HISTORY OF BUDDHISM : 1.OVERWIEV OF BUDDHIST-INDIAN COSMOGONY AND EARLY BUDDHISM Kindle Edition

I, Marcellin Zirignon, a Bodhisattva of the earth, became a Buddha in January 1993 before the age of 23. This followed six months of intense Gongyo practice, crowning arduous Bodhisattvic practices initiated at birth and which continue to this day. Acting for the moment as a provisional Buddha (one who hides his true identity while striving to save all living beings), I wish, through this sutra, to lead humanity to Buddhahood immediately and in this lifetime—in other words, to help others become Buddhas like me, here and now.Before proceeding further with this extensive four-volume series on Buddhism, a proper understanding of the subject requires setting the stage: an exposition of the cosmogonic landscape in which the Buddha and his Dharma evolvedRather than expounding upon Indian cosmogony, it would be more accurate to speak of a Buddhist-Indian cosmogony. This term is justified insofar as the Buddha drew certain aspects from the local Indian cosmogony to incorporate them into a framework unique to Buddhism. This first volume will provide an overview of this cosmogonic fusion, or 'cosmogonic n'zassa' (a term meaning a mix or blend, from the Ivorian Akan community).Alongside this exposition, it is imperative to unearth Early Buddhism from the depths of religious history. This will allow a teaching that dates back nearly to time immemorial to help us better understand the present Dharma: the teaching dating from the provisional Mahayana, or the doctrine of the Great Master Tiantai (6th century). Read more