To date, many versions of the life of Buddha have been written. The "Enlightenment of the Buddha" is yet another example of truth turning into fiction through subsequent retelling and embellishment. Although it is difficult to distinguish between fact and fiction, a story that has survived for over 2500 years must contain some portion of fact. But do the facts inspire or is it how the story is told? Approximately 500 - 600 years after the death of …showed first 75 words of 1096 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1096 total…and variation is the reason why the teachings have lasted for centuries and why they have been translated into hundreds of languages. Seeking just the truth would take away from the content of the teachings. Ashvaghosha must have believed this too, because his writings have survived. "Enlightenment of the Buddha" is just another translation of the original scripture. The facts are contained within but fact does not inspire, it is the telling of the story..