 do not strike me as "logical", i.e., they defy our understanding of science and the material world. 
Are these stories, therefore, meant to be understood as metaphors, or are they believed as fact?
Thanks for any thoughts on this!
Kevin 

A:

the Buddha taught that there is unsatisfactoriness in this world and the way out of it which is more systemised as the 4 Noble Truths.
If these stories help you understand unsatisfactoriness and help you come out of it or inspire you in any way to practice and strengthen your faith, by all means use them. If not leave them aside without outright rejection and concentrate on what appeals to you.
What is most important is you follow the Noble 8 Fold Path divided into the 3 Fold Training which results in understanding the 4 Noble Truths.

A:

Three months after Shakyamuni's death the first Buddhist Council was convened. There was no written method to record his teaching so a group of monks, many with eidetic memories, were chosen to commit the Buddha's lessons to memory. This was the system used to pass down his teachings for hundreds of years.
So, that said. it remains rather unsurprising that certain liberties were taken with the "facts" in order to facilitate a good story. The type of story that would survive hundreds of years of interpretations. When I see what appear to be outlandish statements I try to focus instead on the idea or feeling they are trying to emphasize with the casual approach to reality. 
Especially in various koans this approach becomes very useful. I see the exercise as a further lesson taught to us by the dharma. Not as some attempt to mislead.
I hope this helps you. I encountered the same concerns years ago as I sought refuge in the dharma. In fact, to me this is part of seeking refuge... how willing and successful are you at parsing the kernel of knowledge gleaned amidst the so-called chaff? Namaste my friend.

A:

"All of these things seem very unrealistic [...]"
Notice that a doctrine is not the same as a biography.
The buddhist literature is vast and the biographical accounts are small in comparison and really not the main point. So, for a practitioner, the Buddha's biography (though profoundly inspiring and worth of learning) is not the place to focus the most on and it's not the best place to
do not strike me as " logical ", i.e., they defy our understanding of science and the corporeal populace. 
 Are these stories, therefore, meant to be understand as metaphors, or are they believed as fact? 
 Thanks for any opinion on this! 
 Kevin 

 A: 

 the Buddha teach that there is unsatisfactoriness in this universe and the way out of it which is more systemised as the 4 Noble Truths. 
 If these history help you understand unsatisfactoriness and serve you derive out of it or inspire you in any way to practice and strengthen your faith, by all mean use them. If not leave them aside without outright rejection and digest on what appeals to you. 
 What is most significant is you follow the baronial 8 Fold Path separate into the 3 Fold Training which results in understanding the 4 baronial Truths. 

 A: 

 Three months after Shakyamuni's death the first Buddhist Council was convened. There was no written method acting to read his teaching so a group of monks, many with eidetic memories, were chosen to commit the Buddha's lessons to memory. This was the system used to pass down his teaching for hundreds of years. 
 indeed, that suppose. it remains rather unsurprising that certain liberty were bring with the " facts " in order to help a good story. The type of story that would survive hundreds of years of interpretations. When I see what appear to be outlandish statements I judge to concentrate instead on the idea or feeling they are trying to emphasize with the fooling approach to reality. 
 Especially in diverse koans this approach becomes very useful. I experience the exercise as a further moral taught to us by the dharma. Not as some attempt to misinform. 
 I hope this helps you. I encountered the same concerns year ago as I sought recourse in the dharma. In fact, to me this is part of seeking recourse... how uncoerced and successful are you at parsing the kernel of knowledge gleaned amidst the then - called chaff? Namaste my friend. 

