Just before the demise of the
Master
by Bhikkhu T. Seelananda, Paramita International Buddhist Centre,
Kadugannawa.
The Master Gotama,
the Buddha crossed the river Hiranyavati together with a large company of monks
and went to the Sala-grove of Mallas in the vicinity of Kusinara (India). There
addressing his faithful attendant the Ven. Ananda he said "Ananda prepare
me a bed between these twin Sala-trees with my head to the North. I am tired and
want to lie down" "very good, Sire" said the Ven. Ananda and did
so. Then the Buddha lay down on his right side in the lion-posture (simhaseyya),
placing one feet on the other, with mindful and clearly aware.
The Sala-trees
burst forth into an abundance of untimely blossoms, which fell upon the Buddha's
body-sprinkling it and covering it in homage. The divine coral-tree flowers fell
from the sky and sprinkling and covering the Buddha's body in homage. Divine music
and song sounded from the sky in homage to the Buddha. The Buddha said "Ananda
never before has the Tathagata been so honoured, revered, esteemed, worshipped
and adored. And yet, Ananda whatever monk, nun, male or female, lay follower dwells
practising the Dhamma properly and perfectly fulfils the Dhamma - way, he or she
honours the Tathagata revers and esteems him and pays him the supreme homage.
Therefore Ananda "we will dwell practising the Dhamma properly and perfectly
fulfil the Dhamma way"- this must be your watchword".
At this moment,
the Ven. Upavana was standing in front of the Buddha, fanning him. The Devas from
ten world -spheres gathered to see the Buddha saying " We have come a long
way to see the Tathagata. It is rare for a Tathagata, a fully- enlightened Buddha,
to arise in the world, and to night in the last watch the Tathagata will attain
final Nibbana and all too soon the Blessed One is passing away, all too soon the
well-farer is passing away, all too soon the Eye of the world is disappearing".
By
this time, the Ven Ananda who was lamenting leaning on the door post, went into
his lodging and started weeping "Alas, I am still a learner with much to
do! and the Teacher is passing away, who was so compassionate to me". Then
the Buddha inquired about him and knew that he was weeping there. So the Buddha
asked a certain monk to summon him. When he came to the presence of the Buddha
the Buddha said "Enough, Ananda, do not weep and wail!. Have I not already
told you that all things that are pleasant and delightful are changeable, subject
to separation and becoming other? So how could it be, Ananda - since whatever
is born, become compounded is subject to decay ,how could it be that it should
not pass away? For a long time, Ananda you have been in the Tathagata's presence,
showing loving kindness in act of body speech and mind, beneficially, blessedly,
wholeheartedly and unstintingly. You have achieved much merit, Ananda. Make the
effort, and in a short time you will be free from cankers."Thousands of Mallas
from the city of Kusinara, together with their sons, daughters-in-law and wives
and all were struck with anguish and sorrow and their minds were overcome with
grief, on hearing the Buddha's passing away to night at their city and came to
see the Buddha. They were all weeping and tearing their hair.
In a short while,
a Wanderer called Subhadda went to the Ven. Ananda and asked " Reverend Ananda,
may I be permitted to see the Ascetic Gotama?. But the Ven. Ananda said "
Enough ,friend Subhadda, do not disturb the Buddha, he is weary" Subhadda
made his request a second time and a third time, but still the Ven. Ananada refused
it. But the Buddha overheard this conversation between them and called to Ananda
and asked to permit Subhadda to come in. Approaching the Buddha and exchanging
courtesies with him he sat down and asked "Venerable Gotama, all those ascetics
and Brahmins who have orders and followings, who are teachers, well-known and
famous as founders of schools, and popularly regarded as saints, like Purana Kassapa,
Makkhali Gosala.... have they all realized the truth as they all make out, or
have none of them realized it, or have some of them realized it and some not?"
"Enough Subhadda never mind whether all, or none, or some of them have realized
the truth. I will teach you Dhamma, Subhadda. Listen, pay close attention, and
I will speak". Thus the Buddha admonishing him said.
"In whatever
Dhamma and discipline the Noble Eight-fold Path is not found, no ascetic is found
of the first, the second, the third or the fourth grade. But such ascetics can
be found, of the first, second, third, and fourth grade in a Dhamma and discipline
(Dhammavinaya) where the Noble Eightfold Path is found. Now Subhadda, in this
Dhamma and discipline (Dhammavinaya) the Noble Eight-fold path is found and in
it are to be found ascetics of the first, second, third and fourth grade. Those
other schools are devoid of true ascetics; but if in this one the monks were to
live the life to perfection, the world would not lack for Arahants."
In
the end of the admonition of the Buddha, the wanderer Subhadda went for refuge
to the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha. Then he received the going forth in
the presence of the Buddha and finally he became one of the Arahants in the dispensation.
The
Buddha then addressing the monks said " It may be monks, that some monks
have doubts or uncertainty about the path or the practice. Ask, monks!. Do not
afterwards feel remorse, thinking ' The teacher was there before us, and we failed
to ask the Buddha face to face'. At these words the monks were silent. The Buddha
repeated his words a second and a third time and still the monks were silent.
Then he said perhaps, monks, you do not ask out of respect for the teacher. Then
monks let one friend tell it to another. But still they were silent. And then
the Ven. Ananda said " It is wonderful, Lord, it is marvelous! I clearly
perceive that in this assembly there is not one monk who has doubts or uncertainty".
The Buddha said "You Ananda ,speak from faith. But the Tathagata knows that
in this assembly there is not one monk who has doubts or uncertainty about the
Buddha ,the Dhamma or the Sangha or about the Path or the practice.
Again in
his last utterance, the Buddha addressed the monks and said " Now monks,
I declare to you; all conditioned things are of a nature to decay. Strive on untiringly
(Handa'dani bhikkhave amantayami vo vayadhamma sankhara appamadena sampadetha).
With these last words of the Buddha, he entered the first Jhana. And leaving that
he entered the second, the third, the fourth Jhana. Then leaving the fourth Jhana
he entered the sphere of infinite space, then the sphere of infinite consciousness,
then the sphere of Nothingness, then the sphere of Neither-perception-Nor non-perception,
and leaving that he attained the cessation of Feeling and perception. Then the
Ven. Ananda said to the Ven. Anuruddha: Ven. Anuruddha the Buddha has passed away.
"No" friend Ananda, the Buddha has not passed away, he has attained
the cessation of Feeling and perception. Then the Buddha, leaving the attainment
of the cessation of Feeling and perception, entered the sphere of Neither-perception
- Nor non-perception, from that he entered the sphere of nothingness, the sphere
of infinite consciousness the sphere of infinite space. From the sphere of infinite
space he entered the fourth Jhana, from there the third, the second and the first
Jhana. Leaving the first Jhana he entered the second, the third, the fourth Jhana.
And leaving the fourth Jhana, the Buddha, the Exalted One passed away into Parinibbana.
Let
us all try to understand the last words of the Buddha.