All Entries Tagged With: "Hand-me-downs: Tales from all over"

There once was a happy monkey wandering the jungle, eating delicious fruit when hungry, and resting when tired. One day he came upon a house, where he saw a bowl of the most beautiful apples. He took one in each hand and ran back into the forest. He sniffed the apples and smelled nothing.

A long time ago, a young man called Mohan lived in a village. His parents had died many years ago and he had no one to care for him, or to cook and sew for him. He lived at the very edge of the village in a small lodge made from bark and branches. His [...]

Mohan and Sohan left their village and headed for a big city in search of work. They found well-paying jobs and were very happy. A year later, they lost their jobs due to the recession. Instead of rushing back to their village, they stayed put in the big city hoping they would find work again. [...]

There was a cowherd Mohan who took his cows to the meadows every morning and brought them back to the cowshed at the end of the day. One evening, as he was tying the cows up for the night, he found that one of them was missing her rope. He feared that she might run [...]

Jasmine had a precious necklace. Once in her excitement she forgot that she had it round her neck and looked into her cupboard to find it. When she could not find it in the cupboard, she thought that the necklace was lost. She became anxious and looked for it everywhere in her home but could [...]

Mohan nearly fell into a pool one day. Sohan, who was nearby, saved him. Then onwards, every time they met, Sohan would remind Mohan of the great service that he had performed. Mohan got annoyed at this behaviour. Then one day, he took Sohan to the water, jumped in, stood with his head just above [...]

Jasmine was going to the market to buy vegetables. On the way she met Lily. “Where are you going?” asked Lily. “Wherever my legs take me,” replied Jasmine. Lily pondered over the answer but could not think of anything to say. When she returned home she reported the conversation to her mother who was a [...]

Sohan was a young boy. It was his first time flying a kite, so his father helped him – and after several attempts the kite was in the air. Sohan ran and let out more string, and soon the kite was flying high. He was so excited; the kite was beautiful. Eventually there was no [...]

There was once a stone cutter Mohan who was dissatisfied with himself and with his position in life. One day he passed a wealthy merchant’s house. Through the open gateway, he saw many fine possessions and important visitors. “How powerful that merchant must be!” thought Mohan. He became very envious and wished that he could [...]

Mohan once met a swordsman Sohan who had had more than thirty sword fights without once being defeated. Mohan asked him where he had learned his skill. Sohan replied that he was entirely self-taught. Mohan asked, “Then how come you are so successful?” Sohan said, “As soon as the fight begins I get close enough [...]

One day Lily and Jasmine were walking by a river. “Look at the fish swimming about,” said Lily, “They are really enjoying themselves.” “You are not a fish,” replied Jasmine, “So you can’t truly know that they are enjoying themselves.” “You are not me,” said Lily. “So how do you know that I do not [...]

Lily once dreamt that she was a butterfly fluttering here and there. In the dream, she had no awareness of her individuality as a girl. Suddenly, she woke up and thought to herself, “Am I a girl who dreamt about being a butterfly, or am I a butterfly who is now dreaming about being a [...]