..续本文上一页 [8] This text, although containing very old material, may only date from the 5th century CE . [9] It contains biographical details from the distant past lives of the Buddha up to the donation of the Jetavana Monastery in the early years of the Buddha”s teaching (J.1-95). It has thus summarised some of the material contained in various parts of the Canon. [10] Three suttas in the Sutta-nipata (Sn.405ff.; Sn.425ff.; Sn.509ff.) are described as "precious remnants of that ancient spiritual ballad-poetry" which are "rich in legend-like features and mythical paraphernalia". [11]

　　It should perhaps also be noted that the "texts" were originally preserved orally. Thus, for the sake of easy remembrance, they contain a substantial amount of "stock phrases". These sometimes do not exactly fit the situation in which they occur, for example, see 4) below where it says that the Buddha´s mother cried when he left the homelife, even though in another passage it is mentioned that his mother died shortly after he was born (M.III, 122)

　　It is ironic that the early Buddhist scriptures record very little of the personal history of the founder. Of course, those who live close to the original teacher are much more concerned with what the teacher actually teaches than the details of the teacher”s personal life.

　　1. "I was delicate, most delicate, supremely delicate. Lotus ponds were made for me at my father”s house solely for my benefit. Blue lotuses flowered in one, white lotuses in another, red lotuses in a third. I used no sandalwood that was not of Benares. My turban, tunic, lower garments and cloak were all made of Benares cloth. A white sunshade was held over me day and night so that no cold or heat or dust or grit or dew might inconvenience me.

　　"I had three mansions; [12] one for the Winter, one for the Summer and one for the Rainy Season. In the Rainy Season mansion I was entertained by minstrels with no men among them. For the four months of the Rainy Season I never went down to the lower mansion. Though meals of broken rice with lentil soup are given to the servants and retainers in other people”s houses, in my father”s house white rice and meat was given to them."

　　A.I,145. (adapted from Nanamoli, LoB, p.9)

　　This text is a poetic expression of a much better-than-average lifestyle. Similar phraseology is also used in reference to two other people signifying a wealthy, cared-for life -- the former Buddha Vipassi (D.II,21) and Yasa, the son of a wealthy merchant of Benares (Vin.I,15). Although later tradition describes the Buddha as being born into the royal family of a rich kingdom, references in the Pali Canon suggest that, at most, he was the son of the temporary chief of a small aristocratic tribal republic known by the name Sakya. [13] This was situated in the foothills of the Himalayas with the capital of Kapilavatthu. At that time they are mentioned as tributary to the powerful kingdom of Kosala (D.III,83;M.I,110;124;etc.).

　　The Buddha is quoted as describing his biographical details thus: he belonged to the Warrior/noble class, his clan name was Gotama, his father”s name was Suddhodana and his mother”s name was Maya (D.II,3ff). Other references indicate that his mother died shortly after his birth (M.III,122) and that he was nursed by his stepmother Mahapajapati (M.III,253).

　　There is mention of the young child being visited by a Holy Sage who prophesized his spiritual success (Sn.509ff.). Mention is also made of the Buddha”s son, Rahula, whose mother is only identified as "Rahula”s mother" (Vin.I,82). Some of the other canonical biographical material, for example, the details of his birth (M.III,122; cf D.II,12ff), are perhaps more allegorical than factual.

　　2. "Whilst I had such power and good fortune, yet I …

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