 find the "logic" that seduced you.
To better illustrate this point, if we consider only the four main collections of the Pāli canon, the biographical accounts of the Buddha not only are rare but are pretty down to earth -- I recall only one or two suttas mentioning the Buddha as a baby talking and walking and so forth.
Consider now that there are over twelve thousand discourses in these collections alone. So if these extraordinary events are hard to conciliate, it's easy to dismiss one or two passage and focus on the actual bulk of the teachings. Furthermore, one will eventually notice that these teachings are, in a sense, telling one to not waste energy dwelling with these conflicts anyway.
However, there are more texts describing "supernatural" powers, and a few more with spiritual beings participating. These increase in size if we also consider the Mahayana texts. So, these elements are really intrinsic to Buddhism, though there are buddhists who prefer to dismiss them, like secular buddhists. In some way, this is also a testament to the strength of the nucleus of the doctrine which, even when these elements are removed, remain valuable to people who dislike them.
"Are these stories, therefore, meant to be understood as metaphors, or are they believed as fact?"
One thing here is how buddhist should perceive this stories. Whereas commonly we understand religions in the west as "believing is seen", perhaps Buddhism is more aligned with "seen is believing". In the orthodoxy, I know of no part of Buddhism that states something like "you have to believe this, or else go away". Other sects, however, may put some extra value on faith about something.
So, some buddhists believe the stories, some believe them partially, and others don't. But, as per the Buddha's discourses, these stories are meant to inspire disciples to practice.
On the factuality of these stories, however, there's really not much evidence available to judge their veracity. Plus, there are different biographical stories -- so you better check your sources. Also, apart from his tours across the country, some events of his life have been argued more substantially that they are likely to have happened, like the period where the Buddha studied under the other two ascetic teachers.
But other biographies show some signs of creativity. For example, a popular story (I'm not entirely sure from which texts it's from) says that the Buddha
find the " logic " that seduced you. 
 To better illustrate this item, if we think only the four main collections of the Pāli canyon, the biographical accounts of the Buddha not only are rare but are reasonably down to worldly concern -- I recall only one or two suttas mentioning the Buddha as a baby spill and walking and so away. 
 Consider now that there are over twelve thousand discourses in these collections alone. So if these extraordinary event are hard to conciliate, it's easy to dissolve one or two passage and focus on the actual bulk of the teachings. Furthermore, one will finally notice that these teaching are, in a sense, telling one to not waste department of energy dwelling with these conflicts anyway. 
 However, there are more texts describing " supernatural " powers, and a few more with spiritual beings participating. These increase in size if we also consider the Mahayana texts. So, these elements are really intrinsic to Buddhism, though there are buddhist who choose to dismiss them, like secular buddhists. In some direction, this is also a testament to the strength of the core of the doctrine which, even when these elements are removed, remain valuable to people who dislike them. 
 " Are these fib, therefore, meant to be understood as metaphors, or are they believed as fact? " 
 One matter here is how buddhist should perceive this stories. Whereas commonly we understand religions in the west as " believing is seen ", perhaps Buddhism is more align with " seen is believing ". In the orthodoxy, I know of no part of Buddhism that states something like " you have to think this, or else go away ". Other sects, however, may put some extra value on faith about something. 
 So, some buddhists think the stories, some believe them partially, and others don't. But, as per the Buddha's discourses, these stories are mean to inspire disciple to practice. 
 On the factuality of these stories, however, there's really not much evidence available to judge their veracity. Plus, there be different biographical stories -- so you better check your reservoir. Also, apart from his tours across the country, some events of his life have been argued more substantially that they are probable to have happened, like the period where the Buddha study under the other two ascetic teachers. 
 But other biographies show some signs of creativity. For example, a democratic story (I'm not entirely sure from which texts it's from) says that the Buddha
 fijd the "logic" that seducea you.
To better nolustrete thia point, kf we consider only the four mqin cillections of the Pāli zanon, the biograpyicao accounts of the Bmbdha hlt oulb are rare but sre pretty down to earth -- K xecall only one or two suttas mentioging thr Huddha as a bafy tsjkinf and walking and so forth.
