[kathy]

This writer is really taking on a big task. I hope it is appreciated. I think that Myth conveys truths at a level sadly missed by people who merely take things literally. I was working on a book project having to do with the story of the Buddha, and looking over where his dad, King Suddhodana decides that Prince Siddhartha should grow up never seeing anything unpleasant. And it dawned on me, the message in this--how we all try to block out the negative stuff, and how that can't possibly work. Even a king can't do it! And then later, only when Siddhartha comes into contact with suffering is realization even possible. So, of course this could be explained in a few sentences but when it is part of the whole story it is much more vivid, and probably easier to remember and pass down verbally.

One of the unique things about Buddhism is that it doesn't matter if the stories are factual or not. We don't have to believe in a virgin birth --or a white elephant with six tusks-- to validate the Dhamma. It is a method that can be tested directly by anyone who practices it.