The Problem of the Buddha’s Short Lifespan

Abstract

The Buddha's lifespan is discussed in many Mahāyāna sūtras and śāstras. An analysis of these texts shows that it became a problem when the Mahāyānists emphasized more and more the merit of the Buddha as a result of Bodhisattva practice. The authors of these texts tried to solve the problem by saying that the lifespan of the true Buddha in fact is infinite. The historical Buddha is only a manifestation for the sake of sentient beings through skilful means. These discussions finally contributed to the formulation of the sa bhogakāya, the reward body of the Buddha.