LAST DAYS OF THE BUDDHA

DR. BUGS TAN

THE MAHAPARINIBANNA SUTTA
On the stirring final
journey of the Buddha,
covering three months,
he instructs his
disciples on the
elements needed to
keep the Dhamma
strong and stresses the
importance of putting
his teaching into
practice.
The Buddha was eighty years old when
he became ill and announced that his
Parinibbana would occur in just three
months. It was a time of political
unrest, with the very real prospect of
war, when the Buddha set off on a
final journey across Northern India.
The Buddha had already taught
all that was necessary for the
attainment of Enlightenment so
on this final journey his concern
was to reiterate the teachings
and impress on his followers the
necessity of putting them into
practice.

And, hearing that the Buddha

was making his final round of
visits, disciples flocked to him in
great numbers.
 Koigma

There the Tathgata addressed the monks,

saying: Because of a lack of understanding
and a lack of penetration, monks, of Four
Noble Truths both you and I have been
wandering and running along in Sasra for
a long time.
 Koigma

Buddha told Ananda:

Therefore, nanda, I will teach this presentation of the Teaching called the
Mirror of the True Nature of Things, endowed with which a Noble Disciple
desiring to do so may declare about himself: Exhausted is birth in Hell,
exhausted is birth in an animals womb, exhausted is birth in the realm of the
Fallen Spirits, exhausted is falling into an unfortunate destiny in the lower
realms, I am a Stream-Enterer, no longer subject to falling into the lower realms,
and have a fixed destiny ending in Final Awakening.

The Mirror of the True Nature of Things

 Ndika

The Courtesan Ambapl

The Buddha said:

Such is virtue, such is concentration, such is
wisdom, when virtue is well-developed it
yields great fruit and brings great advantages
in regard to concentration, when
concentration is well-developed it yields great
fruit and brings great advantages in regard to
wisdom, when wisdom is well-developed the
mind is completely liberated from the
pollutants, that is to say: the pollutant of
sensuality, the pollutant of craving for
continued existence, the pollutant of
ignorance.
 Ndika
Ambapalis house

Ananda spoke to The Buddha :

I have seen, reverend Sir, the Tathagata comfortable, I have seen, reverend Sir,
the tathagata bearing up while sick, and my body, reverend Sir, became faint as
it were, and although I could not see straight, and things were not clear, it
appeared to me, reverend Sir, that the Tathagata was sick, but it was some small
comfort that the Tathgata would not attain maha parinibanna until the Blessed
One had spoken regarding the Sangha.

The Tathgatas Sickness

 Ndika
Ambapalis house

Buddha told Ananda:

Now I am frail, Ananda, old, aged, far
gone in years. This is my eightieth year,
and my life is spent. Even as an old
cart, Ananda, is held together with
much difficulty, so the body of the
Tathagata is kept going only with
supports.

The Relinquishment of the Life Process
The Wicked Mra said this to
the Tathgata:
May the Tathagata attain maha
parinibanna now, reverend Sir,
may the Blessed One attain
maha parinibanna, now is the
time, reverend Sir, for the
Tathagatas maha parinibanna.
Vesl
(Monks & nuns)
I will not attain maha parinibanna, Wicked One, for as
long as my monks and nuns are not true disciples,
accomplished, disciplined, confident, learned, bearers of
the Teaching, practising in conformity with the Teaching,
correct in their practice, living in conformity with the
Teaching, and having learned it from their own teacher,
will declare, reveal, make known, set forth, open up,
analyse, make plainafter giving a good rebuke with
reason to the doctrines of others that have arisenand
teach the miraculous Teaching.

