Blessed Mahaparinirvana Day
Blessed Mahaparinirvana Day
Today, the 15th March 2014, 15th Day of the 2nd Lunar Month, Upavasatha Day, the Chinese Mahayana Tradition commemorates the Lord's Mahaparinirvana
Re: Blessed Mahaparinirvana Day
Now the Blessed One spoke to the Venerable Ananda, saying:
"It may be, Ananda, that to some among you the thought will come: 'Ended is the word of the Master; we have a Master no longer.'
But it should not, Ananda, be so considered.
For that which I have proclaimed and made known as the Dhamma and the Discipline, that shall be your Master when I am gone.
And the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus, saying:
"Behold now, bhikkhus, I exhort you: All compounded things are subject to vanish. Strive with earnestness!"
And the Blessed One entered the first jhana. Rising from the first jhana, he entered the second jhana. Rising from the second jhana, he entered the third jhana.
Rising from the third jhana, he entered the fourth jhana. And rising out of the fourth jhana, he entered the sphere of infinite space.
Rising from the attainment of the sphere of infinite space, he entered the sphere of infinite consciousness.
Rising from the attainment of the sphere of infinite consciousness, he entered the sphere of nothingness.
Rising from the attainment of the sphere of nothingness, he entered the sphere of neither-perception-nor-non-perception.
And rising out of the attainment of the sphere of neither-perception-nor-non-perception, he attained to the cessation of perception and feeling.
And the Venerable Ananda spoke to the Venerable Anuruddha, saying: "Venerable Anuruddha, the Blessed One has passed away."
"No, friend Ananda, the Blessed One has not passed away. He has entered the state of the cessation of perception and feeling."
Then the Blessed One, rising from the cessation of perception and feeling, entered the sphere of neither-perception-nor-non-perception.
Rising from the attainment of the sphere of neither-perception-nor-non-perception, he entered the sphere of nothingness.
Rising from the attainment of the sphere of nothingness, he entered the sphere of infinite consciousness.
Rising from the attainment of the sphere of infinite consciousness, he entered the sphere of infinite space.
Rising from the attainment of the sphere of infinite space, he entered the fourth jhana.
Rising from the fourth jhana, he entered the third jhana.
Rising from the third jhana, he entered the second jhana.
Rising from the second jhana, he entered the first jhana.
Rising from the first jhana, he entered the second jhana.
Rising from the second jhana, he entered the third jhana.
Rising from the third jhana, he entered the fourth jhana.
And, rising from the fourth jhana, the Blessed One immediately passed away.
Mahaparinibbana Sutta
Re: Blessed Mahaparinirvana Day
"Why do we say “Buddha”?
He is awake. Himself awake, He also thoroughly awakens others.
O Good Man! For example, if one is aware that there is a robber present, the robber can do nothing.
It is the same here. The Bodhisattva-Mahasattva is awake to all the innumerable defilements.
Being awake to all defilements, He makes all defilements unable to do anything. Hence, the Buddha.
On account of this awakening, He is birthless, ageless, disease-less, and deathless. Hence, the Buddha"
Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra
Today, the 3rd March 2015, 15th Day of the 2nd Lunar Month, Upavasatha Day, the Chinese Mahayana Tradition commemorates the Lord's Mahaparinirvana