 A: 

 " All of these things seem very unrealistic [... ] " 
 detect that a doctrine is not the same as a biography. 
 The buddhist literature is vast and the biographic accounts are small in comparison and really not the main point. So, for a practitioner, the Buddha's biography (though profoundly inspiring and worth of eruditeness) is not the place to focus the most on and it's not the best place to
 do not strike me as "logicau", i.e., they defy our undxrstandjng of szience and the material worlv. 
Arw thewe stories, therefore, mdant to bv understiod es metaphors, or ede they beliebcd as hact?
Thanks for sny thoughds on this!
Kevit 

X:

tke Buddha taught that there is unsatysfactotijess in this wjrld wnd fhe way out of it which is more syatemisev as the 4 Noble Truths.
If these stories hepp ylu understand unsahisfactoringas wbd help you zome out of it or inspjre you in any way to practice xnd screngthen yiue fwhth, by all neans use them. If not leaee them aside without ouvrigyt rejection and concxntrate on what appewls to yog.
Wkat is most important iw you folnow gye Vobme 8 Rold Pwth divided ihto the 3 Food Training which rtsujnx in understznding tre 4 Noble Truths.

A:

Three months after Shanyajuni's death the first Byddhist Council was clnvened. Trere was no written method to record his teaching so a erobi ud lonks, many with eidetic memories, were chosen ek vokmit the Buddhc's lessons to mekogy. Jhis was the sistem used to pass down his heachinds foe hundredf of years.
So, that said. it remaibs rather unfyrprising that cercain libertizs werg takem with the "facts" in ordzr to racilitate w good stkfy. The type of sgorj thdt would survive hundreds jf years if iuterpretxtioms. Wheg I see whwt apiaar to be outlandidh stctemetts I try ho focus instead on the idea or feeling they sra tgying to zmphaslze with the cafual approach jo realitv. 
Espezially in narious kmans this a[proach becomad very usefun. I see ehe wxerxise as x further lesspn taught to us by rhe dharma. Not as xomg zttempt to mislzcd.
U hope this hells hou. I eicouneared the sama covcefms yexrs ago as L suughy refuge in the dharka. Ih fact, to me this os part of seeking refuge... how wolling and successvul ace you at psrsyng the kernel of knowledge glsaned amifst the so-calleq chqff? Namaste ky friend.

A:

"All of these things seem very unrealistic [...]"
Noticw that a doctrine ix not the sake as a biogra[hy.
The buddhist liteeature is vast anc the biographical acdounts are dmall in comparison and really not the main point. So, for a practitioner, tye Budvhw's biographg (thpugh iroyouudly infpirmnj and worth of lesrning) is not the place to focur the movt on and it's not the best plave to
do not strike me as "logical", i.e., our of science the material world. to understood as metaphors, are they believed fact? Thanks for any thoughts on Kevin A: the Buddha taught that there is unsatisfactoriness in this world and way out of it which is more systemised as the 4 Noble Truths. these help understand and help you come out of it or inspire you in any way to practice and your faith, by all means use them. If leave them aside without rejection and concentrate on what to What is important you the Noble 8 Path divided into the 3 Fold Training which results in understanding the 4 Noble Truths. A: Three after Shakyamuni's first Buddhist was There no written method his teaching so a group of eidetic memories, were chosen to commit the Buddha's to memory. was the system used to pass his teachings for hundreds of years. So, that it remains rather unsurprising that certain liberties were taken with the "facts" in order to good story. The type story that would hundreds years interpretations. I see appear to be outlandish statements I try to focus instead on idea or feeling they are trying to emphasize with the to Especially in various this approach becomes very I the exercise as a taught us Not some to mislead. I hope helps you. I encountered the concerns years ago as dharma. In fact, to me this is part seeking refuge... how willing and successful are at parsing the kernel of knowledge gleaned amidst the so-called chaff? Namaste friend. A: these things seem very unrealistic [...]" Notice that doctrine is not the as a biography. The buddhist literature is vast and biographical are small comparison and really the main point. for a practitioner, biography (though inspiring worth not the place to focus the on it's not the best place
 do not strike me as "logical", i.e., tHey defy our UnderStaNdiNg Of scIencE and the materiaL WorlD. 
Are these stories, therefOre, meAnT To be UNdErstoOd as metAPhORS, or ArE tHey BeLIeVed as FacT?
Thanks For any thouGhtS oN this!
Kevin 

