I have a dozen biographies about the life of the Buddha. I emailed Stefan Karpkik, who loves exploring the Pali Suttas (Discourses of the Buddha) about the Buddha.
Last year, Stefan co-jointly translated from the Pali the Buddha’s discourse on the Four Applications of Mindfulness.
Stefan sent me the following brief summary of the kind of man that emerges from texts.
Referring to the Buddha, Stefan wrote:
“I want a sense of the person who:
Had backache and wanted Ananda to teach for him.
Made a teaching mistake on the foulness of the body, causing his monks to commit suicide.
Could not be bothered with fractious monks
Was a great walker
Loved hanging out in nature
Was a superb debater
Had a brilliant sense of humour
Was maybe the earliest satirist
Didn’t want the bother of teaching and then over-reached himself by trying to impress the first person he saw after enlightenment (and failed)
Survived a Mafia-style hit organised by his cousin
Was consulted by kings and politicians and mediated in war
Was expected to be psychotherapist, community leader as well as spiritual teacher.”
I loved it. Stefan outlines the sense of someone authentic – not a holier-than-thou type. A delight to read such a succinct statement about Gotama the Buddha.