<p>According to the story which accompanies the <a href="http://www.tipitaka.net/tipitaka/dhp/verseload.php?verse=183" rel="nofollow">Dhammapada Verses 183, 184 and 185</a>,</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verses
  (183), (184) and (185) of this book, with reference to the question
  raised by Thera Ananda regarding Fundamental Instructions to bhikkhus
  by the preceding Buddhas.</p>
  
  <p>On one occasion, Thera Ananda asked the Buddha whether the Fundamental
  Instructions to bhikkhus given by the preceding Buddhas were the same
  as those of the Buddha himself. To him the Buddha replied that the
  instructions given by all the Buddhas are as given in the following
  verses:</p>
  
  <p>Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:</p>
  
  <ol start="183">
  <li><p>Not to do evil, to cultivate merit, to purify one's mind -
  this is the Teaching of the Buddhas.</p></li>
  <li><p>The best moral practice is patience and forbearance;
  "Nibbana is Supreme", said the Buddhas. A bhikkhu does not harm
  others; one who harms others is not a bhikkhu.</p></li>
  <li><p>Not to revile, not to do any harm, to practise restraint
  according to the Fundamental Instructions for the bhikkhus, to be
  moderate in taking food, to dwell in a secluded place, to devote
  oneself to higher concentration - this is the Teaching of the Buddhas.</p></li>
  </ol>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-01T23:07:20.197Z
2015-09-01T23:07:20.197Z
ChrisW
<p>Each Buddha rediscovers the same path and the same truth all over again, on his own.</p>
<p>You can find this narrated in the Pali Canon for Vipassi Buddha (<a href="https://suttacentral.net/sn12.4/en/sujato" rel="nofollow noreferrer">SN 12.4</a>), Sikhi Buddha (<a href="https://suttacentral.net/sn12.5/en/sujato" rel="nofollow noreferrer">SN 12.5</a>), Vessabhu Buddha (<a href="https://suttacentral.net/sn12.6/en/sujato" rel="nofollow noreferrer">SN 12.6</a>), Kakusandha Buddha (<a href="https://suttacentral.net/sn12.7/en/sujato" rel="nofollow noreferrer">SN 12.7</a>), Konagamana Buddha (<a href="https://suttacentral.net/sn12.8/en/sujato" rel="nofollow noreferrer">SN 12.8</a>), Kassapa Buddha (<a href="https://suttacentral.net/sn12.9/en/sujato" rel="nofollow noreferrer">SN 12.9</a>) and of course, Gotama Buddha (<a href="https://suttacentral.net/sn12.10/en/sujato" rel="nofollow noreferrer">SN 12.10</a>).</p>
<p>Furthermore, the Buddha foretold the coming of the future Buddha, Metteyya Buddha or Maitreya Buddha in <a href="https://suttacentral.net/dn26/en/sujato" rel="nofollow noreferrer">DN 26</a> - to do the same.</p>
<p>Also below:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Then, having known with his own awareness the line of thinking in the
Blessed One's awareness — just as a strong man might extend his flexed
arm or flex his extended arm — Brahma Sahampati disappeared from the
Brahma-world and reappeared in front of the Blessed One. Arranging his
upper robe over one shoulder, he saluted the Blessed One with his
hands before his heart and said to him: &quot;So it is, Blessed One! So it
is, One-Well-Gone! <strong>Those who were Arahants, Rightly Self-awakened Ones
in the past</strong> — they, too, dwelled in dependence on the very Dhamma
itself, honoring and respecting it. <strong>Those who will be Arahants,
Rightly Self-awakened Ones in the future</strong> — they, too, will dwell in
dependence on the very Dhamma itself, honoring and respecting it. And
let the Blessed One, who is at present the Arahant, the Rightly
Self-awakened One, dwell in dependence on the very Dhamma itself,
honoring and respecting it.&quot;<br />
<a href="https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn06/sn06.002.than.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Garava Sutta (SN 6.2)</a></p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-08-22T12:47:08.413Z
2022-08-22T12:47:08.413Z
ruben2020
<p>According to tradition, as in the <a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn12/sn12.065.than.html">Nagara Sutta</a>, Buddhas all discover the path to enlightenment and teach that same path to their followers:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>"It is just as if a man, traveling along a wilderness track, were to
  see an ancient path, an ancient road, traveled by people of former
  times. He would follow it. Following it, he would see an ancient city,
  an ancient capital inhabited by people of former times, complete with
  parks, groves, &amp; ponds, walled, delightful. He would go to address the
  king or the king's minister, saying, 'Sire, you should know that while
  traveling along a wilderness track I saw an ancient path... I followed
  it... I saw an ancient city, an ancient capital... complete with
  parks, groves, &amp; ponds, walled, delightful. Sire, rebuild that city!'
  The king or king's minister would rebuild the city, so that at a later
  date the city would become powerful, rich, &amp; well-populated, fully
  grown &amp; prosperous.</p>
  
