Page 40 - Popular Deities of Chinese Buddhism (Illustrated) and Symbols

e reat ecease

During the early part of his ministry, the Buddha lived as a trav-

elling monk and did not have any fixed abode. It was towards

the last twenty years or so that he chose to reside at Savatthi, in

the Jetavana Grove which was donated to him and his monks by

the very rich householder Anathapindika.

At the age of eighty he travelled northwards from Rajagriha

to Vesali where he became seriously ill. Upon recovering the

Buddha proceeded to a small town called Pava where he stayed

in the grove of Cunda, the smith, who upon hearing of his

arrival, offered him and his followers a meal. is was to be the

last meal that he ate for one of the dishes diligently prepared

by Cunda and which the Buddha later specifically instructed

was for himself to eat only, caused him to suffer sharp dysentery

pains. e Buddha later assured Cunda through Ananda that

his pains were not any fault of his and that it was a meritorious

act to offer the Buddha his last meal.

e Buddha bore it calmly and, despite his illness, set forth for

Kushinagara where he laid down between two Sala trees with

his head pointing to the north. e Buddha was described in the

Scriptures to have “laid himself down on his right side, with one

leg resting on the other, mindful and self-possessed”. e Sala

trees then burst into bloom out of season and fragrance filled the

air in homage of the Buddha.

 