Saṃyutta Nikāya
I. Sagatha Vagga
6. Brahmā Saṃyutta
Sutta 15
Parinibbana Sutta
Total Unbinding
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
Provenance, terms and conditons
Translator's note
This discourse reports the way the Buddha passed away, giving four verses uttered by those who witnessed the event. It is interesting to note that the verses ascribed to heavenly beings make general comments on how the nature of all beings — even a Buddha — is to pass away, whereas the verses ascribed to the monks comment specifically on the Buddha's display of mental mastery immediately prior to the moment of his total Unbinding.
[15.1][pts] On one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Kusinara in Upavattana, the Sal Tree Grove of the Mallans, on the occasion of his total Unbinding.
Then the Blessed One addressed the monks,
"I exhort you, monks: All fabrications are subject to decay. Bring about completion by being heedful."
Those were the Tathāgata's last words.
Then the Blessed One entered the first jhāna.
Emerging from that he entered the second jhāna.
Emerging from that, he entered the third...
the fourth jhāna...
the dimension of the infinitude of space...
the dimension of the infinitude of consciousness...
the dimension of nothingness...
the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception.
Emerging from that, he entered the cessation of perception and feeling.
Then emerging from the cessation of perception and feeling,
he entered the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception.
Emerging from that, he entered the dimension of nothingness...
the dimension of the infinitude of consciousness...
the dimension of the infinitude of space...
the fourth jhāna...
the third...
the second...
the first jhāna.
Emerging from the first jhāna he entered the second...
the third...
the fourth jhāna.
Emerging from the fourth jhāna,
he immediately was totally Unbound.
When the Blessed One was totally Unbound,
simultaneously with the total Unbinding,
Sahampati Brahmā uttered this verse:
All beings — all — in the world,
will cast off the bodily heap
in the world
where a Teacher like this
without peer in the world
the Tathāgata, with strength attained,
the Rightly Self-Awakened One,
has been totally
Unbound.
When the Blessed One was totally Unbound,
simultaneously with the total Unbinding,
Sakka, ruler of the gods, uttered this verse:
How inconstant are compounded things!
Their nature: to arise and pass away.
They disband as they are arising.
Their total stilling is bliss.
When the Blessed One was totally Unbound,
simultaneously with the total Unbinding,
Ven. Ānanda uttered this verse:
It was awe-inspiring.
It was hair-raising
when, displaying the foremost
accomplishment in all things,
the Rightly Self-Awakened One
was totally Unbound.
When the Blessed One was totally Unbound,
simultaneously with the total Unbinding,
Ven. Anuruddha uttered this verse:
He had no in-and-out breathing,
the one who was Such, the firm-minded one,
imperturbable
and bent on peace:
the sage completing his span.
With heart unbowed
he endured the pain.
Like a flame's unbinding
was the liberation
of awareness.
