GLORIFICATION OF THE BUDDHA AND THE BODHISATTA

The Buddha himself admitted that he was the Buddha and not a supernatural being. Though the concept of glorification was never desired by the Buddha, but it had attracted various communities across the world for centuries (in the form of Buddhist Art, Meditation and Prayers) and served as an invisible and inseparable bond of unity and harmony in the society. It is impossible to perfectly identify the time when the first concept of glorification of the Buddha and the Bodhisatta was initiated in Buddhism. This is due to the fact that by the time the Canon was put to writing, the Buddha concept had already undergone significant glorification. So, what we have today in the Canon is a mixture of old and new materials.

Autorentext

Dr. Dipak Kumar Barua is a renowned Professor of Pali and Buddhism. He had earlier served as the Dean of the Faculty Council for Postgraduate Studies in Education, Journalism & Library Science in the University of Calcutta during 1987 to 1991. He was also the Director of Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, Nalanda during 1996 to 1999.