Life of the Buddha - Preface
Life of the Buddha
Mainly based on The Great Chronicles of the Buddhas
Written by Yap Pak Choong
Illustrated by Wong Shook Heong (Shu Xiang)
Beginners who embark on Buddhist studies often encounter with stories that purportedly explain the doctrines or narrate the happenings occurring during Buddha’s lifetime. Some of these may be paranormal which involve various divine beings, animals, and even the unseen spirits and ghosts, whereas others are truly historical in nature which are readily verifiable. Such is the case, therefore, the stories as written in this book are of no exceptions.
Of all the 113 stories that bear direct or indirect connections with Buddha, those narrating the events happened from his birth to his Enlightenment, and the subsequent events at Kapilavatthu and Rājagaha (1 to 44, except 43) are historical life events of Buddha written in the traditional manner, the only source of reference is from “The Great Chronicle of Buddhas” written by the Most Venerable Mingun Sayadaw Bhaddanta Vicittasārābhivaṁsa.
Stories from 45 to 93 emphasize the doctrinal or ethical teachings of Buddha. Some of these were taken directly from the early Suttas, or from the Commentaries to Dhammapada, Jātaka, Theragāthā, and Suttanipāta etc. however, the bulk of material is based on those written in “The Great Chronicle of Buddhas”. Those stories found in the early Suttas were spoken by the Buddha when he delivered the related discourses, which were then compiled and finalised during His time, or slightly later during the period of Sectarian Buddhism. They were memorized and transmitted orally from generation to generation before they were spread to Sri Lanka. As regarding those stories from the Commentaries, some are paranormal, for instance “Taming of Nandopananda”. Historically, the commentarial stories were compiled by the Enlightened scholar-monks in India as well as in Sri Lanka, though according to tradition, these were told by the Buddha in the earlier days.
On the other hand, stories from the “tragedy of King Bimbisāra” to the last one, that is “The Sixth Buddhist Council” held at Yangon (94 to 113, except 101), are either historical life events of the persons concerned, or pure historical events of Theravada Buddhism. When writing the stories of Ajātasattu and Devadatta, we mainly refer to the Pāḷi Vinaya and “The Great Chronicle of Buddhas”, however, those regarding the last three months of Buddha’s life till the distribution of His bone-relics are based on the Pāḷi Mahā Parinibbāna Sutta and also the “Great Chronicle of Buddhas”. Lastly, the information about the spread of Buddhism to Sri Lanka and Myanmar, Asoka’s Contributions, the formations of Bhikkhuni Orders in Sri Lanka and India, and the Buddhist Councils are all based on the Pāḷi Vinaya, Sri Lankan Pāḷi Chronicles, or some modern reports (for Sixth Council) as found in the internet.
This book is intended for the non-English speaking students at secondary school level. The language used and style of writing should be comfortable to them.
May all of you enjoy reading, and acquire some wisdom from Buddha’s teaching, Sādhu! Sādhu! Sādhu!
By the author at Ampang Botanic, Klang, Malaysia.
17th July 2021