With the backdrop of the Jatakas 547 Legends of the Buddha’s previous lives this work focuses on the origin and development of the Mahayana ideal of the Bodhisattva one who is destine to become enlightened.
During these 547 lives when Gautama was born as a human being various types of animals and tree spirits in each of these lives by his own actions and disposition he accumulated infinite wisdom and all the qualities and attributes which are essential for an individual t acquire and perfect in order to become a Buddha. As the Jataka stories recount Gautama traveled a very long and an arduous but a remarkable journey of inner struggle self- discipline determination and reflection which spanned thousands of years to achieve his goal Nirvana. He remembered all his past lives and experience on the night of his enlightenment.
Secondly the work discusses the Theravada ideal of an Arhat – a worthy one who has traveled the eightfold path, broken the ten fetters and has attained Nirvana, and the concept of Pratyeka Buddha a solitary sage whose ideals are incompatible with those of a Bodhisattva. He is lonely sage who achieves Nirvana but is indifferent to the troubles of all other beings.
Thirdly an expose of Apostrophic and Esoteric aspects of Buddhism is followed by a serious attempt to explain the Buddhist doctrine of Anatta and the five skandhas which make up an individual personality. |