The Relinquishment of the Life Process
The Wicked Mra said this to
the Tahagatha:
May the Tathgata attain maha
parinibanna now, reverend Sir,
may the Blessed One attain
maha parinibanna, now is the
time, reverend Sir, for the
Tahaghatas maha parinibanna.
Vesl
(Layman & laywomen)
I will not attain maha parinibanna, Wicked One, for as
long as my layman and laywomen are not true disciples,
accomplished, disciplined, confident, learned, bearers of
the Teaching, practising in conformity with the Teaching,
correct in their practice, living in conformity with the
Teaching, and having learned it from their own teacher,
will declare, reveal, make known, set forth, open up,
analyse, make plainafter giving a good rebuke with
reason to the doctrines of others that have arisenand
teach the miraculous Teaching
 Vesl

The Relinquishment of the Life Process

(Deva)

The Wicked Mra said this to I will not attain maha parinibanna, Wicked One, for as
the Tathagata: long as this spiritual life of mine has not become
successful and prosperous, well spread-out, possessed by
May the Tathagata attain maha many, become great, until it is well-explained amongst
parinibanna now, reverend Sir, Deva and men.
may the Blessed One attain
maha parinibanna, now is the
time, reverend Sir, for the
Tathagatas maha parinibanna.
 Vesl

The Relinquishment of the Life Process

The Wicked Mra said this to the Tathagata: You should have little
concern, Wicked One, in no
But at present, reverend Sir, the Tathagatas spiritual
life is successful and prosperous, well spread-out, long time the Blessed One
possessed by many, become great, it is well- will be maha parinibanna,
explained amongst Divinities and men. May the after three months have
Tathagata attain maha parinibanna now, reverend Sir, passed from now, the Blessed
may the Blessed One attain maha parinibanna, now
One will attain maha
is the time, reverend Sir, for the Tathagatas maha
parinibanna. parinibanna.
 Vesl
The Buddha let go

Mara appeared and demanded the Buddha to end his life.

The scene repeated as previous. Buddha said he will not end his life so long as the
monk, nun, laymen, laywomen and deva has not fully hold and practice the
Dhamma.
But.
When the Mara persisted. The Buddha has this to say nanda..

Now today, nanda, at the Cpla Shrine the Tathagata mindfully, with full
awareness, gave up the life-process.
 Vesl

When this was said venerable nanda begged the Tathagata:

Let the Tathagata remain, reverend Sir, for the lifespan, let the Blessed One
remain for the lifespan, for the benefit of many people, for the happiness of
many people, having compassion on the world, for the welfare, benefit, and
happiness of Deva and men.

Ananda begged
One time..
Two times.
Three times
 Vesl

Ananda, have I not taught from the very beginning that with all that is dear
and beloved there must be change, separation, and severance? Of that which
is born, come into being, is compounded and subject to decay, how can one
say: May it not come to dissolution! There can be no such state of things.
And of that, Ananda, which the Tathagata has finished with, that which he has
relinquished, given up, abandoned, and rejected his will to live on the
Tathagatas word has been spoken once for all: Before long the Parinibbana of
the Tathagata will come about
 Rjagaha

How can it be otherwise, nanda, for that which is obtained, born, become,
conditioned, subject to dissolution? It is not possible to say this: It should not
dissolve. But this has been relinquished, cast out, let loose, abandoned by the
Blessed One, forsaken, the life-process that has been given up.

The Tathagata cannot for the sake of life go back on that, it is not possible.

nandas Fault at Rjagaha & nandas Fault at Vesl

 Bhaagma

There the Tathagata said this to the

monks: Because of a lack of
understanding and a lack of
penetration, monks, of four things both
you and I have been wandering and
running along in Sasra for a long
time.
 Pava

The Last Meal

The Buddha reached a place called Pava and stayed in the Mango Grove
of Cunda, the metalworker, with a large community of bhikkhus. Cunda
spoke to the Buddha and invited him to his house for a meal.

The Buddha agreed and went to Cundas house the

following day. he told his host that he alone would eat
the sukara-maddava that Cunda had prepared but that
the bhikkhus should eat only the other dishes. After the
meal, the Buddha instructed Cunda to bury what was left
of his meal, so that no one else would eat it.
 Bhoganagara

When he had eaten Cundas food, I heard,

With fortitude the deadly pains he bore.
From the sukara-maddava a sore
And dreadful sickness came upon the Lord.

But natures pangs he endured.