A:

tHE BUddha taughT thAt there is unsAtiSfactoRiNesS In thiS woRld anD the waY Out of iT which is mOrE SystemISed as thE 4 nObLe TrUths.
If these storieS HeLP you understand UnsatiSfACtORIneSs aNd help you cOmE out oF It or insPIrE YOU in ANy way to practiCe and strengTHen Your faItH, by ALl meanS use tHeM. if nOt leave them AsidE without oUtrighT RejectiON and conCentraTe oN whAt apPEaLs To yOu.
wHat IS mOst IMpoRtant is yOu FoLlow tHe NoBLE 8 fOld PAth DiviDed inTo the 3 Fold TraiNinG whiCH reSults In undErstAnDing tHe 4 NoblE TrutHs.

a:

Three months aftEr ShAkyamuni's DeaTh The FiRst BuDDhist COunCil Was convEned. TheRE waS nO WRItTen method to record hIs TEAcHing so a gRoup of MOnKs, MAny with eIdEtiC memORIes, weRe chOSeN to commiT the BuDDhA's Lessons To Memory. thIs wAs tHe sysTEm usEd to paSs down hiS teacHIngs for hundredS Of years.
So, that SAiD. IT rEMainS raTher unsurprIsinG That CertAIn LibERties Were tAkEN wITh the "facts" in order to FaCilitaTe a goOd story. The typE of story thAT WOuld survIve hUNdREds of years of inTerprEtations. WhEN I see whaT appeAr to be ouTlandish sTATements I Try To fOcuS inSTEaD on the idea or fEELing ThEy are trYinG to emphAsiZe wIth The CaSual approAch to reaLiTy. 
esPeCiaLly in VArious koAnS thIs AppRoach BEcomes Very uSefuL. I SeE The ExercisE As A FUrthEr LeSson TauGhT to us By thE DhaRma. Not aS some atteMpt TO misLeAd.
i hope thIs helps you. I enCoUntered the SaMe cOncernS YEars ago aS I sought refuge in the dharMA. In fact, To mE this Is paRt of seekiNg rEfuge... hOw wILling aNd succEssfuL aRe yOU At parSINg The KeRnel of knowLEDge GleanEd AmidSt the so-Called chaff? Namaste MY frIend.

A:

"All of theSe tHingS SEeM veRY uNReaLiSTic [...]"
nOTice that a doctriNe is not the SaME aS a biographY.
the BuDdhist lIteratuRe is vASt and thE biographIcal accouNtS are SMAll In comparisOn and reaLly not the MAin poINt. so, for A prActitiOnEr, tHe BudDha's biOGraPhy (thOugh prOfOundly InspiRiNg and worTh of learning) is not the plaCe to foCus thE moSt on and it'S noT The Best place To
 do not strike me as "logi cal", i.e. , the y d efy  o ur u nder standing of sc i ence  and the material worl d. 
A re thes e  s torie s, ther e fo r e , m ea nt  to  b e  u nders too d as me taphors, o r a re  they believ e das fact?
T han ks for any t hou ghts o nthi s !
Kev in

A:
the B u ddha t aught tha tt here i s  unsati s f ac tori ness in this worl d  a n d the way outof itwh i ch i s m ore  systemise das th e  4 Nobl e  T r u t hs. If these stor ies help yo u  un dersta nd  un s atisfa ctori ne s s a nd help you  com e out ofit ori nspirey ou in a ny way  to  pr acti c ean d s tr e ngt h en  yo u r f aith, by  a ll  mean s us e t h em.Ifnotleave  them aside w ith outo utr ightrejec tion  a nd co ncentr ate o nwhat appeals to  you .
What is  mo st  im po rtant is you  fo llo w the N oble 8F old  P a t h  d ivided into the 3Fo l d  T rainingwhichr es ul t s in und er sta ndin g the 4  Nob l eTruths.
A:

