Significance of Avadanas stories
Avadanas stories in Mahayana Buddhism are narratives that illustrate a character's virtue stemming from a good deed in their past life, frequently seen in texts like the Mahavastu. These stories can be engaging and amusing, resembling folktales found among various cultures. They serve to convey moral lessons through the exploration of karmic consequences and the interconnectedness of past and present actions, enriching the understanding of virtue and moral behavior in the context of Buddhist teachings.
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Buddhist concept of 'Avadanas stories'
Avadanas stories in Buddhism are entertaining narratives that illustrate how a character’s current virtues stem from past good deeds, often reflecting moral lessons, as seen in texts like the Mahavastu.
From: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra
(1) Amusing little tales or narratives that resemble stories found among people in the world.[1]
From: Mahavastu (great story)
(1) A type of tale in which a living character's virtue is explained by a good deed in a previous existence, often found in the Mahavastu.[2]