  <p>"In the same way I saw an ancient path, an ancient road, traveled by
  the Rightly Self-awakened Ones of former times. And what is that
  ancient path, that ancient road, traveled by the Rightly Self-awakened
  Ones of former times? Just this noble eightfold path: right view,
  right aspiration, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right
  effort, right mindfulness, right concentration. That is the ancient
  path, the ancient road, traveled by the Rightly Self-awakened Ones of
  former times. I followed that path. Following it, I came to direct
  knowledge of aging &amp; death, direct knowledge of the origination of
  aging &amp; death, direct knowledge of the cessation of aging &amp; death,
  direct knowledge of the path leading to the cessation of aging &amp;
  death. I followed that path. Following it, I came to direct knowledge
  of birth... becoming... clinging... craving... feeling... contact...
  the six sense media... name-&amp;-form... consciousness, direct knowledge
  of the origination of consciousness, direct knowledge of the cessation
  of consciousness, direct knowledge of the path leading to the
  cessation of consciousness. I followed that path.</p>
  
  <p>"Following it, I came to direct knowledge of fabrications, direct
  knowledge of the origination of fabrications, direct knowledge of the
  cessation of fabrications, direct knowledge of the path leading to the
  cessation of fabrications. Knowing that directly, I have revealed it
  to monks, nuns, male lay followers &amp; female lay followers, so that
  this holy life has become powerful, rich, detailed, well-populated,
  wide-spread, proclaimed among celestial &amp; human beings."</p>
</blockquote>

<p>So, all Buddhas essentially practice and preach the same religion.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-01T23:25:21.720Z
2015-09-01T23:25:21.720Z
Adamokkha
<p>I recently found a book called "A Buddhist Bible".</p>

<p>In it, Buddha refers to that there have been many Buddhas before him.
If Buddha was the one to put the foundations of Buddhism, what "religions" did the previous Buddhas practice?</p>

<p>Does this question even make any sense?</p>

<the-buddha><comparative-religion>
What "religions" did previous Buddhas practice?
# What "religions" did previous Buddhas practice?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-09-01)

I recently found a book called "A Buddhist Bible".

In it, Buddha refers to that there have been many Buddhas before him.
If Buddha was the one to put the foundations of Buddhism, what "religions" did the previous Buddhas practice?

Does this question even make any sense?

**Tags:** the-buddha, comparative-religion


---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2015-09-01. Score: 9 | Accepted answer

According to tradition, as in the [Nagara Sutta](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn12/sn12.065.than.html), Buddhas all discover the path to enlightenment and teach that same path to their followers:

> "It is just as if a man, traveling along a wilderness track, were to
> see an ancient path, an ancient road, traveled by people of former
> times. He would follow it. Following it, he would see an ancient city,
> an ancient capital inhabited by people of former times, complete with
> parks, groves, & ponds, walled, delightful. He would go to address the
> king or the king's minister, saying, 'Sire, you should know that while
> traveling along a wilderness track I saw an ancient path... I followed
> it... I saw an ancient city, an ancient capital... complete with
> parks, groves, & ponds, walled, delightful. Sire, rebuild that city!'
> The king or king's minister would rebuild the city, so that at a later
> date the city would become powerful, rich, & well-populated, fully
> grown & prosperous.
>
> "In the same way I saw an ancient path, an ancient road, traveled by
> the Rightly Self-awakened Ones of former times. And what is that
> ancient path, that ancient road, traveled by the Rightly Self-awakened
> Ones of former times? Just this noble eightfold path: right view,
> right aspiration, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right
> effort, right mindfulness, right concentration. That is the ancient
> path, the ancient road, traveled by the Rightly Self-awakened Ones of
> former times. I followed that path. Following it, I came to direct
> knowledge of aging & death, direct knowledge of the origination of
> aging & death, direct knowledge of the cessation of aging & death,
> direct knowledge of the path leading to the cessation of aging &
> death. I followed that path. Following it, I came to direct knowledge
> of birth... becoming... clinging... craving... feeling... contact...
> the six sense media... name-&-form... consciousness, direct knowledge
> of the origination of consciousness, direct knowledge of the cessation
> of consciousness, direct knowledge of the path leading to the
> cessation of consciousness. I followed that path.
>
> "Following it, I came to direct knowledge of fabrications, direct
> knowledge of the origination of fabrications, direct knowledge of the
> cessation of fabrications, direct knowledge of the path leading to the
> cessation of fabrications. Knowing that directly, I have revealed it
> to monks, nuns, male lay followers & female lay followers, so that
> this holy life has become powerful, rich, detailed, well-populated,
> wide-spread, proclaimed among celestial & human beings."

