BUDDHA

Indian

The death of the Buddha is lihe that of Oedipus, Moses, and Abraham in that it represents a final release from the restrictions of the body. Death is the Buddhist’s gateway to Nirvana or perfect atonement with all things.

This was the manner of Buddha’s death, called Barinirvana, or Final Release. In the forty-fifth year of his ministry the Buddha suffered from a severe illness, and declared that he would not live long. While residing in the city of Pawa he was entertained by a good smith named Chunda. He prepared an offering of pork, which was the cause of a sickness resulting in death. Buddha became very faint, and though he set out for Kushinagara, had to rest many times on the way. All this was endured that others might be reminded that none are exempt from old age, decay, and death. At last the Buddha reached the city, and there he addressed Ananda as follows: “Inform the smith Chunda that his offering will bring a great reward, for it

Will be the immediate cause of my attaining Nirvana. There are, indeed, two offerings which will bring great reward: one was given by the lady Sujata before I reached the supreme wisdom, the other has just now been made by Chunda. These are the two foremost gifts.” The Buddha spoke thus lest Chunda should feel remorse, or should be blamed by others; but he had j given strict orders that the remainder of the offering was to be buried. Buddha lay down on a couch in a grove of sal-trees near Kushinagara. He sent a message informing the Malwa princes of his arrival, knowing that their regret, if he died without their once more beholding him, would be very great. Thus it was that a great company of kings and princes, nobles lo and ladies of the court, beside innumerable priests, and the devas and brahmas of the ten thousand worlds, assembled about the Buddha’s death-bed.

All these wept and wrung their hands, and bowed themselves to the ground in their grief. This occasion has been made the subject of countless pictures, similar in sentiment to the Christian Pietas. 15

Buddha inquired if the priests had any last questions to put to him but as they had no doubts on any point they remained silent. A Brahman of Kushinagara, however, arrived, and desired to argue certain matters; Buddha would not have him denied, and in the end he became a disciple. None of his disciples was more stricken with grief than Ananda. Buddha 20 had given him instructions about his burial and about the rules to be observed by the monks and nuns. Then he said: “Now I depart to Nirvana;

I leave with you my ordinances; the elements of the all-knowing one will indeed pass away, but the three gems will remain.” But Ananda broke down and wept bitterly. Then Buddha continued: “O Ananda, do not let 2S yourself be troubled; do not weep. Have I not taught you that we must part from all that we hold most dear and pleasant? No being soever born or created can overcome the tendency to dissolution inherent in itself; a condition of permanence is impossible. For a long time, Ananda, your kindness in act and thought and speech has brought you very near to me. You have always 30 done well; persevere and you, too, shall win to perfect freedom from this thirst of life, this chain of ignorance.” Then he turned to the other mourners and commended Ananda to them. He said also that the least of those present who had entered the path to Release should never entirely fail, but should at last prevail and reach Nirvana. After a pause he said again: 35

“Mendicants, I now impress it upon you that the parts and powers of man must be dissolved; work out your salvation with diligence.” Shortly afterward the Buddha became unconscious and passed away.

The Malwa princes, after they had a little recovered from their sorrow, wrapped the body in fold upon fold of finest cloth, and for six days the 40 body lay in state. Then it was burnt on a magnificent pyre in the coronation hall of the princes. They were unable to set fire to the pyre, but in the end it ignited spontaneously. The body was entirely consumed, leaving only the relics like a heap of pearls. The chief of these, afterward enshrined in glorious monuments, were the four teeth, two cheek-bones, and the skull. 45

(A. K. Coomaraswanay and Sister Nivedita, Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists, pp. 283-285.)