Book that helped me to broaden my understanding about Buddhism

Journey to Liberation:

A life story of the Buddha according to the Mahayana Tradition

Different culture has a different version of story about a lone Buddha, right from its birth till enlightenment. But this book authored by Khenpo Phuntsok Tashi concisely talks from Mahayana perspective. Content of the book superficially touches every aspect of the Buddha’s life and its preaching. Written in simple language with best interpretation, this book can serve as the guiding principle for the youth who has a little knowledge about the life of enlightened Buddha with enthusiasm to become decent Buddhist practitioner. Khenpo not only tries to enlighten reader with the well heard life story of the Buddha but also make reader informed about the interpretation behind Buddhist paintings and posture of the statues that are seen in every holy places right from the majestic temples to the small altar rooms in every individual apartment. Elaborated with sketch at the end of every chapter makes it much easier to understand the content of the book without much difficulty.

Story initially begins with the birth and a confined life of by then a prince who is prophesied to be either a powerful ruler of the universe, if not an enlightened Buddha. Few chapter emphases on early life of the Buddha as a prince who use to be undefeatable in every discipline honoured with every worldly pleasure within a confined walls of the palace with thousand wives.

Touched and realised by the incidences encountered during his first royal entourage outside the luxuries palace, prince renounces his princely life in search of simple truth that governs human life. Struggling for six long years leading the life of austerity in the forest, he finally attains the enlightenment sitting under Bodhi tree cushioned by Tsa-Kusha (broom grass). Most of the statues that are erected in every worshiping places at present generation with right hand pointing downward depicts the particular moment of his life when Buddha touched the land beneath him as a witness of his enlightenment to prove against the false allegation made by the demon.  

Later portion of the book deals with the preaching of Buddha’s finding about the truth initially starting from the Deer park in Sarnath, in the region of Varanasi followed by different places including the abode of the God, where his late mother is known to be reincarnated.

With successful preaching for several decades, at the age of eighty Buddha attained Mahaparinvana “the great entry into the non-suffering state” (literally it means death) at place named Kushinagar.