History of Buddhism
The life of the Buddha
Siddhattha Gotama of the Sakya clan: what the early texts say, what came later, and how sure we can be of the dates.
What the early texts say
The early discourses describe Siddhattha Gotama of the Sakya clan, who left home as a young man, practised severe asceticism, rejected it, and awoke under a tree near what is now Bodh Gaya. He taught for about forty-five years and died at Kusinara aged about eighty. The Mahaparinibbana Sutta records his last journey and death.
Then the Buddha said to the mendicants: “Come now, mendicants, I say to you all: ‘Conditions fall apart. Persist with diligence.’” These were the Realized One’s last words.
Digha Nikaya 16:6.7.1-6.7.4, The Great Discourse on the Buddha’s Extinguishment (tr. Bhikkhu Sujato) · context
What came later
The full life story familiar today (the palace, the four sights, the great departure) is told in later works such as Ashvaghosha's poem Buddhacarita (first or second century AD), the Lalitavistara and the Pali Nidanakatha. Emperor Ashoka's pillar at Lumbini (third century BC) records the tradition of his birthplace.
Why it matters
Buddhists do not rest their faith on the Buddha rising from the dead, so the history matters less to them. Christianity stands or falls on history: if Christ was not raised, faith is futile. That is why the New Testament names places, rulers and witnesses.
14If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith also is in vain. 15Yes, we are also found false witnesses of God, because we testified about God that he raised up Christ, whom he didn’t raise up if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16For if the dead aren’t raised, neither has Christ been raised. 17If Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins.
1 Corinthians 15:14-17 (WEB) · context
1Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us, 2even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us, 3it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus; 4that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.
Luke 1:1-4 (WEB) · context
1Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness.
Luke 3:1-2 (WEB) · context
Where scholars and traditions differ
- Dates: traditional Theravada reckoning puts the Buddha's death in 544/543 BC; many scholars prefer about 480 BC or about 400 BC (Bechert).
Sources
- Earliest source Digha Nikaya 16. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0), SuttaCentral.
- Heinz Bechert (ed.), The Dating of the Historical Buddha (Gottingen, 1991-1997).
- Ashoka's Rummindei (Lumbini) pillar inscription.