One life, many accounts
The Life of the Buddha
Explore the Buddha's life through a timeline and maps, grounded in textual sources.
Begin reading
Begin with an event
The First Sermon
The Buddha's first sermon
Texts and sources
Among the Accounts
Get to know the textual traditions,
and compare the different accounts.
Places and journeys
Across the Landscape
Follow the place names,
into the life of the Buddha.
Read through the years
Six Periods
From birth and the spiritual quest to the final journey.
Choose a period to begin.
The Prince
Family, childhood and life at court.
Going Forth
Leaving the palace in search of liberation.
Beginning to Teach
After the Awakening, the teaching begins to spread.
The Sāvatthī Years
Encounters with the community and lay followers.
The Final Year
The last journey and final teachings.
After the Nirvana
Honouring the body, the cremation and the division of the relics.
Time leaves some questions open
Room for Different Accounts
Some events are recorded,
but cannot be placed in a definite year.
Events of Uncertain Year
Keeping the different dates given in the sources.
Events Known Only
Within a Span of Years
Follow the evidence through the possible years.