Six Levels of Collection Sutra Buddhist Classics Series

Author: Pu Zhengxin
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Publication Date: 2001-06-01
Features: "The Six Grades Collection" is structured around the concept of "the Six Grades" and narrates the stories of the Buddha's previous lives. These stories feature various characters or animals as the protagonists, vividly portraying their individual personalities in relation to Buddhist teachings. The content is lively, profound in meaning, and rich in intellectual and educational value. Many of its themes were also directly expressed by folk artists through painting and sculpture, leading to its widespread popularity and far-reaching influence among the people.
During the early period of original Buddhism, the Buddhist community revolved around the Buddha. However, Shakyamuni was an ordinary human being. After his passing, Buddhists created the "Jataka tales" to commemorate the great personality of their master. The term "Jataka" refers to the Buddha's previous lives. Buddhism holds that Shakyamuni became a Buddha in this life not only through his diligent cultivation but also due to many past-life causes and conditions. "Past-life causes and conditions" refer to the stories of Shakyamuni's actions in his previous lives, which are collectively known as the "Jataka tales."