BOOK
VII The Wanderer's Last Journey
Part.
I—The Meeting of those Near and Dear.
PART I : THE MEETING OF THOSE NEAR AND DEAR
1. The Centres of His Preachings.
2.
The Places He Visited.
3.
Last Meeting between Mother and Son and between Wife and Husband.
4.Last
Meeting between Father and Son.
5.Last
Meeting between the Buddha and Sariputta.
§1.
The Centres of His Preachings
1.
It is not that after the appointment of the missionaries the Lord sat at one place. He too
continued to be his own missionary.
2.
The Lord seems to have made certain places chief centres of his missionary work.
3.
Of such centres, the chief were Shravasti and Rajagraha.
4.
He visited Shravasti about 75 times and Rajagraha about 24 times.
5.
Certain other places were made minor centres.
6.
They were Kapilavastu, which he visited 6 times, Vesali which he visited 6 times, and
Kamas-sadhamma, 4 times.
§
2. The Places He Visited
1.
Besides these main and minor centres the Blessed Lord visited many other places during the
course of his missionary tour.
2.
He visited Ukkatha, Nadika, Sal, Assapura, Ghoshitaram, Nalanda, Appana, Etuma.
3.
He visited Opasad, lccha-naukal, Chandal Kuppa, Kushinara.
4.
He visited Devadaha, Pava, Ambasanda, Setavya, Anupiya and Ugunma.
5.
The names of the places he visited show that he travelled over the Sakya Desa, the Kuru
Desa and Anga Desa.
6.
Roughly speaking, he travelled over the whole of Northern India.
7.
These appear to be a few places. But what distance do they cover ? Rajagraha from Lumbini
is not less than 250 miles. This just gives an idea of distances.
8.
These distances the Lord walked on foot. He did not even use a bullock-cart.
9.
In his wanderings he had no place to stay until later on when his lay disciples built
Viharas and resting places which he and his Bhikkhus used as halts on their journeys. Most
often he lived under vii the shade of wayside trees.
10.
He went from place to place, sometimes from village to village, resolving the doubts and
difficulties of those who were willing to accept his message, controverting the arguments
of those who were his opponents and preaching his gospel to those who like children came
to him for guidance.
11.
The Blessed Lord knew that all those who came to listen to him were not all of them
intelligent, not all of them came with an open and a free mind.
12.
He had even warned the brethren that there were three sorts of listeners.
13.
The empty-head, the fool who cannot see,— though oft and oft, unto the brethren
going, he hears their talk, beginning, middle, end,—but can never grasp it. Wisdom is
not his.
14.
Better than he the man of scattered brains, who oft and oft, unto the brethren going,
hears all their talk, beginning, middle, end, and seated there can grasp the very words,
yet, rising, nought retains. Blank is his mind.
15.
Better than these the man of wisdom wide. He, oft and oft unto the brethren going, hears
all their talk, beginning, middle, end, and seated there, can grasp the very words, bears
all in mind, steadfast, unwavering, skilled in the Norm and what conforms thereto.
16.
Notwithstanding this, the Lord was never tired of going from place to place preaching his
gospel.
17.
As a bhikkhu the Lord never had more than three pieces of clothes. He lived on one meal a
day and he begged his food from door to door every morning.
18. His mission was the hardest task assigned to any human being. He discharged it so cheerfully.
§
3. Last Meeting between Mother and Son and between
Wife and Husband
1.
Before their death Mahaprajapati and Yesho-dhara met the Blessed Lord,
2.
It was probably their last meeting with him.
3.
Mahaprajapati went and first worshipped him.
4.
She thanked him for having given her the happiness of the good doctrine, for her having
been spiritually born through him: for the doctrine having grown in her through him; for
her having suckled him, drinking the Dhamma-milk of him; for her having plunged in and
crossed over the ocean of becoming through him—what a glorious thing it has been to
be known as the mother of the Buddha ! 5. And then she uttered her plea:— " I
desire to die finally having put away this corpse. 0 sorrow-ender, permit me."
6.
Yeshodhara, addressing the Blessed Lord, said that she was in her seventy-eighth year. The
Blessed Lord replied that he was in his eighties.
7.
She told him that she was to die that very night. Her tone was more self-reliant than that
of Mahaprajapati. She did not ask his permission to die nor did she go to him to seek him
as her refuge.
8.
On the contrary, she said to him (me saranam
atthano), " I am my own refuge."
9.
She had conquered all the cankers in her life.
10.
She came to thank him because it was he who had shown her the way and given her the power.
§
4. Last Meeting between Father and Son
1.
Once when the Lord was staying at Raja-graha in the bamboo grove Rahula was staying at
Ambalathika.
2.
The Blessed One arising towards eventide from his meditation went over to Rahula, who
seeing the Lord some way off, set a seat for him and water to wash his feet.
3.
Seating himself on the seat set for him, the Lord poured water over his feet while Rahula,
after salutations, took his seat to one side.
4.
