deer. Meanwhile, the greedy snake charmer, mounted on a scrawny donkey, followed along after them, hoping to get the reward. 27. When a small, brightly colored bird saw the soldiers approaching, he became worried that they were trying to catch the radiant deer. So he took off and flying swiftly soon arrived before the radiant deer to warn him.

26ü ÅP-ZÛm-hï¼-z®m-qôÅ-¼P-ZÛh-ˆÛ-h¤G-¤Û-±P-¤-ºhÝ-º²ô¤Å-‚ïh-hGôÅ-qºÛ-z;º-zbP.ü hÝÅ-»Þm-fÞP-PÞ-ŸÛG-GÛ-XïÅ-ÅÞ-z®m-qô-hP-DôP-GÛ-h¤G-¤Û-n¤Å-¤hôG-z=-zºÛ-Á-z-hï-z¸ÞP-MãºÛVïh-hÝ-zBôh-q-¼ïhü ºhôh-Q¤Å-Tm-HÛ-£æ¾-q-hïÅ-zôP-zÞ-¼Ûh-qô-ŸÛG-¾-zŸôm-bï-h¤G-¤ÛºÛ-XïÅ-ÅÞxÛm-q-¼ïhü 27ü ¤hôG-z=-zºÛ-Á-z-hï-z¸ÞP-MãºÛ-Vïh-hÝ-»ôP-zŸÛm-qºÛ-h¤G-¤Û-n¤Å-¤fôP-XïÅü ‚ÛºÞ-VßPGÅï¼-¤hôG-Tm-hï-Åï¤Å-F¾-BïÅ-q-¼ïhü hïÅ-¤HôGÅ-¥ã¼-ºwÞ¼-bï-¤hôG-z=-zºÛ-Á-zºÛ-¤hÝmhÝ-ÇÀïzÅ-q-hP-Zïm-zl-zbP-z-¼ïhü 26

Pin-Wei Chiang, Khen Rinpoche Lobzang Tsetan and Dana Sawyer

Pema Tsewang, Shastri

Siddhartha School Project Press