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I'm currently reading "In the Buddha's Word..." by Bhikkhu Bodhi. I quote from this book." Here, it is said, the future Buddha descends fully concious from the Tusita heaven into his mother's womb; his conception and birth are accompanied by wonders; deities worship the newborn infant; and as soon as he is born he walks seven steps and announces his future destiny"

I was quire surprised to read this sort of mystical metaphor in relation to Buddhism. The similarity to the immaculate conception in Christianity is, to me, clear. It seems to say that Buddha was not human, in the usual sense.

Can anyone shed light on the relation of this statement to Buddhism.