Addressing Rahula, the Blessed Lord said "He who does not shrink from deliberate
lying has not—say I—left undone any evil thing which he could. Therefore, you
must school yourself never to tell a lie even in jest.
5.
" In the same way you must reflect and again in doing every act, in speaking every
word and in thinking every thought.
6.
"When you want to do anything you must reflect whether it would conduce to your or
others' harm or to both, and so is a wrong act productive of woe and ripening into woe. If
reflection tells you that this is the nature of that contemplated act, you should not do
it.
7. " But if reflection assures you there is no harm but good in it, then you may do it.
8.
"Grow in loving kindness; for as you do so malevolence will pass away.
9.
"Grow in compassion; for as you do so vexation will pass away.
10.
"Grow in gladness over others' welfare; for as you do so aversions will pass away.
11.
"Grow in poised equanimity; for as you do so all repugnance will pass away.
12. "Grow in contemplation of the body's corruption; for as you do so passion will pass away.
13.
"Grow in perception of the fleeting nature of things; for as you do so the pride of
self will fall away."
14.
Thus spoke the Lord. Glad at heart, Rahula rejoiced in what the Lord had said.
§
5. Last Meeting between the Buddha and Sariputta
1. The Blessed Lord was staying in Shravasti in the Jetavana in the Gaudhakuti Vihar.
2. Sariputta arrived there with a company of five hundred brethren.
3.
After saluting the Blessed One Sariputta told him that the last day of his life on earth
had arrived. Will the Blessed Lord be pleased to permit him to give up his mortal coils?
4.
The Blessed Lord asked Sariputta if he had selected any place for his parinibbana.
5.
Sariputta told the Blessed One, " I was born in the village Nalaka in Magadha. The
house in which I was born still stands. I have chosen my home for my parinibbana."
6.
The Lord replied, " Dear Sariputta! Do what pleases you."
7.
Sariputta fell on the feet of the Blessed Lord arid said, "I have practised the
paramitas for one thousand Kalpas with only one wish, to have the honour of falling on
your feet. I have achieved that end and there is no end to my happiness."
8.
' "We do not believe in rebirth. Therefore this is our last meeting. Let the Lord
forgive me my faults. My last day has come."
9.
" Sariputta! There is nothing to forgive," said the Lord.
10.
When Sariputta rose to go, the Lord in his honour got up and stood up on the verandah of
the Gauohakuti Vihar.
11.
Then Sariputta said to the Blessed Lord, "I was happy when I saw you first. I am
happy to see you now. I know this is the last darshan
of you I am having. I shall not have your darshan
again."
12.
Joining together the palms of his hand he walked away without showing his back to the
Blessed Lord.
13.
Then the Blessed Lord said to the assembled brethren—"Follow your Elder
Brother," and the assembly for the first time left the Blessed Lord and went after
Sariputta.
14.
Sariputta on reaching his village died in his home in the very room in which he was born.
15.
He was cremated and his ashes were taken to the Blessed Lord.
16.
On receiving the ashes the Blessed Lord said to the brethren-"He was the wisest, he
had no acquisitive instinct, he was energetic and industrious, he hated sin, ye brethren
see his ashes. He was as strong as the earth in his forgiveness, he never allowed anger to
enter his mind, he was never controlled by any desire, he had conquered all his passions,
he was full of sympathy, fellowship and love."
17.
About that time Mahamogallan was then living in a solitary Vihar near Rajagraha. He was
murdered by some assassins employed by the enemies of the Blessed Lord.
18.
The sad news of his end was conveyed to the Blessed One. Sariputta and Mahamogallan were
his two chief disciples. They were called Dharma-Senapati —Defenders of the Faith.
The Blessed Lord depended upon them to continue the spread of his gospel.
19.
The Blessed Lord was deeply affected by their death in his lifetime.
20.
He did not like to stay in Shravasti and to relieve his mind he decided to move on.
1.
Farewell to Vesali.
2.
Halt at Pava.
3.
Arrival at Klishinara.
§
1.
Farewell to Vesali
1.
Before he set on his last journey the Blessed Lord was staying at Rajagraha on the
Vulture's Peak.
2.
After staying there for some time he said: " Come Ananda, let us go to
Ambalathika."
3.
"So be it Lord ! " said Ananda in assent, and the Blessed One, with a large
company of the brethren, proceeded to Ambalathika.
4.
After staying at Ambalathika he moved on to Nalanda.
5.
From Nalanda he went to Pataligama, the capital of Magadha.
6.
From Pataligama he went to Kotigam and from Kotigam he went to Nadika.
7.
At each of these places he stopped for a few days and delivered a religious discourse
either to the brethren or the householders.
8.
From Nadika he went to Vesali.
9.
Vesali was the birth-place of Mahavira and consequently a stronghold of his faith.
10.
But the Blessed Lord soon succeeded in converting the people of Vesali to his own faith.
11.
It is said that owing to drought, a famine ravaged the city of Vesali to such an extent
that people died in large numbers.
12.
The people of Vesali complained of it in a general assembly convoked by them.