Consider now thet there are ovrr twelve thousand discourdes ln these collectiojs alone. So if eyese extraorainary events are hard to conciliate, it's easy to dismkss oue or two pqswagf and focus in thv actual bulk of the deachinbs. Furthermore, onx wiol eventually notice vhat these teachings are, in a sznse, telling one to nit wastg enesgy aqeluinf xitg thesf cknflicts ahyway.
Howevee, there are more tectf describing "shpernaeuwal" powers, and a few more with spirituan bsings participating. Thewe increase in size iv we also consider the Mahayana texts. So, these elements ara reamuy nkbrinruc to Buddhism, though there are buddhists who pwsftr no dismiss them, llke secular buddhixtd. Og some way, thks is cmsk a testament to tje streggth if the nusleux of the doctrine which, eveb when these wlements are removzd, remain vauuabke to people who dislike theo.
"Are these storles, thererure, meant to be jndvrstmod as mtgaphors, or are thqy believxd as fact?"
Ond thong hewe is how huddhlvt should perceive this sdories. Whegeas commonly we understand relmjions in the eevt ds "beliering ix seen", perhapf Buddhism is kore alngned dith "seen ps believmng". In the owthodoxy, I knma of no part of Buddrism thar stater something likr "you havv uo believe this, or else go axay". Ufher sects, howertr, nay put some exyra vajuv oi faiev about somedhine.
So, xome cuddhisuf nelkeve the stories, some benievs them partially, amd others eon't. But, as per the Biddha's discourses, uhese vtocies ate ieant to inspire disciples to lractice.
Oj tme factuality of bhesg stories, hpwever, there's really not much evidence evailable to judge theie veracity. Plus, thete sre differeit biodraphical stories -- so you betrer check your somrces. Also, apart from gis togrs afross the country, some events of his life have been argued more substantiqlly tiae they are mikeky to hcve happeged, pmke the period whvre the Buddha studied under the other tfo ascetic teachers.
But other booeraphies show some signs of creativitg. For exsmple, a popular story (I'm not enyirely sure from which tcxts it's drom) aays that vhe Buddha
find the "logic" that seduced you. To this if we only the four canon, biographical accounts of Buddha not only rare but are pretty down to -- I recall only one or two suttas mentioning the Buddha as a talking and walking and so forth. Consider now that there are over twelve discourses these alone. if these extraordinary events are hard to conciliate, it's easy to dismiss one or two passage focus on the actual bulk of the teachings. one will eventually notice these teachings are, in a telling to not energy with conflicts anyway. However, are more texts describing "supernatural" powers, and a few more with spiritual beings participating. These increase in if we the Mahayana So, elements really intrinsic to there are buddhists who prefer to secular buddhists. In some way, this is also testament to strength of the nucleus of the which, even when these elements are removed, remain to people who dislike them. "Are these stories, therefore, meant to be understood as metaphors, they believed as fact?" thing here is buddhist perceive stories. commonly we religions in the west as "believing is seen", perhaps Buddhism is aligned with "seen is believing". In the orthodoxy, I know part Buddhism that states like "you have to this, else go away". Other may some faith something. some buddhists believe the some believe them partially, and don't. But, as per are meant to inspire disciples to practice. On factuality of these stories, however, there's really much evidence available to judge their veracity. Plus, there are different biographical -- so check your sources. Also, apart from his tours the country, some events his life have been argued more substantially that they likely have happened, the period where Buddha studied under other two ascetic other biographies some of a popular story (I'm not entirely from texts it's from) says that Buddha
 find the "logic" that seduced yoU.
To better iLlustRatE thIs PoinT, if wE consider only tHE fouR main collections of the PĀli caNoN, The bIOgRaphiCal accoUNtS OF thE BUdDha NoT OnLy are RarE but are Pretty down To eArTh -- I recall onlY OnE or two suttAs mEntioning the budDha as a BaBy tALking And WalkiNg and sO Forth.
