Once upon a time there was a child whose heart and mind were as pure as snow. But she came under the power of a wicked queen whom we shall call Māra, ruler of illusion, greed, and hatred. To free herself from Māra's huntsman, the child sets out on a journey through the dark forest. The journey leads to discovery and, despite Māra's attempts to poison her, to awakening and true happiness. There are many stories that come to us from Asia, called Jātaka tales, about the Buddha's lives as a … [Read more...]