{"id":232,"date":"2025-12-29T06:50:55","date_gmt":"2025-12-29T06:50:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gatewaytoinsight.org\/?p=232"},"modified":"2026-01-01T10:29:18","modified_gmt":"2026-01-01T10:29:18","slug":"life-of-the-buddha-23","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gatewaytoinsight.org\/?p=232","title":{"rendered":"Life of the Buddha 23"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Chapter 23: The Parinibb\u0101na Chapter<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

(The Places of the Buddha’s Residence)<\/p>\n\n

(1) The Blessed One, of infinite wisdom, from the time he attained enlightenment, wandered and proclaimed the Buddha’s teachings, leading many people in various regions to enter the Buddhist path through this practice. The places where he stayed to proclaim the Dhamma and Vinaya are eighteen in number.<\/p>\n\n

The first rains retreat, he stayed in the Isipatana Deer Park near the city of B\u0101r\u0101\u1e47as\u012b.<\/p>\n\n

The second, third, and fourth rains retreats, he stayed in the Ve\u1e37uvana monastery near the city of R\u0101jagaha.<\/p>\n\n

The fifth rains retreat, he stayed in the K\u016b\u1e6d\u0101g\u0101ras\u0101l\u0101 in the Mah\u0101vana forest near the city of Ves\u0101l\u012b.<\/p>\n\n

The sixth rains retreat, he stayed on the Maku\u1e37a mountain in the land of Magadha.<\/p>\n\n

The seventh rains retreat, he ascended to the T\u0101vati\u1e43sa heaven to spend the rains retreat on the Pa\u1e47\u1e0dukambala stone seat, where he taught the seven books of the Abhidhamma to his mother.<\/p>\n\n

The eighth rains retreat, he stayed in the Bhesakal\u0101vana forest in the Bhagga country.<\/p>\n\n

The ninth rains retreat, he stayed in the P\u0101rileyyaka forest.<\/p>\n\n

The tenth and eleventh rains retreats, he stayed in a forest near the Brahmin village of N\u0101\u1e37aka.<\/p>\n\n

The twelfth rains retreat, he stayed under a Naleru tree, protected by the yakkha Naleru.<\/p>\n\n

The thirteenth rains retreat, he stayed on the P\u0101rileyyaka mountain.<\/p>\n\n

The fourteenth rains retreat, he stayed in the Jetavana Vih\u0101ra near the city of S\u0101vatth\u012b.<\/p>\n\n

The fifteenth rains retreat, he stayed in the Nigrodh\u0101r\u0101ma near the city of Kapilavatthu to benefit his relatives.<\/p>\n\n

The sixteenth rains retreat, he stayed in the region of \u0100\u1e37av\u012b to tame the yakkha \u0100\u1e37avaka.<\/p>\n\n

The seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth rains retreats, he stayed in the Ve\u1e37uvana monastery near the city of R\u0101jagaha.<\/p>\n\n

From the twentieth to the twenty-ninth rains retreat, he stayed in the Jetavana Mah\u0101vih\u0101ra near the city of S\u0101vatth\u012b.<\/p>\n\n

From the thirtieth to the thirty-fifth rains retreat, he stayed in the Pubb\u0101r\u0101ma monastery.
From the thirty-sixth to the forty-fourth rains retreat, he stayed in the Jetavana Mah\u0101vih\u0101ra near the city of S\u0101vatth\u012b.<\/p>\n\n

The forty-fifth rains retreat, he stayed in the village of Ve\u1e37uva.<\/p>\n\n

In total, the places where the Lord stayed number eighteen, and the total number of rains retreats is forty-five.<\/p>\n\n

(2) During these forty-five rains retreats, the Lord fulfilled the five duties of a Buddha, which all Buddhas perform in proclaiming the teachings:<\/p>\n\n

    \n
  1. Pubba<\/em>\u1e47he pi<\/em>\u1e47\u1e0dap\u0101ta<\/em>\u1e43<\/em>: In the morning, he went on his alms round.<\/li>\n\n
  2. S\u0101ya<\/em>\u1e47he dhammadesana<\/em>\u1e43<\/em>: In the afternoon, he taught the Dhamma to the general public.<\/li>\n\n
  3. Padose bhikkhu-ov\u0101da<\/em>\u1e43<\/em>: In the evening, he gave instruction to the monks.<\/li>\n\n
  4. A<\/em>\u1e0d\u1e0dharatte devapa\u00f1h\u0101na<\/em>\u1e43<\/em>: In the middle of the night, he answered the questions of the devas.<\/li>\n\n
  5. Paccuse va gate k\u0101le bhabb\u0101bhabbavilocana<\/em>\u1e43<\/em>: In the pre-dawn hours, he surveyed the world for beings who were ready and not ready for enlightenment.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    If he saw a being who was ready and could be taught by a Buddha, he would go himself to teach them. If a being was to be taught by a disciple and had the necessary conditions to be taught by a certain disciple, then the Lord, with his wisdom, would assign that disciple to go and teach them.<\/p>\n\n

