Many past lives of the Buddha are said to be known. From lives as a tree spirit to an elephant to humans just before achieving enlightenment, the stories of these lives can offer much in pastoral value. These are the Jataka Stories. They are a method for teaching Ethics and warning against taboos, practical handbooks through memorable folklore. As some of the oldest surviving remnants of ancient cultures they also serve as brilliant material for understanding the everyday beliefs of people in lost worlds. Here is a conversation with Naomi Appleton from Edinburgh University, an expert in Buddhist stories and early Indian religion in general.