13.
The assembly after much discussion decided to invite the Blessed Lord to the city.
14.
A Lichchavi by name Mahali, a friend of King Bimbisara and son of the chaplain of Vesali,
was sent to offer the invitation.
15.
The Blessed Lord accepted the invitation and started with five hundred Bhikkhus. As soon
as he entered the territory of the Vajjins there was a thunderstorm, rain fell in torrents
and famine disappeared.
16.
This is the origin of the welcome which the people of Vesali gave to the Blessed Lord.
17.
Having won their hearts it was natural that the people of Vesali should give him a warm
response.
18.
Then came vasa. The Blessed Lord went to Beluna
for his vasa and asked the brethren to make
their vasa in Vesali.
19.
After finishing his vasa the Lord came to Vesali
with a mind to leave Vesali and move on his journey.
20.
So the Blessed Lord early one morning robed himself,
and taking his bowl, entered Vesali for alms; and when he had passed through Vesali and
eaten his meal he gazed at Vesali with an elephant's look and addressed the venerable
Ananda and said: "This will be the last time Ananda that the Tathagatha will behold
Vesali."
21.
Thus saying he bade farewell to the people of Vesali.
22.
He gave to the Lichchavis, when they took leave of him at the old city on their northern
frontier, his alms-bowl as a memento.
23.
It was his last visit to Vesali. He did not live to return to it again.
§
2. Halt at Pava
1.
From Vesali the Blessed Lord went to Bhandagam.
2.
From Bhandagam he went to Hatthi-gam to Bhoga-Nagara.
3.
And from Bhoga-Nagara he went to Pava.
4.
At Pava the Blessed One stayed at the mango grove of one blacksmith by name Chunda.
5.
Now Chunda heard that the Blessed One had come to Pava and was staying in his mango grove.
6.
Chunda went to the mango grove and sat near the Blessed One, who gave him a religious
discourse.
7.
Gladdened by it Chunda addressed the Blessed One and said: " May the Blessed One do
me the honour of taking his meal together with the brethren, at my house tomorrow."
8.
And the Blessed One signified, by silence, his consent. Seeing that the Blessed One had
consented, Chunda departed thence.
9.
Next day Chunda made ready in his dwelling-place sweet rice and cakes and some preparation
of Sukara-Madhava. And he announced the hour to
the Blessed One, saying: " The hour, Lord, has come, and the meal is ready."
10.
And the Blessed One robed himself and taking his bowl went with the brethren to the
dwelling-place of Chunda and partook of the food prepared by him.
11.
Again after the meal the Blessed One gave a discourse on religion to Chunda, then rose
from his seat and departed thence.
12.
The food offered by Chunda did not agree with the Blessed One. There fell upon him a dire
sickness, the disease of dysentery, and sharp and shooting pain came upon him even unto
death.
13.
But the Blessed One, mindful and self-possessed, bore it without complaint.
14.
Returning to the mango grove and after nature was relieved, the Blessed One told Ananda:
" Come let us go to Kushinara" and the party moved from Pava.
§
3. Arrival at Kushinara
1.
The Blessed Lord walked for part of the way. He soon felt the need for some rest.
2.
On the way the Blessed One went aside from the path to the foot of a certain tree and said
to Ananda: "Fold, I pray you, Ananda, the robe; and spread it out for me. I am weary,
Ananda, and must rest awhile! "
3.
" Even so, Lord!" said the venerable Ananda, in assent, to the Blessed One, and
spread out the robe folded fourfold.
4.
And the Blessed One seated himself on the seat prepared for him.
5.
And when he was seated, the Blessed One addressed the venerable Ananda, and said: "
Fetch me. I pray you, Ananda, some water. I am thirsty, Ananda, and would drink."
6.
Ananda replied: " This river Kakuttha is not far off, is clear and pleasant, cool and
transparent, easy to get down into and delightful. There the Blessed One may both drink
the water and cool his limbs. The water of this stream is foul and turbid."
7.
The Blessed One was too weak to walk down to the river. He preferred to have the water of
the nearby stream.
8.
Ananda brought the water and the Blessed One drank it.
9.
After resting for a while the Blessed One with the company of the brethren went on to the
river Kakuttha; and when he had come there, he went down into the water, and bathed, and
drank. And coming out again on the other side he went on to the mango grove.
10.
And when he came there he again asked his robe to be spread out, saying: " I am weary
and would lie down." The robe was accordingly spread out and the Blessed One laid
himself down on it.
11.
After resting for a while the Blessed One got up and said to Ananda: " Let us go on
to the Sala grove of the Mallas, the Upavana of Kushinara on the further side of the river
Hiranyavatti."
12.
On reaching the place in the company of Ananda, he again asked Ananda to spread his robe
between the twin Sala trees. " I am weary and would lie down."
13.
Ananda spread the robe and the Blessed One laid himself down on it.
PART
III : HIS END
1.
The Appointment of a Successor.
2.
The Last Convert.
3.
Last Words.
