how many ppl here view Buddha as 'Black'?

[Bodhi]

He probably was black. Ancient India was occupied by several black dynasties, like the Gupta for example. If you google, some of the oldest statues of the Buddha depict black features (lips, nose, etc.), but Buddha seems to be depicted in the likeness of his sculpters elongated ears are similar to African tradition. However, the suttas describe him as "golden" and the Buddha allegedly said himself that while he practiced paths before realization, he had starved himself for spiritual purposes, which he claimed was the wrong way to practice, and while he was starving, he described how his body was effected. His skin turned brown and black. Who knows if this is true to the Buddha's actual words? In Buddhism, it really doesn't matter what the color of his skin is.

 

[Rock_Well]

Not that his skin tone matters in the religion, but it does seem to matter to ppl. im baffled at the sheer amount of things of ancient history being re-imagined through a euro-perspective in today's world. Never occurred to me that even ancient Buddha may have undergone this treatment.

 

[Bodhi]

Yes, sadly. Personally, I believe that he was black due to the amount of information and evidence of black history and presence in ancient India and the Buddha's relationship to Hinduism and the caste system. You are also free to believe what you like because it's most likely that no one knows for sure.

 

[Bodhi]

All we can do is speculate, which ultimately leads to nowheresville. His teaching was that all human beings are equal; thus, he rejected the caste system. His teaching is the most important thing and as brother Malcolm stated, I'm for truth no matter who tells it.