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These tasks are intended to help you understand the importance of illustrations of the Ramayana to ancient and modern communities.

1 The Ramayana--Print Illustrations

What To Do

1. Examine the main features of the picture on page 13 of Impressions, and complete the questions on page 19 so that you have an understanding of that picture.

2. In groups, list what you think are the most striking features of the old painting of Rama and Sita. http://www.goloka.com/docs/rama/rama_06.html

3. Compare the old picture of Rama and Sita with the modern one on page 13 of Impressions.

4. Groups should compare two pictures of Rama and Sita: one old and one modern. Create a written presentation that describes and analyses the important features of depictions of Rama and Sita, and explores the similarities between the two pictures.
   Questions to Build a Comparison
   • What are the common features of the two pictures?
   • How do these illustrations differ in style, colouring, surrounding symbols and figures? Why might this be?
   • What purposes were each of the two pictures created for? Even though one picture is from the eighteenth century and the other is from the late twentieth century, why might this be so?

2 Carvings on Religious Buildings

What To Do

1. Borobudur is a Buddhist sacred place. The bas-relief shown on page 15 of Impressions is from a temple to Sita in Java, Indonesia. Buddhism and Hinduism both originated in India and they share some beliefs about the shape and arrangement of the universe.

   According to both religions, our lives are carried out in one of many levels of the universe that exist above and below us.

2. Investigate the following web pages:
   • Look at the map of the temple at Borobudur and read about its arrangement to reflect beliefs about the organisation of the universe:
     http://www.bergerfoundation.ch/Borobudur/E/Bouddhisme.html

   • Examine an account of life experiences and see carvings showing the everyday life of people:
     http://www.bergerfoundation.ch/wat13/zoom.cgi?number=2_27gd

   • 'Learning' shows Buddha in the centre and followers learning from him:
     http://www.bergerfoundation.ch/wat13/zoom.cgi?number=2_11gd

   • Click on 'Revelation' to see a picture of a stupa representing the soul's attainment of understanding of life:
     http://www.bergerfoundation.ch/wat13/zoom.cgi?number=1_49gd

   • Click on 'Mount Meru' to see a representation of the highest and most perfect place in the Universe, and read a description of the levels of the universe:
     http://www.bergerfoundation.ch/Borobudur/E/Meru.html

3. Use one or two sentences to describe in your own words what you would find at each level of the universe.

4. Why is the depiction of daily life a central feature of temples and other sacred Hindu and Buddhist places? (Discuss with your teacher the likely purposes of temple illustrations, such as to honour gods, and the importance of showing people who may not be able to read about religious beliefs.)

5. Prepare a display chart to explain the role of temple decorations and religious monuments in community life.

3 Popular Media--The Monkey Stories

What To Do

1. Read about Monkey and Tripitaka on page 31 of Impressions and write down your answers to the questions that follow on page 36.

2. Locate the following Monkey website and answer the following questions.
   http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Towers/8153/index.html
   • What is the purpose of this website?
   • What does it tell us about the origins of Monkey?
   • What is the significance of Tripitaka?

3. Look at this Monkey website and answer the following questions.
   http://www.purifymind.com/JourneyWest.htm
   • What does this website tell us about the Monkey story?
   • What is the religious importance of the story?
   

4. Using the answers to these questions, discuss with your group or class why these ancient stories are still popular and considered valuable throughout the world?

5. Your group will make an oral presentation to the class to explain your understanding of the reasons for the worldwide popularity of Monkey.