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Volume six shifts the focus toward Ananda, one of Buddha’s closest disciples, whose compassion and emotional openness offer a counterbalance to the more austere aspects of Buddhist practice. Through Ananda’s perspective, Tezuka explores the daily realities of the growing monastic community and the challenges of living according to the Buddha’s teachings in an imperfect world. The volume emphasizes empathy, memory, and the human need for connection, showing how enlightenment is sustained through care for others. Ananda’s doubts and devotion highlight that spiritual growth is not a solitary achievement, but a shared and ongoing responsibility.

Osamu Tezuka’s Buddha is an ambitious eight-volume manga series that reimagines the life and teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, the historical Buddha. First serialized between 1972 and 1983. The series blends historical research, philosophical inquiry, and Tezuka’s unmistakable narrative style.

Rather than presenting a distant, idealized saint, Tezuka portrays Buddha as a deeply human figure shaped by suffering, doubt, compassion, and moral struggle. Alongside Siddhartha’s journey, the manga introduces fictional characters whose lives intersect with his, allowing Tezuka to explore themes such as caste oppression, violence, desire, and spiritual awakening. The result is a sweeping epic that is both accessible and profound, appealing to readers interested in history, religion, and visual storytelling.

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