Appleton/Many Buddhas, 3. Many Buddhas

Discusses how Chapters 1 and 2 of the Avadānaśataka share a focus on placing Śākyamuni in relation to the general ‘type’ of samyaksambuddha : he is established as the identifier — and perhaps even creator — of future buddha s, and as one who has served many buddha s of the past, but without needing their confirmation of his destiny. Chapter 2 also resonates with another decade of the text, however: namely, the fourth, which also recounts stories of Śākyamuni’s past lives, although this time without the presence of any past buddha s.