I love the little guy that outsmarts the big predators in the Tiger and the Frog story. I tend to cheer for underdogs, and this story shows how intimidating a smart frog can be to a hungry tiger.
The story of the Cony Who Got into Bad Company is a smart story about a rabbit that hangs out with a crowd that has a reputation for stealing, and he joins in the fun, taking advantage of an old lama. Then the crony was basically banished from his crony civilization because of the poor company he chose to keep.
The story of the Donkey and the Rock is relatable to common attitudes of today. No one wants to take responsibility for actions or come to an understanding. Everyone wants to sue other people and take them to court. In this scenario, the judge comes up with a clever way of dealing with a silly case. I love the twist that everyone who comes to see the trial has to pay to leave.
The story of How the Fox Fell a Victim to His Own Deceit is a good story of jealousy and conspiracy. The fox really just wants attention, in my opinion, but he goes about it in a totally wrong way. He wasn't going to be any happier if the calf and the tiger killed one another. They would make a really strong team together, so his desires were terribly shortsighted. He got what he deserved for trying to tear apart two wonderful friends.
The story of the Ingratitude of Man is a revival of 'don't judge a book by its cover.' The people whom you think are of no use to you often turn out being the people that can help the most. It is important to be nice to everyone, especially when they are helping you out.
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Tibetan Tiger image chosen for its relation to Tibet and the prominence of tigers in Tibetan Folklore. Image found on Wikimedia, here.
Bibliography: Tibetan Folk Tales by A.L. Shelton, with illustrations by Mildred Bryant, found here.
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