4.
Ananda in Grief.
5.
The Lament of the Mallas and the Joy of a Bhikkhu.
6.
The Last Rites.
7.
Quarrel Over Ashes.
8.
Loyalty to the Buddha.
§
1.
The Appointment of a Successor
1.
The Exalted One was at one time sojourning among the Sakyans in the mango grove of the
Sakyan family named the archers.
2.
Now at that time Nataputta the Nigantha had just died at Pava. And at his death the
Niganthas became disunited and divided into two parties, in mutual strife and conflict,
quarrelling and wounding each other with wordy weapons.
3.
Now Chunda, the novice, having passed the rainy season at Pava, came to see the venerable
Ananda and said: "Nataputta, sir, the Nigantha had just died at Pava. And he being
dead the Niganthas have become disunited and divided and are quarrelling and wounding one
another. This is because they are without a protector."
4.
Then said the venerable Ananda, " Friend Chunda, this is a worthy subject to bring
before the Exalted One. Let us go to him, and tell him about it."
5.
" Very good, sir," replied Chunda.
6.
So the venerable Ananda and Chunda, the novice, sought out the Exalted One and saluting
him, told him about the Niganthas and pleaded the necessity of appointing a successor.
7.
The Blessed Lord on hearing what Chunda had said, replied: " But consider Chunda,
where a teacher hath arisen in the world, Arahat, supremely enlightened: where a doctrine
hath been well set forth, well imparted, effectual for guidance, conducive to peace; but
where his disciples have not become proficient in good Norm, nor has it been made a thing
of saving grace to them, well proclaimed among men when their teacher passes away.
8.
"Now for such a teacher to die, Chunda, is a great affliction for his disciples and a
great danger to his Dhamma.
9.
" But consider, Chunda, where a teacher has appeared in the world who is
all-enlightened; where the Norm has been well set forth, well imparted, effectual for
guidance, conducive to peace, and where the disciples have become proficient in the good
Norm, and where the full scope of the higher life has become manifest to them when that
teacher passes away.
10.
" Now for such a teacher, Chunda, to die is not an affliction for his disciples. Why
then have a successor ? "
11.
When Ananda raised the same question on another occasion the Blessed Lord said: "What
think you Ananda? Do you observe even a couple of almsmen at variance about what I have
taught ? "
12.
" No. But those who are about the Lord might after his death, stir up quarrel in the
con-fraternity respecting the regimen or of the code and such quarrels would make for
general grief. "
13.
"Of little concern, Ananda, are quarrels respecting rigours of regimen or of the code
; it is possible quarrels in the confraternity about the path which really matter,"
said the Blessed Lord.
14.
" These disputes about the path cannot be settled by a dictator. What then a
successor can do unless he acts as a dictator.
15.
" The controversies regarding the path cannot be settled by a dictator.
16.
"The decision of a controversy should be reached by the fraternity. The whole
conjoint body should assemble and thrash out the matter till there is agreement and then
to settle it conformably with such agreement.
17.
" Majority agreements is the way to settle the disputes and not the appointment of a
successor."
§'2.
The Last Convert
1. Now
at that time Subhadda the Wanderer was staying at Kusinara. And Subhadda the Wanderer
heard the rumour, " This very day, it is said, in the last watch of the night will be
the final passing away of Gotama the recluse." Then this thought came to Subhadda the
Wanderer.
2. "Thus
have I heard it said by other wanderers who are old and far gone in years, both teachers
and disciples; ' Rarely, rarely do Tathagatas arise in the world, they, who are Arahats,
fully Enlightened Ones, And here tonight, in the last watch, will be the final passing
away of Gotama, the recluse. Now a doubt VII
has arisen in my mind and I am assured of Gotama, the recluse. Gotama, the recluse, can
show me a teaching, so that I may dispel this doubting state of mine."
3.
Then Subhadda the Wanderer went towards the branch road to the Sala grove of the Mallas,
where the venerable Ananda was, and coming there he told the venerable Ananda what he had
thought and he exclaimed: " 0 Master Ananda ! If only I could get a sight of Gotama
the recluse ! "
4.
At these words the venerable Ananda said to Subhadda the Wanderer: " Enough, friend
Subhadda! Trouble not the Master! The Exalted One is wearied."
5.
Then a second and yet a third time did Subhadda the Wanderer make the same request, and
got the same reply.
6.
Now the Exalted One overheard this talk between the venerable Ananda and Subhadda the
Wanderer. And He called to the venerable Ananda, saying, " Enough, Ananda! prevent
not Subhadda. Let Subhadda be permitted to see the Tathagata. Whatsoever Subhadda shall
ask of me, he will ask it all from a desire to know, not from a desire to trouble me. And
whatever I shall say in answer, that will be quickly understood."
7.
So then the venerable Ananda said to Subhadda the Wanderer, " Go you in, friend
Subhadda. The Exalted One gives you leave."
8.
