The Life of the Buddha (animation)

He was a real historical person?

The life of the Buddha is not told to commemorate Prince Siddhartha Gautama and his adventures, much as it may sound that way. The historical accounts have become an allegory, a way of telling the story of Everyone in what Houston Smith could call "the heroine's journey," which also includes heroes.

Born to luxury, kept safe and pampered, spoiled and loved, the prince comes to realize that there has to be more to it all. What is the meaning of life? Why are we here? Where are we going? And most pressing, why do living beings suffer?

Sujata saved Siddhartha from overdoing fasting

On account of needing to answer this final question, he sets off on a journey, a quest in search of the Truth. How could he be a leader of people, the Indo-Scythians (Sakas, Shakyas), if he can offer them no escape from the inevitabilities of birth, aging, sickness, death, and rebirth?

This is samsara. And somewhere is liberation (nirvana, moksha). He must set off to find it and bring it back to his family. And that he does. Only in the process, the size of his "family" grows to include all humans and devas and a goodly number of other beings.

• TEXT: Dhr. Seven, Amber Larson, Wisdom Quarterly