I also think it's very interesting, and would like to know a little more which some brief investigation has not shed much light on.
Where did the first reports of the Buddha's experiences as described above come from? As I understand it, no Buddhist scriptures were recorded in writing until at least 400 years after his death. And I get the impression that by this time there were already various divergent (but related) teachings, to varying degrees embellished beyond the truth.
Some of the books I scanned through made no mention of any of these events, implying it does not constitute a particularly significant part of the Buddhist teachings.
And I guess ultimately, I would be interested to know whether one is inspired by the other in some way, or did they develop entirely seperately of each other? |