So Subhadda the Wanderer went in to the Exalted One, and coming to Him greeted Him
pleasantly, and after the exchange of friendly compliments he sat down at one side. So
seated, Subhadda the Wanderer thus addressed the Exalted One:
9.
" Master Gotama, all those recluses and Brahmins who have followings and companies of
listeners, who are teachers of companies, well known, renowned founders of sects, esteemed
as holy men by the multitude, men like Purana Kassapa, Makkhali of the Cow-pen, Ajita of
hairshirt, Kacchayana of the Pakudha tree, Sanjaya, son of Belatthi, and Nigantha of the Natha clan,—have all
these, as they say, realised by their own knowledge the truth of things, or have they not
one and all so realised, or have some realised and others not realised it, by their own
knowledge ? "
10.
" Let be, Subhadda ! Trouble not yourself about such things, as to whether one and
all or some have realised or not. I will show you the Norm, Subhadda. Do you listen
carefully. Apply your mind. I will speak."
11.
" Even so. Lord," said Subhadda the Wanderer and gave heed to the Exalted One.
Then the Exalted One said this:
12.
"ln whatsoever Norm-discipline, Subhadda, the Ariyan Eightfold Path is not found,
therein also no recluse is found. And in whatsoever Norm-discipline, Subhadda, the Ariyan
Eightfold Path is found, therein also is found a recluse.
13.
"Now in this Norm-discipline (of mine), Subhadda, the Ariyan Eightfold Path is found.
Herein also is found a recluse of these four degrees. Void of recluses are the other sects
of disputants. But if, Subhadda, in this one, brethren were to live the perfect life, the
world would not be void of arahats.
14.
" My age was nine and twenty years when I went forth to seek the Good.
15.
" Now fifty years and more are gone, Subhadda, since I left the world to range the
Norm of Righteousness."
16.
And when he had thus spoken, Subhadda the Wanderer said to the Exalted One: "Most
excellent are these words of thy mouth, most excellent.
17.
" Just as if a man were to set up that
which is thrown down, or were to reveal that which is hidden away, or were to point out
the right road to him who has gone astray or were to bring a lamp into darkness, so that
those who have eyes can see. 18. " Just even so, has the truth been made known to me
by the Exalted One. And I, even I betake myself to the Exalted One as my refuge, to the
truth and to the Order."
19.
"Whosoever, Subhadda, has formerly been a follower of another doctrine and thereafter
wishes to VII enter the Order remains
on probation for the space of four months."
20.
" If that is the rule I too will remain on probation."
21.
But the Exalted One said, "I acknowledge the difference in persons." So saying
he called the venerable Ananda and told Ananda, " As it is, Ananda, receive Subhadda
into the Order."
22.
" Even so. Lord! " said the venerable
Ananda, in assent to the Exalted One.
23.
And Subhadda the Wanderer said to the venerable Ananda: " Great is your gain, friend
Ananda, great is your good fortune, friend Ananda, in that you all have been sprinkled
with the sprinkling of discipleship in this brotherhood at the hands of the Master
himself."
24.
" The same is true of you, Subhadda," replied Ananda.
25.
So Subhadda the Wanderer was received into the Order under the orders of the Exalted One.
He was the last disciple whom the Exalted One himself converted.
§
3. Last Words
1.
Then said the Exalted One to the venerable Ananda:
2.
" It may be, Ananda, that you will say: ' Gone is the word of the Master: we have no
longer any Master now!' But you must not so regard it, Ananda; for the Norm and discipline
taught and enjoyed by me, they shall be your teachers when I am gone.
3.
"Now, Ananda, whereas the brethren have the habit of calling one another '
friend,'—when I am gone this habit must not be followed. By an elder brother, Ananda,
a brother who is a novice should be called by his name or clan name or by the word '
friend ' : but by a novice, Ananda, an elder brother should be addressed as ' Lord ' or '
Your reverence.'
4.
" Again, Ananda, if the Order so desires, when I am gone, let it abolish the lesser
and minor charges.
5.
" You know, Ananda, the brother Channa. How obstinate, perverse and devoid of the
sense of discipline he is.
6.
" And to him, Ananda, let the extreme penalty be applied when I am gone."
7.
" What, Lord, do you mean by ' the extreme penalty ' ? "
8.
" The brother Channa, Ananda, whatever he may say, is not to be spoken to, not to be
admonished, not to be instructed by the brethren. He should be left alone. It might
improve him."
9.
Then the Exalted One addressed the brethren :
10.
" It may be, brothers, that in the mind of some one brother there is doubt or
perplexity, either about the Buddha, or about the Norm, or the Order, or the Path, or the
Way to the Path. If it be so, brothers, do ye ask now. Be not hereafter remorseful at the
thought, ' Here was our Master face to face with us, and yet we had not the heart to
question the Exalted One, though we were in His very presence.' "
11.
At these words the brethren were silent.
12.
Then a second time and yet a third time did the Exalted One address the brethren in the same words. And a
third time the brethren were silent.
13.
Then said the Exalted One: "May be, brethren, it is out of respect for the Master
that ye ask not. Speak to me, then, as friend to friend, brethren."
