Buddhist traditions, Nivedita and Coomaraswamy
Sumedha
Sumedha reflects on the suffering of rebirth and becomes a forest hermit. When Dipankara approaches, he helps prepare the path and lies in the mud to keep the Buddha from stepping into it. He chooses not to seek release for himself alone, resolving instead to become a Buddha who can carry many beings beyond rebirth. Dipankara recognises that future, and Sumedha undertakes the required perfections.
Loading your archive…
In the sources
Principal account
TraditionalSumedha reflects on the suffering of rebirth and becomes a forest hermit. When Dipankara approaches, he helps prepare the path and lies in the mud to keep the Buddha from stepping into it.
Further detail
TraditionalHe chooses not to seek release for himself alone, resolving instead to become a Buddha who can carry many beings beyond rebirth. Dipankara recognises that future, and Sumedha undertakes the required perfections.
Context & interpretation
This entry concerns the collection’s Sumedha dedication legend. His future identity and long ages of preparation belong to the traditional account; the entry keeps this previous-life figure distinct from the final-life biography.
Original passages
Source 1
Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists
There is, there must be, an escapeOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists (1914), active reader leaf 304
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0109-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0109-E001-P0304
- Original scan leaf
- 304
- Recorded leaf number
- 304
- Current Reader position
- 295
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists
let me not do so all for myself aloneOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists (1914), active reader leaf 305
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0109-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0109-E001-P0305
- Original scan leaf
- 305
- Recorded leaf number
- 305
- Current Reader position
- 296
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Continue exploring
Figures in Sacred Narratives ↗
Dipankara
The earlier Buddha who recognises Sumedha’s resolve and foretells his awakening.
Same subject and traditionAnanda
The disciple who pleads for women’s admission and grieves at Buddha’s final departure.
Same subject and traditionChanna
The charioteer who explains the prince’s first encounters with suffering and accompanies his departure.
Same subject and traditionDevadatta
The rival whose acquired powers fail to overcome hostility towards the Buddha.