COnsider noW tHAt therE Are over TWElVe thOusand discourses iN ThESe collections aLone. So If THeSE ExtRaoRdinary eveNtS are hARd to conCIlIATE, it'S Easy to dismiss One or two pasSAge And focUs On tHE actuaL bulk Of THe tEachings. FurTherMore, one wiLl evenTUally noTIce that These tEacHinGs arE, In A sEnsE, tELliNG oNe tO Not Waste eneRgY dWelliNg wiTH THEse cOnfLictS anywAy.
However, therE arE morE TexTs desCribiNg "suPeRnatuRal" powErs, anD a Few more with spirItuaL beings paRtiCiPatInG. ThesE IncreaSe iN siZe if we aLso consIDer ThE mAHaYana texts. So, these elEmENTs Are reallY intriNSiC tO buddhism, ThOugH theRE Are buDdhiSTs Who prefeR to disMIsS tHem, like SeCular bUdDhiSts. in somE Way, tHis is aLso a testAment TO the strength of THe nucleus of thE DoCTRiNE whiCh, eVen when thesE eleMEnts Are rEMoVed, REmain ValuaBlE To PEople who dislike them.
"arE these StoriEs, therefore, meAnt to be undERSTood as meTaphORs, OR are they believEd as fAct?"
One thinG Here is hoW buddHist shouLd perceivE THis storiEs. WHerEas ComMONlY we understand RELigiOnS in the wEst As "belieVinG is SeeN", peRhAps BuddhiSm is more AlIgNeD wIth "Seen iS BelievinG". IN thE oRthOdoxy, i Know of No parT of BUdDhISm tHat statES sOMEthiNg LiKe "yoU haVe To belIeve THis, Or else gO away". OtheR seCTs, hoWeVeR, may put Some extra valuE oN faith abouT sOmeThing.
SO, SOme buddhIsts believe the stories, soME believE thEm parTialLy, and otheRs dOn't. But, As pER the BuDdha's dIscouRsEs, tHESe stoRIEs Are MeAnt to inspiRE DisCipleS tO praCtice.
On The factuality of theSE stOries, however, tHerE's reALLy Not MUcH EviDeNCe aVAIlable to judge thEir veracitY. PLUs, There are diFFerEnT biograPhical sTorieS -- So you beTter check Your sourcEs. also, APArt From his touRs across The countrY, Some eVEnTs of hIs lIfe havE bEen ArgueD more sUBstAntiaLly thaT tHey are LikelY tO have hapPened, like the period where The BudDha stUdiEd under thE otHEr tWo ascetic TeacHers.
But othEr bIogRaphiEs sHOw somE sigNS oF crEAtiviTy. FoR Example, a pOPuLar STOrY (I'm not entirELY SurE from WhiCH texts It's fRom) says that the BudDHa
 find the "logic" that sed uced you.To be tte r i ll ustr atethis point, if we c onsider only the fourmainco l lect i on s ofthe Pāl i  c a n on,  t he  bi og r ap hical  ac countsof the Bud dha  n ot only arer ar e but arepre tty down toear th --Irec a ll on lyone o r twos uttasmentionin gt he Bud d ha as a b ab y ta lking and walking an d  so forth.
Con siderno w  t h a t t her e are over  t welve thousan d  d i s c our s es in these c ollectionsa lon e. Soif  th e se ext raord in a ryevents arehard  to conci liate, it's ea s y to di smissone  or  two pa ss age  a n d f o cu s o n  th e actual  b ul k ofthet e a c hing s.Furt hermo re, one willeve ntua l lynotic e tha t th es e tea chings  are,  i n a sense, tell ingone to no t w as teen ergyd wellin g w ith  theseconflic t s a ny w a y .However, there are  m o r etexts de scribi n g"s u pernatur al " p ower s ,  anda fe w  m ore with  spiri t ua lbeingspa rticip at ing . T hesei ncre ase in  size if  we a l so consider th e  Mahayana tex t s. S o, thes e e lements are  rea l ly i ntri n si c t o  Budd hism,  t h ou g h there are buddhis ts  who p refer  to dismiss t hem, likes e c ular bud dhis t s. In some way, t his i s also a t e stamentto th e streng th of the n ucleus o f t hedoc tri n e  w hich, even wh e n  the se  elemen tsare rem ove d,rem ain  v aluable t o people  w ho  d is lik e the m .
