Explain two ways that stories of the Buddha's birth influence Buddhists today. [4 marks]

• One story says that before the Buddha was born, his mother had a dream that a white elephant entered her womb.

• This symbolised that her child would one day have perfect wisdom.

• This story give Buddhists confidence in the Buddha’s teachings: even before he was born, he was recognised as wise.

• Another story says that after being born, the Buddha walked seven steps and a lotus flower grew in each footprint.

• The first six steps represent the realms of rebirth, and the seventh step represents nirvana.

• This story inspires Buddhists to follow the Buddha’s teaching and try to reach nirvana themselves.

Sources:

• James, Kevin and Nagapriya Munisha. 2025. AQA Religious Studies A: Buddhism (Oxford), pp. 8–9.