佛陀的故事

一直以來, 希望能夠找到一兩本比較好的中文佛陀傳記. 時下的中文佛陀傳記,多半參雜太多神話與聖化的色彩,已經看不出佛陀所處的歷史與社會環境,到底是什麼樣子.

我覺得這是中文世界佛教或佛學傳播普遍的問題."一切有為法,如夢幻泡影,如露亦如電,當作如是觀"的明確提示,在這個末法時代,已經被大多數的華人佛教徒與弘法者拋諸腦後.這絕非華人世界之福.

對我來說,喬達摩的證道與說法,先是一種思想與教育活動,之後才被體制化為宗教.

我更希望看到,在當時的環境底下,喬達摩是怎樣進行這思想與教育活動的?他在回應什麼樣的現實挑戰與哲學命題?

所幸找到由Karen Armstrong以及鈕先銘所寫的佛陀傳記.尤其是前者,給了我想要尋索的問題,一個簡潔而清晰的圖像.

當然,還有許多問題未能解決.這或許是因為,佛陀的生平故事缺乏信而可徵的紀錄.很多時後必須旁敲側擊. 佛陀在世的時候,正是亞歷山大大帝進入印度河不久. 但不知,希臘的紀錄裡頭,有沒有佛陀的身影?

Comments

[涓生]

关于佛陀活动年代：

“有关释迦牟尼的生年，由于古印度典籍没有时确的记载，各国所传和学者研究，一般都
是从佛教本身的史籍去考证，并从座年推算。因此说法不一，竟有60种之多。最早一说和最
晚一说之间，相距达数年。斯里兰卡、印度、缅甸、泰国、老挝、柬博寨等南传佛教国家，
一般认为释迦牟尼生于公元前624年，卒于公元前544年，并以此为依据，在1956～1957得举
行纪念释迦牟尼尼涅槃2500周年的盛大活动。西方学者根据南传史料，对佛灭年年代有公元
前489、487、486、484、483、482、478、477诸说；日本宇井伯寿根据北传史料，从阿育王
即位年代公元前271年上溯116睥，推定为公元前466生、386年卒。中村元又据阿育王即位年
为公元前286年，推定佛陀的生卒年为公元前463～前383年。中国年代学者依南齐僧轵跋陀
罗所译《善见律毗婆沙》师资相传的“众圣点记”，即释迦牟尼逝世的当年，优波离结集律
藏，并在是年七月十五日，在收后记下一点，以后每年添加一点，至南齐永明七年（489）
共计得975点。由此上推，则释迦牟尼生于公元前565年，灭于公元前486年，大体上与中
国春秋战国时期孔子同代，而比孔子早逝七年。此说也为日本 、印度、等国的佛教学者所
采用。 中国藏传佛教格鲁派，又传有公元前1041年生、前961年灭之说。”
亚历山大大帝活动年代：
Alexander the Great:
chronology

西元336 BC

Spring Parmenion leads vanguard into Asia
Summer Murder of Artaxerxes IV; accession of Darius III
October Murder of Philip (text); accession of Alexander
Nov-Dec. Alexander gains support of the Greek towns
335 Summer Alexander campaigns in the Balkans
Memnon's counterattack in Asia
12? Sept. Fall of Thebes (text)
Nov-Dec. Festivals at Dion and Aegae
334 May Alexander lands in Asia
Early June Battle of the Granicus river (text)
July Capture of Miletus
August Start of the siege of Halicarnassus
333 Winter Alexander conquers Caria, Lycia, Pamphylia and Phrygia
March-June Naval offensive of Memnon
April-July Alexander in Gordium (text)
July Death of Memnon
Late July Alexander leaves Gordium
Darius leaves Babylon
July-Sept Pharnabazus continues the naval offensive
September Alexander in Cilicia and falls ill (text)
October Parmenion sent to the Syrian gates
Alexander campaigns in West-Cilicia
c.5 Nov. Battle of Issus (text)
Dec.? Darius opens negotiations (text)
332 January Beginning of the siege of Tyre
Spring Disintegration of Persian fleet
July Fall of Tyre (text)
Sept-Nov. Siege of Gaza (text)
November Alexander visits Jerusalem? (text)
Alexander enters Egypt
331 January Alexander in Heliopolis and Memphis
March Alexander visits the oracle of Ammon (text)
7 April Alexander founds Alexandria (text)
June Alexander in Phoenicia and Syria
July Reinforcements leave Macedonia
Alexander's sets out to the East
Aug-Sept. Alexander campaigns in Mesopotamia
1 Oct. Battle of Gaugamela
22 Oct. Mazaeus surrenders Babylon to Alexander
(Babylonian text; Latin text)
15 Dec.
22 Dec.
Abulites surrenders Susa to Alexander
Alexander leaves Susa

