Studies in the Origins of Buddhism c8.112

c8.112

The main tendencies that were, thus, responsible for the elaboration of the originally plain and personal narrative of the last journey and death of Buddha may be thus indicated: the desire to interpolate later doctrines so as to give them the appearance of great authenticity (the very importance of the narrative made it the special victim of interpolation); the revision of the older text in the light of the newer apotheosis of Buddha.