Buddha died of food poisoning. It happened like this.
One poor man waited many days to invite him into his home. And then one early morning he came and stood next to the tree under which Buddha was sleeping, so as to be the first to invite him.
Buddha opened his eyes and the man said:
- Accept my invitation! I waited for many days and dreamed for many years that one day you would be a guest in my home. I am a poor man and have little to offer, but please do not refuse me.
Buddha replied:
- I'll come!
Just at this time the king of this area arrived with his retinue on beautiful chariots. He told Buddha:
- Come, I invite you to my palace. Do me the honor.
Buddha responded to the invitation:
- Today it won’t work. My students will come to your palace, but I have already promised to be a guest of this man.
What was this poor man doing who invited Buddha? In Behar and other parts of India, people collect various plants during the monsoon season. One of them is a certain rare cukarmutta mushroom, an umbrella plant with a wide cap; it is collected and dried. Then it is eaten as a vegetable for a year. But sometimes this mushroom becomes poisonous. But the poor guy didn't know this. This man collected kukarmuttas for Buddha.
When Buddha began to eat, he felt bitter. But this was the only prepared dish, and in order not to upset the poor man, Buddha ate poisoned food.
The man was happy.
Buddha returned to his home and the poison began to take effect. The doctor came and said:
- This is a very difficult case. The poison has entered the bloodstream, and nothing can be done. Buddha will die.
Buddha gathered his disciples and told them:
- This is an unusual person, an exceptional person. After all, my mother gave me the first food, and he gave me the last. My mother helped me enter this world, and this man helped me enter another world. You must treat him with respect.
The disciples were very excited and Ananda said:
- This is too much. Respect and worship him as your mother. He's a killer! He should be punished!
By this time, only the closest disciples remained around the Buddha, and the Buddha said to them:
“I know that you could kill this unfortunate man, but do as I tell you.” This is great alchemy!
Even if Buddha is given poison, love must come out of him!
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru