4681 - The Acrobat and other Buddhist tales
Author: Amar Chitra Katha
Description This Amar Chitra Katha collects several Buddhist vignettes. In “The Acrobat,” Ugrasena transitions from a royal treasurer’s son to an acrobat and eventually becomes a follower of Buddha. “The Harvest” finds Buddha teaching a farmer the importance of detachment. “The Golden Maiden” reveals the dangers of desire to a lovesick youth. In “Buddha and Kṛṣṇa Gautamī,” Buddha consoles a bereaved mother by illustrating the inevitability of death (anityatā). The comic gently intertwines everyday lives with Buddha’s moral guidance . Keywords acrobat transformation (pariṇāma), detachment (vairāgya), greed’s downfall (lobha kṣaya), desire’s peril (kāma vighāta), motherhood’s sorrow (mātṛbhāva), impermanence (anityatā), Buddha’s compassion (dayā) Ideal For Readers who enjoy illustrated Buddhist moral stories, reflective spiritual narratives, and serene teachings conveyed through vivid visuals. Age Recommended for ages 7 to 14 years, though the themes resonate with older readers as well  . Theme Transformation and spiritual growth, cultivation of detachment (vairāgya), overcoming desire, understanding death’s inevitability (anityatā), and the power of compassionate awakening (dayā) Tone Reflective, serene, instructive, and quietly uplifting—designed to inspire contemplation rather than dramatize conflict. Book Type Comic book / graphic moral anthology; part of Amar Chitra Katha’s Buddhist Stories collection—issue number 668 (or grouped alongside similar titles) . Length Approximately 33 pages.