The Historical Buddha
@Chiang_Mai_boy (3882)
Thailand
September 30, 2012 6:50am CST
Other posters here have asked us to look at the story of Jesus and the story of Muhammad on the basis of historical fact but I don’t think anyone has asked us to look at the story of the Buddha in the same light. Is there any body of accepted historical fact that supports the existence of a historical Buddha? Is it important?
4 responses
@grandpa_lash (5225)
• Australia
1 Oct 12
A quick scroll through the academic literature suggests that his historical status is unquestioned. I'm not interested enough to chase up actual references, especially since Buddhism is one of the most studied philosophies in the world, and it is highly doubtful that theories of the symbolic existence of Buddha would not be prominent if they existed. I can't see the point in reinventing the wheel.
Lasgh
@Chiang_Mai_boy (3882)
• Thailand
1 Oct 12
Actually a quick scroll through academic Buddhist reveals that there is considerable question as to whether there was a historical Buddha. The problem stems from the fact that early Buddhism relied on oral tradition and nothing was written down for the first five hundred years that Buddhism existed.
@Chiang_Mai_boy (3882)
• Thailand
1 Oct 12
You just hit the nail on the head. While other religions are dependent on their founder for their relevancy Buddhism is not. Christianity is a bit awkward without a Jesus and Islam loses its authority without Muhammad, Buddhism does not need a Buddha.
@grandpa_lash (5225)
• Australia
1 Oct 12
Whatever. So, to answer the second part of your question, it's totally irrelevant.
Lash
@urbandekay (18278)
•
3 Oct 12
I know not whether Siddhartha Guatemala existed but contrary to what has been already said, I think it is important to know. Important, at least to me because I am interested to know and I consider knowledge an end in and of itself
all the best urban
@urbandekay (18278)
•
3 Oct 12
But I understand that not everyone here considers the truth important
all the best urban
@mohkanari (1957)
• India
30 Sep 12
History of Buddha is great part of Indian history [ BC 563 - 483. So many Kings and peope at that period of his teachings accepted Buddhism. He was known as" Sakyamuni" and there are a lot of books at that time regarding his teachings. Recently monument of his "Nirvana" is found after tiresome serches by various persons near Vaisali in North India which was turned as a hill with trees without getting any care.
@Chiang_Mai_boy (3882)
• Thailand
30 Sep 12
The question is though how much of this is tradition and how much is supported by historical fact? Is there a historical record that supports this history such as things written while he was alive that reports the fact of his existence?