So, all Buddhas essentially practice and preach the same religion.


---

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-09-01. Score: 2

According to the story which accompanies the [Dhammapada Verses 183, 184 and 185](http://www.tipitaka.net/tipitaka/dhp/verseload.php?verse=183),

> While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verses
> (183), (184) and (185) of this book, with reference to the question
> raised by Thera Ananda regarding Fundamental Instructions to bhikkhus
> by the preceding Buddhas.
>
> On one occasion, Thera Ananda asked the Buddha whether the Fundamental
> Instructions to bhikkhus given by the preceding Buddhas were the same
> as those of the Buddha himself. To him the Buddha replied that the
> instructions given by all the Buddhas are as given in the following
> verses:
>
> Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:
>
> 183. Not to do evil, to cultivate merit, to purify one's mind -
>      this is the Teaching of the Buddhas.
> 184. The best moral practice is patience and forbearance;
>      "Nibbana is Supreme", said the Buddhas. A bhikkhu does not harm
>      others; one who harms others is not a bhikkhu.
> 185. Not to revile, not to do any harm, to practise restraint
>      according to the Fundamental Instructions for the bhikkhus, to be
>      moderate in taking food, to dwell in a secluded place, to devote
>      oneself to higher concentration - this is the Teaching of the Buddhas.


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2022-08-22. Score: 0

Each Buddha rediscovers the same path and the same truth all over again, on his own.

You can find this narrated in the Pali Canon for Vipassi Buddha ([SN 12.4](https://suttacentral.net/sn12.4/en/sujato)), Sikhi Buddha ([SN 12.5](https://suttacentral.net/sn12.5/en/sujato)), Vessabhu Buddha ([SN 12.6](https://suttacentral.net/sn12.6/en/sujato)), Kakusandha Buddha ([SN 12.7](https://suttacentral.net/sn12.7/en/sujato)), Konagamana Buddha ([SN 12.8](https://suttacentral.net/sn12.8/en/sujato)), Kassapa Buddha ([SN 12.9](https://suttacentral.net/sn12.9/en/sujato)) and of course, Gotama Buddha ([SN 12.10](https://suttacentral.net/sn12.10/en/sujato)).

Furthermore, the Buddha foretold the coming of the future Buddha, Metteyya Buddha or Maitreya Buddha in [DN 26](https://suttacentral.net/dn26/en/sujato) - to do the same.

Also below:

> Then, having known with his own awareness the line of thinking in the
> Blessed One's awareness — just as a strong man might extend his flexed
> arm or flex his extended arm — Brahma Sahampati disappeared from the
> Brahma-world and reappeared in front of the Blessed One. Arranging his
> upper robe over one shoulder, he saluted the Blessed One with his
> hands before his heart and said to him: "So it is, Blessed One! So it
> is, One-Well-Gone! **Those who were Arahants, Rightly Self-awakened Ones
> in the past** — they, too, dwelled in dependence on the very Dhamma
> itself, honoring and respecting it. **Those who will be Arahants,
> Rightly Self-awakened Ones in the future** — they, too, will dwell in
> dependence on the very Dhamma itself, honoring and respecting it. And
> let the Blessed One, who is at present the Arahant, the Rightly
> Self-awakened One, dwell in dependence on the very Dhamma itself,
> honoring and respecting it."  
> [Garava Sutta (SN 6.2)](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn06/sn06.002.than.html)


---