14.
Whereat those brethren were silent.
15.
Then exclaimed the venerable Ananda to the Exalted One: " Strange it is, Lord ! A
marvel it is, Lord! Thus assured am I, Lord, of this Order of Brethren. There is not any
one brother that has a single doubt or perplexity as to the Buddha, the Norm, the Order,
or as to the Path, or the Way to the Path."
16.
" You speak out of assurance, Ananda. But in the Tathagata there is knowledge of the
fact. There is not in any one brother a single doubt or perplexity as to this. Of these
five hundred brethren of mine, Ananda, even he who is the most backward is a
stream-winner, one who is assured from the Downfall, assured of reaching the Supreme
Wisdom."
17.
Then said the Exalted One to the brethren :
18.
" Come now, brethren, I do remind ye, ' Subject to decay are all compounded things'
Do ye abide in heedfulness." 19. Those were the last words of the Exalted One.
§
4, Ananda in Grief
1.
As age advanced the Blessed Lord required a personal attendant to look after him.
2.
He first chose Nanda. After Nanda he chose Ananda who served as his personal attendant
till his death.
3.
Ananda was his constant and dearest companion, not merely an attendant.
4.
When the Blessed One came to Kushinara and rested between the Sal trees, he saw that his
end was coming near, and felt that it was time he took Ananda into confidence.
5.
So he called Ananda and said: " And now this Ananda, at the third watch of the night,
in the Uppavana of Kushinara. between the twin Sal trees, the utter passing away of the
Tathagata will take place."
6.
And when he had thus spoken the venerable Ananda addressed the Blessed One, and said:
"Vouchsafe, Lord, to remain during the Kalpa, 0 Blessed One!, for the good and the
happiness of the great multitudes, out of pity for the world, for the good and the gain
and the weal of gods and men."
7.
Three times did Ananda make his plea. " Enough now, Ananda, beseech not the Tathagata
! " was the reply. " The time for
making such request is past."
8.
" I, Ananda, am now grown old, and full of years, my journey is drawing to a close. I
have reached my sum of days. I am turning eighty years of age; and just as a worn-out cart
must give way some day, methinks, the same must happen to the body of the Tathagata."
Hearing this, Ananda left.
9.
Not seeing Ananda, the Blessed One called the brethren, and said: "Where then is
Ananda?" " The venerable Ananda is gone and is weeping," said the brethren.
10.
And the Blessed One called a certain brother and said: " Go now brother, and call
Ananda in my name and say, ' Brother Ananda, the Master calls for thee ' "
11.
"Even so, Lord!" said that brother.
12.
When Ananda came back he took his seat by the side of the Blessed One.
13.
Then the Blessed One said to Ananda: " Enough, Ananda! Do not weep! Have I not
already, on former occasions, told you that it is in the very nature of things most near
and dear unto us that we must divide ourselves from them, leave them, sever ourselves from
them?
14.
" For a long time, Ananda, you have been very near to me by acts of love, kind and
good, beyond all measure.
15.
"You have done well, Ananda! Beearnest in effort and you too shall be free from the
great evils—from sensuality, from individuality, from delusion, and from
ignorance."
16.
Then addressing the brethren about Ananda the Blessed One said: " He is a wise man,
brethren, is Ananda.
17.
"He knows when it is the right time to come and visit the Tathagata, and when it is
the right time for brethren and sisters of the Order, for devout men and devout women, for
a king, or for a king's ministers, for other teachers and disciples, to visit the
Tathagata.
18.
"Brethren, there are these four special things about Ananda.
19.
" All are happy to visit Ananda. They are filled with joy on beholding him; they are
happy to hear him. They are ill at ease when Ananda is silent."
20.
After this Ananda again returned to the subject of the passing away of the Tathagata.
Addressing the Blessed One, he said: "Let not the Blessed One die in this wattled and
daub town in the midst of the jungle. For Lord there are great cities, such as Champa,
Rajagraha, Savathi, Saketa, Kosambi and Benares. Let the Blessed One die in one of them.
"
21.
" Say not so, Ananda! Say not so, Ananda. This Kushinara, Ananda, was the capital of
king Maha-Sudassana under the name of Keshavati."
22.
Thereafter the Blessed One gave Ananda two errands.
23.
He told Ananda to see that belief does not spread that the Blessed One died as a result of
the food given to Him by Chunda. He feared that Chunda might suffer. He asked Ananda to
disabuse the mind of the public on this score.
24.
The second thing he told Ananda was to inform the Mallas of Kushinara that the Blessed One
had arrived there and would pass away in the last watch of the night.
25.
" Give no occasion to reproach yourself. The Mallas may say : ' In our own village
the death of our Tathagata took place and we did not know and had no opportunity of seeing
him in his last hours.'"
26.
Thereafter the venerable Anurudha and the
venerable Ananda spent the rest of the night in religious discourse.
27.
And in the third part of the night, as previously announced, the Blessed One breathed his
last.