330


20 Jan.
30 Jan.
Jan-May
Battle of the Persian gate
Alexander reaches Persepolis
Alexander at Persepolis (text)

June Darius leaves Ecbatana
c.17 July Death of Darius III at Choara; Bessus king (text)
Aug-Sept. Alexander in Hyrcania, Parthia and Aria
November Alexander in Drangiana; plot of Philotas
Alexander in Ariaspa; murder of Parmenion
329 February Armies unite in Arachosia
April Alexander advances to Gandara
Late May Alexander crosses the Hindu Kush (text)
c. 1 June Alexander advances to the Oxus (text)
Alexander captures Bessus
Alexander advances to the Jaxartes
July Alexander founds Alexandria Eschatê
Revolt in Sogdia, led by Spitamenes
Cavalry reorganized
328 Winter Alexander at Bactra
Summer Campaigns in Sogdia and Bactria
Autumn Murder of Clitus
December Capture of Spitamenes
327 Winter Alexander in Maracanda and Nautaca
Spring Capture of the Sogdian Rock (text)
Summer Armies unite at Bactra.
Introduction of proskynesis (text)
Marriage to Roxane
Late Summer Conspiracy of the pages; death of Callisthenes
326 February Hephaestion advances through Gandara to Indus
Alexander campaigns in the Swat valley
Alexander takes the Aornus rock
April Armies unite near the Indus; advance to Taxila
May Battle of the Hydaspes against Porus
c. 26 June Crossing of the Acesines
Late July Mutiny at the Hyphasis (text)
September Beginning of fleet building
November Alexander's fleet starts down the Hydaspes
325 January Campaign against the Mallians; Alexander wounded
February Disaster at the confluence of Acesines and Indus
April The Brahman rebellion
June Craterus starts for Carmania
c. 15 July Peithon's and other forces arrive at Patala
Late August Alexander starts for Carmania
15 Sept. Nearchus starts on his voyage (text)
Alexander in Gedrosia (text)
December Punishment of the satraps (text)
Alexander meets Craterus in Carmania
324 January Alexander meets Nearchus in Carmania
February Alexander in Pasargadae (text)
Death of Calanus (text)
March Alexander meets Nearchus in Susa
Marriages at Susa (text)
Summer Alexander's decree on the exiles (text)
August Mutiny at Opis (text)
Veterans set off with Craterus
October Alexander at Ecbatana
Late Oct. Death of Hephaestion
323 Winter Alexander requests divine honors
Alexander campaigns against the Cossaeans
April-May Alexander in Babylon
May Preparations for campaign to Arabia
11 June Alexander dies (Greek text; Babylonian text)


对比之下，两个人的活动年代差了将近一百年。所以，您的那个疑惑不存在。

[milankun]

涓生,

謝謝你詳細的指正.
我前陣子也才知道自己搞錯了時間.

最近在閱讀的是佛陀的弟子列傳.
其中,有許多關於輪迴的故事.
將來,應當要稍稍研究一下印度傳統當中,輪迴觀念的起源與演變.

這其中有個有意思的問題是,到底,佛陀引用了多少印度既有的文化與社會傳統? 像輪迴,禪修,苦行,乃至僧團組織,政教關係...等等. 又有哪些是佛陀本身的創發?

~米

[Air Jordan shoes]

Fear not that thy life shall come to an end, but rather fear that it shall never have a beginning.