    (3) The Blessed One, the master, performed these five duties of a Buddha for forty-five years. After the forty-fifth rains retreat, he departed from the village of Ve\u1e37uva and wandered on tour until the full moon day of the month of M\u0101gha[1]<\/a>, in the fifth year of the snake cycle. He was staying at the P\u0101v\u0101la Cetiya when the Victorious One relinquished his life-force, declaring to M\u0101ra, “O M\u0101ra of evil mind, be at ease. The Parinibb\u0101na of the Tath\u0101gata will not be long from now. In three months from this day, the Tath\u0101gata will enter Parinibb\u0101na.”<\/p>\n\n

    After the Blessed One relinquished his life-force in this way, there was a great earthquake, so terrifying it made one’s hair stand on end, and thunder roared. The disciples, led by the Venerable \u0100nanda, were overcome with grief and sorrow, each and every one of them. Then, the Blessed One went for alms in the city of Ves\u0101l\u012b. Returning from his alms round, he turned to look back at the city of Ves\u0101l\u012b and said to the Venerable \u0100nanda, “This is the last time the Tath\u0101gata will see the city of Ves\u0101l\u012b.” He then continued his journey to the village of Bha\u1e47\u1e0da and wandered on tour until he reached the city of Kusin\u0101r\u0101. He entered the S\u0101la grove of the Malla kings, which was the entrance to the city of Kusin\u0101r\u0101, and said to the Venerable \u0100nanda, “\u0100nanda, prepare a couch for me with its head to the north, between the twin S\u0101la trees, for the Tath\u0101gata, quickly.”<\/p>\n\n

    The Venerable \u0100nanda did as the Lord commanded. At that time, the Blessed One, with full mindfulness and clear comprehension, lay down in the lion’s posture, reclining on his right side, with his left foot placed on his right foot.<\/p>\n\n

    (4) At the time when the supreme Buddha was lying on the final deathbed, the place of his entry into Parinibb\u0101na, the Venerable Mah\u0101-\u0100nanda paid his respects and asked about various duties and practices that should be followed in the time to come.<\/p>\n\n

    He listened as the Buddha explained everything. Then he went into a vih\u0101ra, stood leaning against the doorframe, and wept, recounting many things. The supreme Teacher sent a monk to call the Venerable \u0100nanda. He praised the virtues of \u0100nanda in many ways and then sent the Venerable \u0100nanda to inform the Malla kings.<\/p>\n\n

    The Malla kings, their sons, their daughters-in-law, and their wives heard the news and were overcome with grief. Filled with sorrow, they went together into the S\u0101la grove to be with the Teacher in time. A multitude of deities also gathered, thronging the area. In the last watch of the night, the Victorious One addressed the monks, saying, “Handa d\u0101ni, bhikkhave, \u0101mantay\u0101mi vo: Vayadhamm\u0101 sa<\/em>\u1e45kh\u0101r\u0101, appam\u0101dena samp\u0101deth\u0101.<\/em>” (Behold now, monks, I exhort you: All conditioned things are subject to decay. Strive on with heedfulness.)<\/p>\n\n

    Having said this, he entered the first jh\u0101na. Emerging from the first jh\u0101na, he entered the second jh\u0101na, the third jh\u0101na, the fourth jh\u0101na, the sphere of infinite space the sphere of infinite consciousness, the sphere of nothingness, the sphere of neither perception nor non-perception, and the cessation of perception and feeling. He then emerged from the cessation of perception and feeling and descended back to the sphere of nothingness, and in reverse order all the way back to the first jh\u0101na. Then he entered them again in forward order up to the fourth jh\u0101na. Emerging from the fourth jh\u0101na, he entered Parinibb\u0101na between those two trees.<\/p>\n\n

    (5) The assembly of the Buddha’s followers, with the Malla kings of the city of Kusin\u0101r\u0101 as their leaders, made arrangements to cremate the sacred body of the Blessed One. People, along with deities, paid homage with dancing, singing, music, garlands of flowers, and perfumes for six days. On the seventh day, they moved the supreme body to carry it out to the south and to cremate it south of the royal palace, but the sacred body would not move at all. The eight Malla kings who were the leaders asked the Venerable Anuruddha. “This goes against the wishes of the devas.” They then agreed to move the supreme body, carrying it out to the north, entering the city through the northern gate, passing through the middle of the city, and exiting through the eastern gate. They then cremated the supreme body of the Blessed One at the Makutabandhana Cetiya[2]<\/a> of the Malla kings, to the east of the city.<\/p>\n\n

