For Buddhists, the life story of the Buddha is a source of inspiration and learning whereas for modern historians it is a thorny puzzle that mixes fact and legend almost inextricably. The Buddha was unique amongst the world’s religious leaders insofar as he was a human being, not a prophet and not divine, so the story of his life and of his enlightenment serves as a model for all human beings to emulate.  The main episodes of the Buddha’s life are part of traditional story telling in Buddhist communities, and they are part of the cultural heritage of Buddhism that children grow up with. Furthermore, many of the main festival days in the Buddhist calendar commemorate major events in the Buddha’s life.