Come, let us go

As he walked he told Ananda that no one should blame

Cunda for his death. By his deed the worthy Cunda
has accumulated merit which makes for long life,
beauty, well being, glory, heavenly rebirth, and
sovereignty. Thus, Ananda, the remorse of Cunda the
metalworker should be dispelled.
 Kusinr

After that was said, venerable nanda said this to the Tathagata:
Just now, reverend Sir, five hundred wagons have passed by, and the little water
that flows, having been churned by the wheels, is stirred up and disturbed. The
Kakutth River is not far away, with transparent water, agreeable water, cool
water, pure water, with beautiful banks, a delightful place, there the tathagata
can drink drinking water, and can cool his limbs.

Come now, nanda, bring drinking water, I am thirsty, nanda, and will drink.

Bringing Drinking Water

 Bhoganagara

Today, nanda, during the last watch of the night, near to Kusinr, in the
Mallas Sal Wood at Upavattana, between a pair of Sal trees will be the
tathagatas maha parinibaanna.

Buddhas final resting

 Kusinr

Worshipping the Tathagata

Come, nanda, prepare a couch with the head facing north between the Twin Sal Trees for me, I
am weary, nanda, and will lie down.

The Twin Sal Trees were full of flowering blossoms, outside of flowering time, and they were
sprinkling down on the tathagata, showering down, continued pouring

Also the divine mandarava tree flowers were falling from the sky, and they were sprinkling down on
the tathagata, showering down, continued pouring

Also Divine sandalwood powder was falling from the sky, and was sprinkling down on the tathagata,
showering down, continued pouring.

Also Divine music played in the sky in worship of the tathagata.

Also Divine songs played in the sky in worship of the tathagata

 Kusinr

The Visit of the Deva

The vast gathering in that grove

included the mythic as well as the
worldly. At one point the Buddha asked
venerable Upava (an attendant) to
step aside as, he said, the sky was filled
for miles around with a gathering of
most of the gods of the ten world
systems (who have) assembled here to
see the Tathagata. Some of them
apparently were muttering that they
couldnt see properly.
 Kusinr

4 BUDDHIST PILGRIMAGE SITES

These are the four places, nanda, that are to be seen that produce enthusiasm for a faithful man of
good family.

1) Here the Tathagata was born. (Lumbini)

2) Here the Tathagata awoke to the unsurpassed Awakening. (Bodh Gaya)

3) Here the Tathagata set rolling the Wheel of the Teaching. (Sarnath)

4) Here the Tathagata was enters the maha parinibanna (Kusinara)

 Kusinr

The Buddha reprimand Ananda

Shortly Ananda left the grove. he leant against a door post and wept, Alas! I remain still
but a learner, one who has yet to work out his own perfection. And the Master is about
to pass away from me he who is so kind!

Buddha: Enough now, Ananda! Do not

sorrow and cry. Have I not already
repeatedly told you that there is
separation and parting from all that is
dear and beloved? How is it possible
that anything that has been born, has
had a beginning, should not again
die? Such a thing is not possible.
 Kusinr

Subhadda, the last disciple

Subhadda said this to the Tathagata : Those
Tathagata:
ascetics and brahmins, dear Gotama, who have a
community, a group, who teach a group, well-
Wherever, Subhadda, the Noble Eightfold Path is
known, famous, religious founders, agreed upon
not found in a Teaching and Discipline there a
as good for the people, such as: Praa Kassapa,
true ascetic is not found, there a second true
Makkhali Gosla, Ajita Kesakambala, Pakudha
ascetic is not found, there a third true ascetic is
Kaccyana, Sajaya Belahaputta, Nigaha
not found, there a fourth true ascetic is not
Naputta, have they all understood, according
found.
to their own avowal? Have they all not
understood? Or, have some understood? Or,
have some not understood? At 29 years, Subhadda, I went forth a seeker of
what is good, More than fifty years ago,
Wherefore I am truly gone forth, Subhadda.

Existing in the realm of the right Teaching

Outside of this there is no true ascetic,
 Kusinr

The Last Instructions of the Tathagata

Whatever Teaching and Discipline has been taught by me, that is your Teacher after my
passing away.

The elder monk, should address the younger monk by his name or by his clan name or by
the word friend. But the younger monk should address the elder monk as reverend Sir or
venerable Sir.

The Sangha after my passing away, can abolish the minor and subsidiary training rules
(Vinaya).
 Kusinr

Come now, monks, for I tell you all conditioned things

are subject to decay, strive on with heedfulness!