    (6) When the Malla kings lit the pyre, the Venerable Mah\u0101kassapa was still traveling from the land of P\u0101v\u0101 and had not yet arrived. The fire would not burn. When the Venerable Mah\u0101kassapa arrived, the pair of feet of the Ten-Powered One emerged from the golden coffin. The Venerable Mah\u0101kassapa, along with his retinue of 500 monks, paid homage to the feet, and then the pyre ignited on its own. The sacred body of the Blessed One was consumed completely, leaving no ash, like oil consumed by fire, with only the pure bone relics remaining. The Malla kings of the city of Kusin\u0101r\u0101, with their spearmen, elephant troops, horse troops, chariot troops, and soldiers of all ranks surrounding them, collected the bone relics of the Victor over M\u0101ra. They paid homage to them with dancing, singing, music, garlands, and all kinds of perfumes for another seven days in the assembly hall.<\/p>\n\n

    (7) At that time, King Aj\u0101tasattu of Magadha, son of Queen Videhi; the Licchavi princes of the city of Ves\u0101l\u012b; the Sakyan princes of the city of Kapilavatthu; the Buli princes of the city of Allakappa; the Koliya princes of the city of R\u0101mag\u0101ma; the Brahmin of Ve\u1e6dhad\u012bpa; and the princes of the city of P\u0101v\u0101 heard the news that the Blessed One had entered Parinibb\u0101na in the city of Kusin\u0101r\u0101. They sent envoys to request a share of the sacred relics. The Malla kings refused to share them, and they argued to the point where a war was about to break out over the matter. Then, the Brahmin Do\u1e47a spoke up, saying, “We should come to a peaceful and agreeable arrangement.” And he divided the sacred relics into eight equal portions. Do\u1e47a the teacher, who was in charge of the division, received only the\u00a0tumba<\/em>, the vessel that was used to measure the relics.<\/p>\n\n

    The Moriya princes of the city of Pipphalivana also sent an envoy to request a share of the sacred relics. The Malla kings said, “We have already divided all the sacred relics. You may take the embers (a<\/em>\u1e45g\u0101ra<\/em>) from the place where the cremation took place.” The Moriya princes then took the embers from the cremation site.<\/p>\n\n

    (8) At that time, King Aj\u0101tasattu of Magadha built a stupa and paid homage to the sacred relics of the Blessed One in the city of R\u0101jagaha. The Licchavi princes of the city of Ves\u0101l\u012b did so in the city of Ves\u0101l\u012b. The Sakyan princes of the city of Kapilavatthu did so in the city of Kapilavatthu. The Buli princes of the city of Allakappa did so in the city of Allakappa. The Koliya princes of R\u0101mag\u0101ma did so in R\u0101mag\u0101ma. The Brahmin of Ve\u1e6dhad\u012bpa did so in the land of Ve\u1e6dhad\u012bpa. The Malla princes of the city of P\u0101v\u0101 did so in the city of P\u0101v\u0101. The Malla princes of the city of Kusin\u0101r\u0101 did so in the city of Kusin\u0101r\u0101. The Brahmin Do\u1e47a also built one in the city of Kusin\u0101r\u0101. The Moriya princes of the city of Pipphalivana did so in the city of Pipphalivana.<\/p>\n\n

    In total, there were eight stupas enshrining the sacred relics. The total becomes nine with the stupa enshrining the measuring vessel, and ten with the stupa enshrining the embers.<\/p>\n\n

    (End of Chapter 23: The Parinibb\u0101na Chapter)<\/em><\/p>\n

    \n

    [1]<\/a> This is the day that Buddhists celebrate M\u0101gha P\u016bj\u0101 to commemorate the relinquishing of the life-force by the Blessed One.<\/p>\n\n

    [2]<\/a> The Makutabandhana Cetiya was a ceremonial hall used for the coronation of the Malla kings, hence its name. It was called a “cetiya” because it was exquisitely and artistically decorated.<\/p>\n\n

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    Chapter 23: The Parinibb\u0101na Chapter (The Places of the Buddha’s Residence) (1) The Blessed One, of infinite wisdom, from the time he attained enlightenment, wandered and proclaimed the Buddha’s teachings,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":233,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_editorskit_title_hidden":false,"_editorskit_reading_time":0,"_editorskit_is_block_options_detached":false,"_editorskit_block_options_position":"{}","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[8],"class_list":["post-232","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buddhism","tag-pandit-chhim-sumn"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gatewaytoinsight.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/232","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gatewaytoinsight.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gatewaytoinsight.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gatewaytoinsight.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gatewaytoinsight.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=232"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/gatewaytoinsight.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/232\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":438,"href":"https:\/\/gatewaytoinsight.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/232\/revisions\/438"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gatewaytoinsight.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/233"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gatewaytoinsight.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=232"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gatewaytoinsight.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=232"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gatewaytoinsight.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=232"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}