The account of the Buddha given by Tenzin Chogyel and Asvaghosa illustrates the rich perceptions they had about Buddhist traditions and how their ideas differ when compared. The differences that come about from these two readings show the goals and intentions these two authors had when writing their biographies of the Buddha. Furthermore, the goals of the two authors are similar in the sense that they are both striving to display the power contained within Buddha practices so that others may implement the tactics that were developed by the Buddha himself. Chogyel is a high esteemed monk that has a significant background in Buddhism while also obtaining many roles at a young age. This shows the potential insights that Chogyel has to offer when writing his account of the Buddha. On the other hand, Asvaghosa was a Brahman that sought out to create a text of the life of the Buddha for the purpose of converting individuals. The differences in these two accounts of the Buddha reveal cultural influences and how the author’s intentions affect the text.
To begin, the culture one is developed in helps make sense of the differences that reside within the text. Chogyel, being a famous monk and leader, has studied and been immersed in…show more content… Chogyel, being a highly skilled monk, had in mind that he wanted to use the teachings of the Buddha as a means of simply enjoying the journey the Buddha endured and how he became enlightened. In contrast, Asvaghosa desired to use the life of the Buddha to create a book that will inspire and convert other individuals into the traditions of Buddhism. Generally, both authors had in mind of developing a book where other people can read the account of the Buddha and understand the nature of suffering. However, these authors had different goals in mind that were in accordance with their background beliefs about