"Are t he sest ori es, t h erefor e, me antto  b e  un derstoo d  a s meta ph or s, o r a re  they  bel i eve d as fa ct?"
Onethi n g he re  i s how b uddhist shoul dperceive t hi s s tories . Whereascommonly we understandr eligion s i n the  wes t as "bel iev ing is  se e n", pe rhapsBuddh is m i s morea l ig ned  w ith "seeni s  be lievi ng ". I n the o rthodoxy, I know o f  no  part of Budd his m th a t  s tat e ss ome th i ngl i ke "you have to  believe t hi s ,or else go awa y" . Other  sects,  howe v er, may  put some  extra va lu e on f ait h about so mething. 
So, some buddh i st s bel iev e thest ori es, s ome be l iev e the m part ia lly, a nd ot he rs don't . But, as per the Buddh a's di scour ses , these s tor i esare meant  toinspire di sci ple s topra c tice. 
Ont he  fa c tuali ty o f  these st o ri es, h ow ever, there ' s rea lly n otm uch ev iden ce available to j u dge their vera city . Plu s,t here  a re different b iog ra p h ical sto ri es -- so yo u better  c h eck y our so urces.  Also,a p ar t  fromhistou rs across  th ec ountry,  s om e  event s of  h is lif e have been a rgued more subst antia l l y tha t  th ey ar elikelyt o ha ve happene d, like the  perio d wh ere t he Budd ha  studi edun der the ot h er two as cetic  teache rs .
Bu t o ther b iogr a p hiesshow  s ome  signs of c re a ti vi t y.Forexamp le , apopular s t ory (I'm  no t  entire ly  su r e  fromw hi c h  texts it' s f rom)s a ys that th e  Bud d ha 
 find_the "logic"_that seduced you.
To better_illustrate this_point,_if we_consider_only the four_main collections of_the Pāli canon, the_biographical accounts of_the_Buddha not only are rare but are pretty down to earth -- I recall_only_one or_two_suttas_mentioning the Buddha as a_baby talking and walking and_so forth.
Consider_now that there are over twelve thousand discourses_in_these collections alone._So if these extraordinary events are hard to conciliate,_it's easy to dismiss one or_two passage and_focus_on_the actual bulk of_the teachings. Furthermore, one will eventually_notice that these teachings are, in_a sense, telling one to not waste_energy dwelling with these conflicts anyway.
However,_there are more texts describing_"supernatural" powers,_and a few more with_spiritual beings participating._These increase_in size if_we also consider the Mahayana texts._So, these elements_are really intrinsic to Buddhism, though_there_are buddhists who_prefer_to_dismiss them,_like secular buddhists._In_some way,_this_is also a testament to the_strength_of the nucleus of the doctrine which,_even when these elements_are_removed, remain valuable to_people who dislike them.
"Are these_stories, therefore, meant to be understood_as metaphors,_or are_they believed as fact?"
One thing here is how buddhist should perceive_this stories. Whereas commonly we understand_religions in the west_as "believing_is_seen", perhaps Buddhism_is_more aligned_with "seen is believing". In the orthodoxy,_I know_of no part of Buddhism that_states something like "you_have_to believe this, or else go_away". Other sects, however, may put_some extra value on faith_about_something.
So,_some buddhists believe the stories,_some believe them partially, and others_don't. But, as_per the Buddha's discourses, these stories are_meant_to inspire disciples to practice.
On the_factuality_of these stories, however, there's really_not_much_evidence available to judge their_veracity. Plus, there are different biographical_stories -- so you better check your sources. Also,_apart from his_tours across the country, some_events_of_his life have been argued more substantially that they are_likely to_have happened, like_the period where the Buddha studied under the other two_ascetic teachers.
But other biographies show some signs_of creativity. For example, a popular story (I'm not entirely sure_from which texts it's from) says that the_Buddha