28.
When the Blessed One died, the brethren and Ananda stretched out their arms and wept, and
some even fell headlong on the ground, rolling to and fro in anguish, saying: " Too
soon has the Blessed One died! Too soon has the Happy One passed away from existence! Too
soon has the Light gone out of the world ! " 29. It was at midnight on Vaishakha
Paurnima that the Blessed Lord breathed his last. The year of his death was 483 b.c. 30. As the Pali text truly says: Diva tapati addicco Ratin abhati candima; Sannaddho
khathio tapati Jhayi tapati brahamano; Atha Sabbain ahorattain Buddho tapati tejasa.
31.
"The sun shines only in the day and the moon makes bright the night. The warrior
shines when he is in his armour. And the Brahmin when he is meditating. But the Buddha
shines over all by day as well as by night by his own glory.
32.
"He was beyond question the light of the world."
§
5. The Lament of the Mallas and the Joy of a Bhikkhu
1.
As desired by the Blessed One, Ananda went and informed the Mallas of the event.
2.
And when they heard of this the Mallas, their wives, their young men and maidens were
grieved and sad and afflicted at heart.
3.
Some of them wept, dishevelling their hair, and stretched forth their arms and fell
prostrate on the ground.
4.
Then the Mallas, with their young men and maidens and their wives, went to the Sala grove
in the Upavaana to have the last look of the Blessed One.
5.
Then the venerable Ananda thought: "lf I allow the Mallas of Kushinara one by one it
will take a long time for them to pay homage to the dead body of the Blessed One."
6.
So he decided to arrange them in groups, family by family. Each family then bowed humbly
at the feet of the Blessed One and parted.
7.
Now at the time the venerable Maha Kassapa was journeying along the high road from Pava to
Kushinara with a great company of the brethren.
8.
Just at the time a certain naked ascetic was coming along the high road to Pava.
9.
And the venerable Maha Kassapa saw the naked ascetic coming in the distance; and when he
had seen him he said to the naked ascetic: " 0 friend! Surely VII thou knowest our Master?"
10.
"Yes, friend ! I know him." "This day the Samana Gotama has been dead a
week!"
11.
Immediately on hearing the news the brethren were overcome with grief and started weeping.
12.
Now at that time a brother named Sub-hadda, who had been received into the Sangh in his
old age, was seated in their company.
13.
And this Subhadda addressed the brethren and said: "Enough brethren! Weep not,
neither lament! We are well rid of the great Samana. We used to be annoyed by being told,
* This beseems you, this beseems you not.' But' now we shall be able to do whatever we
like: and what we do not like, that we shall not have to do ! Isn't it good he is dead?
Why weep, why lament ? It is a matter of joy."
14.
So great and harsh a disciplinarian the Blessed One was.
§
6. The Last Rites
1.
Then the Mallas of Kushinara said to the venerable Ananda: "What should be done with
the remains of the Tathagata?"
2.
" As men treat the remains of a king of kings, so should you treat the remains of the
Tathagata" replied Ananda.
3.
"And how do they treat the remains of a king of kings?"
4.
Ananda told them: " They wrap the body of a king of kings in a new cloth. When that
is done they wrap it in cotton-wool. When that is done they wrap it in a new cloth and so
on till they have wrapped the body in five hundred successive layers of both kinds. Then
they place the body in an oil vessel of iron and cover that close up with another oil
vessel of iron.
They then build a funeral pile of all
kinds. This is the way in which they treat the remains of a king of kings."
5.
"So be it," said the Mallas.
6.
Then the Mallas of Kushinara said : " It is VII
much too late to burn the body of the Blessed One today. Let us now perform the
cremation tomorrow."
7.
And the Mallas of Kushinara gave orders to their attendants, saying: "Make
preparations for the funeral of the Tathagata and gather perfumes and garlands and the
musicians of Kushinara."
8.
But in paying honour, reverence, respect, and homage to the remains of the Tathagata with
dancing, and hymns and music and with garlands and perfumes; and in making canopies of
their garments, and preparing decoration wreath to hand thereon, they passed the second
day too, and then the third day, and the fourth and fifth and the sixth day also.
9.
Then on the seventh day the Mallas of Kushinara thought: "Let us carry the body of
the Blessed One and let us perform the cremation ceremony."
10.
And thereupon eight chieftains among the Mallas bathed their heads, and dad themselves in
new garments with the intention of acting as pall-bearers carrying the body of the Blessed
One.
11.
They carried the dead body to the Shrine of the Mallas, called Makuta-bandhana; to the
east of the city and there they laid down the body of the Blessed One and set fire to it.
12.
After some time the mortal remains of the Blessed One were reduced to ashes.
§
7. Quarrel Over Ashes
1. After
the body of the Blessed One had been consumed by fire, the Mallas of Kushinara collected
the ashes and the bones of the Blessed One and placed them in their Council Hall with a
lattice work of spears and with a rampart of bows; and guarded them against anybody
stealing them or any part of them.
