ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Gandhāran Buddhist texts

Gandhāran Buddhist texts are very old books that tell us about Buddhism, which is a religion that started many years ago in India. These texts were written on pieces of paper or palm leaves by people who lived a long, long time ago. The reason they are called 'Gandhāran' is because they were found in Gandhāra, which is now part of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The people who wrote these texts lived during a time when there were many different ideas about religion and philosophy. They wrote down what they believed were the teachings of the Buddha, who was a very wise man who helped people understand how to live a better life. The texts include stories, teachings, and guidelines for how to live a good life.

One of the reasons these texts are important is because they give us a glimpse into what life was like a long time ago. They also help us understand how Buddhism developed and changed over time. Some of the texts are written in a language called Gandhāri, which is a language that is not spoken anymore.

Today, we study the Gandhāran Buddhist texts to learn more about Buddhism and its history. People all over the world read these texts to learn about the teachings of the Buddha and how they can apply them to their own lives. So, just like how we read storybooks to learn about different characters and their lives, we read these texts to learn about Buddhism and the ways it can help us lead better lives.