Every contemplation of the Buddha’s teachings begins with a contemplation of the life of the Buddha. Why? Isn’t it sufficient to have read one version, or to have known ‘the facts’ of it? There are a number of reasons. The first is there is no one version. There are historical versions, hagiographic versions, devotional versions, fictionalised version, graphic versions, poetic versions. You learn something new from each one. Second, every teacher who narrates the life of the Buddha lends you his lens. It empowers you to take what works for you from it. The Nalanda method of learning emphasised listening as the first step for this purpose. What falls on your ears, draws you in, is for you. Listening to the life of the Buddha is not about what is historically accurate, but to know how to contemplate his life. The Buddha offers himself up as the basis of a methodology of practice. Research and intellectualise and go to the scholars, listen to teachings, read, yes, but in the end… think! Is this pragmatic? Does it seem reasonable? Is it applicable? How does it translate? And above all, be convinced for yourself. Don’t accept simply what is passed down to you as a teaching.
I find Arundhati Subramaniam’s The Book of Buddha a beautiful way to contemplate the Buddha not because it is well researched or nicely penned, both of which it is, but because it shows you how to think about the Buddha. I do hope this review/contemplation/reflection inspires you to pick it up for yourself.
The music in the background is the beautiful Shakyamuni Mantra by the Bodhi Bhajan group which I use in my meditations and that was given to me by my teacher Asha Pillai-Balsara. No copyright misuse or disrespect is intended. It simply offers a meditative basis in which to reflect on the Buddha’s life.
May it aid you in your contemplation.
Next week: Pavan Varma’s The Great Hindu Civilisation.
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Books 1.1: What is the Buddha?