Biography of the Buddha

A forum for beginners and members of other Buddhist traditions to ask questions about Theravāda (The Way of the Elders). Responses require moderator approval before they are visible in order to double-check alignment to Theravāda orthodoxy.
Post Reply
sattva
Posts: 1254
Joined: Thu May 07, 2009 10:07 pm

Biography of the Buddha

Post by sattva »

I have a friend who would like to know more about Buddha's life. She is looking for something fairly accurate, but a good read. It has been so long since i have read any that i don't know which one would be a good recommendation. Any suggestions?
http://www.chatzy.com/25904628501622
User avatar
DNS
Site Admin
Posts: 17186
Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2008 4:15 am
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, Estados Unidos de América
Contact:

Re: Biography of the Buddha

Post by DNS »

Here is an e-book: http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/lifebuddha.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"Sketch" of the Buddha's Life: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/buddha.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Video:

part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZQ9OZ_JACA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxOHFj7cueg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcD9O_E-xec" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xuE53jhlXk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
part 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ypFmNfPLng" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
tiltbillings
Posts: 23046
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 9:25 am

Re: Biography of the Buddha

Post by tiltbillings »

>> Do you see a man wise [enlightened/ariya] in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.<< -- Proverbs 26:12

This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.

“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
alan
Posts: 3111
Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2009 12:14 am
Location: Miramar beach, Fl.

Re: Biography of the Buddha

Post by alan »

Karen Armstrong has an Ok attempt; concise and short, informative. But she has her own theories of history. TNH was at his poetic best in "Old path white clouds", but he has a viewpoint to sell.
I'd say a fair-minded person who reads both these books would have a good idea of whether or not to continue exploring. Whatever you do, avoid that awful BBC documentary!
User avatar
retrofuturist
Posts: 27848
Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2008 9:52 pm
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Contact:

Re: Biography of the Buddha

Post by retrofuturist »

Greetings,

Without a second's hesitation, I recommend...

The Life Of The Buddha According To The Pali Canon by Bhikkhu Nanamoli
http://www.amazon.com/Life-Buddha-Accor ... 1928706126" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

... possibly cheaper direct from the publisher BPS.

Metta,
Retro. :)
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
alan
Posts: 3111
Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2009 12:14 am
Location: Miramar beach, Fl.

Re: Biography of the Buddha

Post by alan »

I've been thinking about reading that one, but thought Is it just a recitation of the suttas that talk about his life. Is there more information?
User avatar
retrofuturist
Posts: 27848
Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2008 9:52 pm
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Contact:

Re: Biography of the Buddha

Post by retrofuturist »

Greetings Alan,

It's modelled around the suttas, but as best as is possible, they're sequential in the story they tell, and where relevant they are supported by commentary (but the commentarial additions are clearly designated as such). Its strength lies of in the use of multiple "narrator" modes... from memory, one suttanta, one Mahavihara, one something else (possibly non-sectarian historian?).

Sorry if I'm a bit sketchy, it's been a while, but to put it in context, I read this after reading the Majjhima and Samyutta Nikayas and still found much benefit from it and it would be my first port of call if there was some aspect of the Buddha's life I wanted to revisit.

The Amazon customer comments as linked to above are bound to contain additional information.

Metta,
Retro. :)
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
alan
Posts: 3111
Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2009 12:14 am
Location: Miramar beach, Fl.

Re: Biography of the Buddha

Post by alan »

Thanks Retro! Your recommendation sells it for me.
User avatar
tiltbillings
Posts: 23046
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 9:25 am

Re: Biography of the Buddha

Post by tiltbillings »

This is chaper 12 of Ven Nanamoli's book: http://www.buddhanet.net/cmdsg/bt-1.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
>> Do you see a man wise [enlightened/ariya] in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.<< -- Proverbs 26:12

This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.

“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
sattva
Posts: 1254
Joined: Thu May 07, 2009 10:07 pm

Re: Biography of the Buddha

Post by sattva »

Thanks all for the links and the suggestions! :anjali:
http://www.chatzy.com/25904628501622
User avatar
IanAnd
Posts: 403
Joined: Mon Oct 19, 2009 5:19 am
Location: the deserts of Arizona

Re: Biography of the Buddha

Post by IanAnd »

While I have a copy of The Life Of The Buddha According To The Pali Canon by Bhikkhu Nanamoli, and it's very good, for people not used to reading large extracts from the suttas, it may be a bit dry (although I personally didn't find it so).

As far as good biographical tomes go, one which might be a bit more entertaining to read in addition to insightful in its presentation, there is Hans W. Schumann's treatment published in 1982 and translated from German in 1989 titled The Historical Buddha, The Times, Life and Teachings of the Founder of Buddhism.

A more recent treatment that is surprisingly well written and thought out as well as entertaining and insightful in that it is taken from the same source material (the Pali discourses) as the first book mentioned above is Vishvapani Blomfield's Gautama Buddha: The Life and Teachings of the Awakened One. Although the author uses Sanskrit spellings, his source material was from the Pali scriptures, which he stuck to assiduously as his reliance for authority.
"The gift of truth exceeds all other gifts" — Dhammapada, v. 354 Craving XXIV
docwood1997
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Oct 19, 2018 2:38 pm

Re: Biography of the Buddha

Post by docwood1997 »

Peace

:anjali:

I have been listening to Ajahn Achalo's talks from a pilgrimage he led following the Buddha's life path in India and it has made me aware of the need for some historical context: Just for one example, I had read the Burning sermon recently and while some lightbulbs clicked on for me I had not been aware of the context of the thing and hearing the whole story was eye-opening. So I did a search on biographies and found this thread. I have located copies of the two texts recommended here but wondered: Is this still everybody's recommendations, 7 years later?

TIA!

:reading:
User avatar
AgarikaJ
Posts: 361
Joined: Tue Sep 11, 2018 12:21 pm
Location: Germany, Nong Bua Lamphu (Thailand)

Re: Biography of the Buddha

Post by AgarikaJ »

For those who simply want to 'test-read' first before buying (or donating the money), a complete .pdf of Life Of The Buddha According To The Pali Canon by Bhikkhu Nanamoli can be found here:

http://www.khamkoo.com/uploads/9/0/0/4/ ... buddha.pdf

Of course it quotes from the Suttas, it is not adapted for mainstream novel readers. For those, the book of Karen Armstrong would maybe be better suited, but modern adaptations are liable to loose a lot of the finer detail that only reading -- and thinking about -- the word directly from the horse's mouth can bring.
The teaching is a lake with shores of ethics, unclouded, praised by the fine to the good.
There the knowledgeable go to bathe, and cross to the far shore without getting wet.
[SN 7.21]
Post Reply