Buddhas last breath

Following this he entered into deep meditation, after which he enters the maha parinibanna
 Kusinr

The Maha Parinibanna

Venerable Anuruddha:
The Tathagata, has not attained maha parinibanna, he has attained the cessation of perception and feeling.

Then the Tathagata,

after emerging from the cessation of perception and feeling,
attained the sphere of neither-perception-nor-non-perception,
and after emerging from the sphere of neither-perception-nor-non-perception he attained the sphere of
nothingness,
and after emerging from the sphere of nothingness he attained the sphere of endless consciousness,
and after emerging from the sphere of endless consciousness he attained the sphere of endless space,
and after emerging from the sphere of endless space he attained the fourth absorption,
and after emerging from the fourth absorption he attained the third absorption,
and after emerging from the third absorption he attained the second absorption,
and after emerging from the second absorption he attained the first absorption,
and after emerging from the first absorption he attained the second absorption,
and after emerging from the second absorption he attained the third absorption,
and after emerging from the third absorption he attained the fourth absorption,
and after emerging from the fourth absorption, immediately the Tathagata attained Maha Parinibanna.
 Kusinr

And when the Blessed One had passed away,

simultaneously with his Maha Parinibbana
there came a tremendous earthquake, dreadful
and astounding, and the thunders rolled across
the heavens.
 Kusinr
When the Tathagata attained the maha parinibanna those monks there who were not free from
passion, throwing up their arms, falling down as though cut down, rolling backwards and forwards
as though with their feet cut off, were crying: Too quickly the Tathagata has attained maha
parinibanna, too quickly the Blessed One has attained maha parinibanna, too quickly the Visionary
in the world has disappeared!

But those monks who were free from passion, mindfully, with full awareness, endured, thinking:
Impermanent are all processes, how can it be otherwise?
 Kusinr

The Preparation of the Body

Then the Mallas of Kusinr, through honouring, respecting, revering, and worshipping the
Tathagatas body, with dance, song, music, garlands, and perfumes, and making cloth canopies,
and preparing circular pavillions, they made the second day pass, they made the third day
pass, they made the fourth day pass, they made the fifth day pass, they made the sixth day
pass.

After taking it out of the city by the South, on the

outside of the City to the South we will burn the
Tathagatas body.

Now at that time eight leaders of the Mallas, having

washed their heads and put on clean clothes, said:
Let us lift the Tathagatas body, but they were not
able to lift it.
 Kusinr

Strange phenomena

Venerable Anuruddha: You have one intention, and the Divinities have another intention.

The Divinities intention, Vsehas, is: We, while honouring, respecting, revering, and
worshipping the Tathagatas body, with the Divinities dance, song, music, garlands, and
perfumes, after carrying it to the North of the City by the North, and re-entering the City by the
North Gate, and carrying it to the middle of the City by the middle, and going out by the Eastern
Gate, to the East of the City, at the Mallas Shrine called the Bonded Coronet, there let us burn
the Tathagatas body.

Ven Anuruddha : Let us do according to the Divinities

intention, reverend Sir.
 Kusinr

BY THEN THE WHOLE

. OF KUSINR, INCLUDING THE DIRTY RUBBISH HEAPS, WAS
COVERED KNEE-DEEP WITH DIVINE MANDARAVA FLOWERS
 Kusinr

The Story concerning Mahkassapa

Now at that time four leaders of the Mallas,

having washed their heads and put on clean
clothes, said: Let us burn the Tathagatas
funeral pyre, but they were not able to burn it.

Ven Anuruddha: The Divinities have another

intention.

The Ven Mahkassapa is travelling along the

highway from Pv to Kusinr together with
500 monks, the Tathgatas funeral pyre will not
burn while Ven Mahkassapa has not
worshipped the Tathagatas feet with his head.

Let us do according to the Devas intention,

reverend Sir.
The Distribution of the Relics

1 The Magadhan King Ajtasattu

2 The Licchavs of Vesl
3 The Sakyas of Kapilavatthu
4 The Bulas of Allakappa
5 The Koliyas of Rmagma
6 The brahmin Vehadpaka
7 The Mallas of Pv
8 The Mallas of Kusinr
DR. BUGS TAN
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