The Central Buddhist Myth

Along with the teachings and practices of Buddhism and the community of practitioners, Buddhism also communicates through stories, myths and symbols.

When we look at Buddhist art or read Buddhist texts we often encounter a very different realm from that of its teachings and practices. This is the realm of myth and symbol, which speaks to us on a deeper level than conscious awareness alone.

There are three main elements in the picture of existence that Buddhism offers. The first is ordinary life, in which we live and struggle, which Buddhism calls samsara. Our lives, and everything we see around us, are characterised by the Three Marks of existence. They are impermanent, and we are subject to old age, disease and death; they are insubstantial and elusive, lacking any fixed essence; and as a result they are deeply unsatisfactory. The second element of the Buddhist picture is Nirvana: the state of Buddhahood that is entirely free from suffering and represented by the Buddha. The third is the path that leads from samsara to nirvana, which is variously formulated as The Threefold Way and The Eightfold Path.

This basic Buddhist map underlies everything we encounter in Buddhism. The focus of Buddhist teachings is the path, but we are continually reminded of the nature of samsara and the possibility of nirvana. But Buddhism brings it to life through its central story or myth: the Life of the Buddha.

The great tree which is Buddhism must spread wide and high within our conscious mind, but its roots must go deep down into our unconscious.

Sangharakshita

This mythic life story traces the Buddha’s spiritual journey to Awakening under the Bodhi tree. Buddhists tell the story again and again because, like all great myths, it is rich in meaning and provides a symbolic map of the path that all Buddhists undertake to follow.

Some elements of the story are seemingly realistic; others are more symbolic, such as the encounter of the Buddha-to-be with the demonic figure of Mara, who urges him to turn back just when he has reached the verge of Enlightenment. Other mythic or legendary Buddhist stories describe the Buddha’s previous lives.

Throughout history, Buddhists have depicted these stories artistically. The central Buddhist image is the seated Buddha, which appears on millions of shrines and provides the focal point for temples across the Buddhist world. These images are famous for the sense of peace they exude. For Buddhists, they express all the qualities of Enlightenment, and are a focus of Buddhist devotional rituals.