The Buddha's Mahaparinibbana

The Buddha reached His eightieth year. His death was drawing near. His two chief disciples - the Venerable Sariputta and Monggallana - had predeceased Him. So had Venerable Rahula and Yasodhara. One day He addressed the Venerable Ananda and said :-

"Ananda, whosoever has fully developed the Four Paths of Accomplishment - Iddhipada could if he desires, remain in the same birth for a Kappa and a little more. Now the Tathagata has thoroughly practiced and developed them, and he could, therefore, should he desire it, live on yet for a kappa or for a kappa and a little more."

But the Venerable Ananda could not comprehend the meaning of this statement as his heart was possessed by the Evil One. To the Buddha, he said :- "Vouchsafe, Lord, to remain during the Kappa ! Live on through the Kappa, O Happy One, for the good and happiness of the many....." For the second and third time the Buddha made the same statement. Still the Venerable Ananda was silent.

When the Venerable Ananda left Him, Mara approached the Buddha and invited Him to pass away. The Buddha replied :- "O Evil One ! Make thyself happy, the death of the Tathagata shall take place before long. At the end of three months from this time the Tathagata will pass away." Immediately after, the Buddha consciously and deliberately rejected the rest of His allotted term of life. Later the Buddha mentioned this matter to the Venerable Ananda, who then reminded Him of His previous utterance and besought Him to remain for a Kappa.

"Enough, Ananda, beseech not the Tathagata ! The time for making such a request is past. If thou should then have so besought the Tathagata, the Tathagata might have rejected the appeal even for the second time, but the third time he would have granted it. Thine, therefore, Ananda, is the fault, thine is the offence." replied the Buddha.

Cunda the smith, a rich and devout person, heard that the Buddha had arrived at Pava and was staying in his mango grove. he went up to Him and after listening to a very instructive discourse, invited the Buddha and His disciples for the noon meal on the following day.

The Buddha addressed Ananda and said :-

"It may be Ananda, that you will say thus :-
'Without the teacher is the sublime teaching. There is no teacher for us.' Nay, Ananda, you should not think thus. That Doctrine and Discipline taught and promulgated by me, Ananda, will be your teacher when I am gone. If, O disciples, there be no doubt or perplexity in any disciple with regard to the Buddha, the Doctrine, the Order, and the Practice, question me (now) and repent not afterwards thinking - We were face to face to the Teacher, yet were not able to question the Buddha in His presence." When he spoke thus, the disciples were silent.

For the second and third time the Buddha addressed the disciples the same way. And for the second and third time the disciples were silent. Then the Buddha addressed the disciples and said :- "Perhaps it may out of respect for the teacher that you do not question me. Let a friend, O disciples, intimate it to another." Still the disciples were silent.
Thereupon the Venerable Ananda spoke to the Buddha as follows :-
"Wonderful, Lord ! Marvellous Lord ! Thus am I pleased with this company of disciples. There is not a single disciple who entertains a doubt or perplexity with regard to the Buddha, the Doctrine, the Order, and the Practice."

"You speak through faith, Ananda. With regard to this matter there is knowledge in the Accomplished One, that in this company of disciples there is not a single disciple who entertains a doubt or perplexity with regard to the Buddha, the Doctrine, the Order, and the Practice. Of these five hundreds disciples, Ananda, he who is the last, is a Stream-Winner, not subject to fall, but sure of, and destined for, Enlightenment." Then the Blessed One addressed the disciples and said :-
"Behold, O disciples, I exhort you. Subject to decay are all component things. Strive on with diligence." These were the last words of the Buddha.

The Buddha's life was drawing to an end. For the last time He rested on the couch placed between two Sala trees in the Upavattana Sala Grove. His disciples were surrounding Him in perfect silence. The Buddha attained to the First Ecstasy - Jhana. Emerging from it He attained, in order, to the Second, Third, and Fourth Ecstasies. Emerging from the Fourth Ecstasy he attained to the "Realm of Infinity of Space - Akasanancayatana. Emerging from this He attained to the "Realm of Infinity of Consciousnes - Vinnanancayatana." Emerging from this he attained to "The Realm of Nothingness - Akincannayatana." Emerging from this He attained to "The Realm of Neither Perception nor Non-Perception - N'eva Sanna N' Asannayatana." Emerging from this He attained to "The Cessation of Perceptions and Sensations - Sannavedayita-Nirodha."

Instantly the Venerable Ananda, who was anxiously observing the dying state of the Buddha, remarked that the Buddha had passed away. The venerable Anuruddha, who was distinguished for his Divine Eye, explained that the Buddha had attained to "The Cessation of Perceptions and Sensations." Then the Buddha emerged from that State and attained in order to the Fourth, Third, Second and First Arupa Jhanas. Immediately emerging from this Fourth Ecstasy The Buddha finally passed away.

As a man He was born. As an extraordinary man He lived. As a Buddha He passed away.