Total Unbinding
Parinibbāna Sutta (SN 6:15)
This discourse reports how 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. For some reason, the order of the verses here differs slightly from that in DN 16.
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On one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Kusinārā in Upavattana, the Sal Tree Forest 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. Reach consummation through heedfulness.” That was the Tathāgata’s last statement.
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 & feeling.
Then emerging from the cessation of perception & 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 totally unbound.
When the Blessed One 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 totally
unbound.”
When the Blessed One totally unbound, simultaneously with the total unbinding, Sakka, ruler of the gods, uttered this verse:
“How inconstant are fabrications!
Their nature: to arise & pass away.
They disband as they are arising.
Their total stilling is bliss.”
When the Blessed One 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
totally unbound.”
When the Blessed One totally unbound, simultaneously with the total unbinding, Ven. Anuruddha uttered this verse:
“He had no in-&-out breathing,
the one who was Such,1 the firm-minded one,
imperturbable
& 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.”
Note
1. Such (tādin): An adjective applied to the mind of one who has attained the goal. It indicates that the mind “is what it is”—indescribable but not subject to change or alteration.
