Early in the morning Gautama Buddha said to his disciples:
— More than enough has been done. This body has reached its fullness and needs rest.
He looked around and saw two very beautiful and tall trees. They stood next to each other like twins.
“I will die here,” said Buddha and pointed to the place.
The disciples did not immediately understand what the Master meant. Then they crowded around him and began to wail and cry.
Buddha told them:
- No need to cry. You will be able to cry later, when I am not with you. Now sit quietly and watch, be aware. This will give you experience, for Buddhas rarely die. Before I go, if you have any questions, please ask.
But the students had no time for questions, and they answered:
“We’ve been asking you questions for more than forty years, that’s enough.” You showed us the Way and we will follow it.
Only Ananda asked:
“During your life, you did not allow a single word of yours to be written down.” But after your death, allow us to write down what you said. The words you spoke are pure gold and must be preserved for future generations.
To this the Buddha said:
- You can write them down, but on one condition. Every entry made from my words should begin like this: “I heard Gautama Buddha say...” You simply tell what you heard. Never start like this: “Thus said the Buddha.”
After this Ananda suddenly asked:
- Tell me, finally, who am I? I lived next to you for 42 years, others came, became enlightened and left, but I am still not enlightened. And so you leave.
Buddha said:
“Don’t worry, as soon as I leave my body, within 24 hours you will become enlightened.”
Ananda said:
- I don’t understand this arithmetic, 42 years with you did not bring me enlightenment, but 24 hours without you - and I will become enlightened!
Buddha laughed and said:
“Ananda, because I was so close, you began to take me for granted. Only separation, only my death can awaken you. Less than this will not affect you. I tried everything, but you believed that I, as your brother, would take care of your enlightenment. Many times this could have happened, but you missed...
Having said this, the Buddha closed his eyes. Seeing his death approaching, Ananda asked:
—What should we do with the body of the Perfect One?
Buddha replied:
- Do not worry, Ananda, about the honors that will be given to the body of the Perfect One. Be more concerned about holiness; think about it, live in it unfailingly, live in holy zeal, striving for perfection. There are, Ananda, among noble people, brahmanas and townspeople, wise people who believe in the Perfect One, they will honor my body.
And then Ananda asked the last question:
-What's your latest news?
Buddha opened his eyes and said:
- Forget about me, be a light to yourself. Whoever finds light and refuge in the truth and does not seek them in anything other than himself, he will be my true disciple, who has entered on the true path.
He closed his eyes and, after a pause, said:
- I took the first step - I am no longer a body; I took the second step - I am no longer the mind; I took the third step - I am no longer a heart; I took the fourth step - I entered my consciousness!
After the death of the Buddha, his body was burned, and the ashes were divided among many princes and noble citizens. Each of them erected a stupa (monument of relics) and instituted a holiday. On these holidays, mountains of flowers were brought, ablutions were performed and fireworks were displayed. This celebration did not concern the monastic community.
But Buddhism was not for long a religion without God. Buddha himself became God. His statues appeared in temples. Sitting on a lotus flower with a motionless official face, how different he became from that young man who plunged into the abyss of suffering for the sake of knowing the Truth and from that old man who warned: “Seek the Truth and do not worship those who discovered it.”
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru