Human Not Divine

Entering a Buddhist temple for the first time we could be forgiven for imagining that the imposing figure before us is that of a god demanding worship and propitiation. It might then come as a surprise to learn that the Buddha was very much a human being – something which clearly emerges from the early texts and from this fascinating book.

Graham Dixon shows how, unlike so many other ancient codes of conduct, the Buddhist monastic protocols were not communicated from on high, but hammered out through trial and error. Then, as now, it was acceptable to return to the drawing board and refine one’s ideas in the light of experience.

How might such an insight inform our present-day relationship to this ancient spiritual tradition?

‘Understanding that the Buddha was not omniscient, not infallible, not always right first time, provides the basis for an honest and optimistic quest. The Path of Awakening, as taught by him, can be pursued by ordinary human beings. That’s you and me, with the Buddha himself acting as the pioneer, the trailblazer.’

So writes Graham Dixon in this elegant and concise exploration of the Buddha’s remarkable humanity – and of our own everyday potential.