2. For
seven days the Mallas paid honour and reverence and respect and homage to them with dance
and song and music and with garlands and perfumes.
3.
Now the King of Magadha, Ajatasatru, heard the news that the Blessed One had died at
Kushinara.
4.
He, therefore, sent a messenger to the Mallas with a request for a portion of the relics
of the Blessed One.
5.
Similarly messengers came from the Licchavis of Vaishali, from the Sakyas of Kapilavastu,
from the Bulis of Attakappa, from the Koliyas of Ramagama and from the Mallas of Pava.
6.
Among the claimants for ashes there was also a Brahmin of Vethadipa.
7.
When they heard these claims, the Mallas of Kushinara said: " The Blessed One died in
our village. We will not give away any part of the remains of the Blessed One. They belong
to us."
8.
Seeing that the situation was tense a Brahmin by name Drona intervened and said:
"Hear, reverend sirs, one single word from me."
9.
Said Drona: "Forbearance was our Buddha to teach; unseemly is it that over the
division of the remains of him who was the best of beings, strife should arise, and wounds
and war !
10.
" Let us all, sirs, with one accord unite in friendly harmony to make eight portions.
Widespread let stupas arise in every land that the Enlightened One from all parts be
reverenced."
11.
The Mallas of Kushinara agreed and said: "Do thou then, 0 Brahmin, thyself, divide
the remains equally into eight parts, with fair division."
12.
" Be it so, sir!" said' Drona in assent.
13.
And he divided the remains of the Blessed One equally into eight parts.
14.
After making the division Drona said to them: " Give me, sirs, this vessel. I will
set up over it a stupa."
15.
And they agreed to give the vessel to him.
16.
Thus the ashes of the Blessed One were shared and the quarrel was settled peacefully and
amicably.
§8.
Loyalty to the Buddha
1.
Shravasti was the occasion (of these events)....
2.
Now on that occasion a number of monks were VII
busied with .making a robe for the Exalted One, with this idea : When the robe is
finished, in three months' time, the Exalted One will go forth on his rounds:
3.
Now at that time Isidatta and Purana, the chamberlains, were staying at Sadhuka on some
business or other. Then they heard the news: "They say that a number of monks are
busied with making a robe for the Exalted One with this idea: When the robe is finished,
in three months' time, the Exalted One will go forth upon his rounds."
4.
So Isidatta and Purana, the chamberlains, sta-tioned a man on the high-road (thus
instructing him) : " Now, good fellow, as soon as you see that Exalted One, that
Arahat, that perfectly Enlightened One coming along, do you come and inform us."
5.
So after standing there two or three days that man saw the Exalted One coming along, while
yet some distance off, and he went to inform the chamberlains, Isidatta and Purana,
saying: " Here comes my lord, the Exalted One, that Arahat, that perfectly
Enlightened One ! Now's the time for you to do what you want!"
6.
So Isidatta and Purana, the chamberlains, went towards the Exalted One, and on coming to
him, saluted him, and followed behind the Exalted One step for step.
7.
Then the Exalted One turned aside from the high road and went to the foot of a certain
tree and there sat down on a seat made ready. And Isidatta and Purana, the chamberlains,
saluting the Exalted One, also sat down at one side. As they thus sat, they said this to the Exalted One:
8.
"Lord, when we heard of the Exalted One that he would go forth on his rounds among
the Ko-salans, at that time we were disappointed and depressed at the thought : the
Exalted One will be far from us.
9."
And when. Lord, we learned that the Exalted One was starting out from Shravasti on his
rounds among the Kosalans, again we were disappointed and depressed at the thought: The
Exalted One will be far from us.
10.
" Again, lord, when we learned that the Exalted One would leave the Kosalans and go
on his rounds among the Mallas . . . that he was actually doing so . . . we were
disappointed and depressed.
11.
"On hearing that the Exalted One would leave the Mallas and go on his rounds among
the Vajji . . . that he was actually doing so . . . that he would leave the Vajji for Kasi
. . . that he was doing so . . . that he would leave the folk of Kasi and go on his rounds
in Magadha . . . that he was actually doing so . . . again we were disappointed and
depressed . . ..
12.
"But, Lord, when we heard that the Exalted One would leave the Magadhas for Kasi and
was doing so, then we were delighted and elated at the thought: The Exalted One will be
quite near us.
13. "And when we heard that he was actually going his rounds in Kasi among the Magadhas, we were likewise delighted and elated.
14.
(They continue to trace the Master's steps from Kasi to the Vajji . . . from the Vajji to
the Mallas . . . from the Mallas to the Kosalans in like terms.)
15. " But, Lord, when we heard that the Exalted One would be going on his rounds from the Kosalans to Savatthi, we were delighted and elated at the thought: Now the Exalted One will be quite near us !
16. " Then, when we heard: 'The Exalted One is staying at Shravasti, at Jeta grove, in Anathapindika's . Park.' Then, Lord, boundless was our delight and boundless our elation at the thought : The Exalted One is near us ! "