Last instruction of the Buddha

LAST INSTRUCTION OF THE BUDDHA

    At the age of eighty, while on his way to Kusinara City, the capital of Malla Stare, the Buddha became ill because he ate a meal of tainted food offered by Cunda, a poor tool smith. The Buddha told Venerable Ananda, his faithful attendant, to console Cunda, and to tell him that his food-offering, which was the Buddha’s last meal, was of great fruit and merit and that he should not blame himself for the Buddha’s illness.

    The Buddha travelled to the Sala Grove of Malla State, where the Buddha told the Venerable Ananda to prepare a couch between two Sala trees. Then he laid down on his right side, still mindful and self-possessed. The monks assembled about him.

    Although he was about to pass away, when men came to him to be received into the Order, he accepted and gladdened them with a sermon on the Dharma. Of those men, Subhadda,  mendcant wanderer, a poor man, was the last one who was ordained by the Buddha. He realized Arahantship before the Buddha’s death.

    On his death bed under the two Sala trees, on the full moon night of Visakha month (May), the Buddha said to his disciples:

“O Bhikkhus, you will not be left without a Teacher, because the Doctrine and the discipline I have taught and laid down for you shall be your Teacher when I am gone.”

    He said again, “Decay is inherent in all component things! O Bhikkhus, work out your own salvation with diligence.”

    These were the last words of the Enlightened One. His face shone as luminous gold. His mind ascended to the realms of ecstasy. He realized Nibbana, the Enlightenment and passed away from the eyes of human beings forever. His teachings have remained to guide us for all time. After the passing away of the Lord Buddha, his male and female disciples continued teaching the Dharma to the people and maintain Buddhism to the present time.