The Pros and Cons of Mythology

[Will]

Dear Will -- Well, I think it is said that Shakymuni Buddha was born from his mother's armpit or side and that after birth he took seven steps in each of the cardinal directions and then said, with his right index finger pointed to the sky and his left index finger pointed at the ground, "Above the heavens and below the earth, I alone am the world-honored one." I think there are variations on the tale, but it seems likely that it would qualify as a myth.

Myth, as in false or symbolic? Seems I recall one of the traditional commentaries gave a symbolic rendering to this passage.

[piper]

I was just thinking how unremarkable Buddhism would have to be to have acquired no mythology since it's inception.