Compared to the Buddhacarita by Aśvaghoṣa, Venerable Master Hsing Yun, in his Biography of Sakyamuni Buddha, illustrated the Buddha, fundamentally, as a person who made connections in the web of life in the world. Before his enlightenment, the Buddha relied on self-power, in this world and lifetime to be awakened. After enlightenment, he relied on morality and truth, meeting with the world up front, and with the basis of expedient means to help and liberate others. This is the Humanistic Buddha considered by Venerable Master Hsing Yun.