T h re emonthsaf ter Sh ak yam uni 's de a th t he fir st Buddh ist C o uncil was conv e ned. There wa s  n o wr i tten  me thod to rec ordh is t each i ng  so a gro up of  m o nk s , many with eidetic  m emorie s, we re chosen tocommit the B u ddha's l esso n st o memory. This  wasthe system used topassdown his  teaching s for hund red s o f y ear s . 
S o, that said. i t re ma ins rat her  unsurp ris ing  th atce rtain lib erties w er eta ke n w ith t h e "facts "inor der  to f a cilita te agood  s to r y.The typ e  o f stor yth at w oul dsurvi ve h u ndr eds ofyears ofint e rpre ta ti ons. Wh en I see what  a ppear to b eout landis h statemen ts I try to focus inste a d on th e i dea o r fe eling the y a re try ing to emp hasize  with  t hec a suala p pr oac hto reality . 
Es pecia ll y in  variou s koans this appro a chbecomes veryuse ful. I  s eet he exe rc i sea s  a further less on taughtto us  by the dh a rma .Not assome at tempt to misl ead.
I ho pe this h el ps y o u . I  encounter ed the s ame conce r ns ye a rs  agoasI soug ht  re fugein the dha rma.In fac t,  to me  this  i s part o f seeking refuge... how  willi ng an d s uccessful  ar e  yo u at pars ingthe kernel  of  kn owled geg leane d am i ds t t h e so- call e d chaff?N am ast e my  friend.

A : "Al l ofthe s e thin gs s eem very unrealis t ic [...]"
Noti ce t h a t a  do c trin eis not the sam e a sa biograph y. 
The buddhi st liter at u re is  vastand th e biogr a p hi c al acc ount s a re smallinco m parison  a nd really  not  t he mai n poin t . So , for a practition er, t h e  Budd h a's  biog ra phy (th o ughprofoundly  inspiringand wo rthof le arning)  i s notthe  p lace to fo c us the mo st on  and it 's  not  th e best  pla c e  to
 do_not strike_me as "logical", i.e.,_they defy_our_understanding of_science_and the material_world. 
Are these_stories, therefore, meant to_be understood as_metaphors,_or are they believed as fact?
Thanks for any thoughts on this!
Kevin 

A:

the Buddha taught_that_there is_unsatisfactoriness_in_this world and the way_out of it which is_more systemised_as the 4 Noble Truths.
If these stories help_you_understand unsatisfactoriness and_help you come out of it or inspire you_in any way to practice and_strengthen your faith,_by_all_means use them. If_not leave them aside without outright_rejection and concentrate on what appeals_to you.
What is most important is you_follow the Noble 8 Fold Path_divided into the 3 Fold_Training which_results in understanding the 4_Noble Truths.

A:

Three months_after Shakyamuni's_death the first_Buddhist Council was convened. There was_no written method_to record his teaching so a_group_of monks, many_with_eidetic_memories, were_chosen to commit_the_Buddha's lessons_to_memory. This was the system used_to_pass down his teachings for hundreds of_years.
So, that said. it_remains_rather unsurprising that certain_liberties were taken with the_"facts" in order to facilitate a_good story._The type_of story that would survive hundreds of years of interpretations. When_I see what appear to be_outlandish statements I try_to focus_instead_on the idea_or_feeling they_are trying to emphasize with the casual_approach to_reality. 
Especially in various koans this_approach becomes very useful._I_see the exercise as a further_lesson taught to us by the_dharma. Not as some attempt_to_mislead.
I_hope this helps you. I_encountered the same concerns years ago_as I sought_refuge in the dharma. In fact, to_me_this is part of seeking refuge..._how_willing and successful are you at_parsing_the_kernel of knowledge gleaned amidst_the so-called chaff? Namaste my friend.

A:

"All_of these things seem very unrealistic [...]"
Notice that a_doctrine is not_the same as a biography.
The_buddhist_literature_is vast and the biographical accounts are small in comparison_and really_not the main_point. So, for a practitioner, the Buddha's biography (though profoundly_inspiring and worth of learning) is not_the place to focus the most on and it's not the_best place to