Notes on the life of Shakyamuni Buddha
written by Vova, a layman and yogi.
-21-
For half a century, traveling in the shabby garb of an ascetic, the Buddha taught Dharma to both people and gods. His body became old. It patiently bore illness and privation.
One day old man Gautama felt the onset of a deadly ailment. Ananda, fearful of the impending departure of his teacher, shed tears in secret. The Buddha noticed his tears and sorrow.
"Didn't I tell you, Ananda, that everything that is born must sooner or later depart this world?"
"You did, Lord."
"Don't be sad. Do not allow dismay to steal your certainty of Dharma. Free your recognition of your teacher from unskillful accumulation while following the path. Your teacher is the radiant awareness that has opened your vision of the Pure Lands. Your teacher was not born and will not die. Your teacher’s mind does not need the support of a physical body to act.
Ananda accepted Shakyamuni's words. He felt that with his words he was accepting in his heart the Tathagata himself. With great concentration he took to carrying out the Bhagavan's instructions.
The Buddha became aware that the life winds in his body were entering the path of non- return. Nevertheless, he decided to support life in his body long enough for him to give farewell instructions to the Sangha. Only then, in the company of his students, the Awakened One allowed his mind to assume its elemental form.
Crossing the transitional states of dismay, confusion and rending pain, the life winds moved the Buddha's perception along the path of non-return. His body, now abandoned by the Awakened One, ceased to exist as an active whole.
* * *
In modern times it seems that cities rather than forests and animals cover the earth. Outer conditions have changed over the centuries. While life-saving medicines and machine-wonders exist to move people about by land, water, and air; sorrow, anger, fear, and oblivion continue.
Throughout the world students of the Buddha’s Dharma continue to worship his wisdom and attainment. Though Shakyaminu's path is often concealed by the overgrowth of ignorance and delusion, at times it reveals itself to the feet of true seekers, leading them by awareness and goodwill towards wisdom and compassion.
To the reader I pass on these notes on the Buddha’s life. I explained and depicted the Dharma to the best of my abilities, as I saw it inscribed on a stupa in the pure land of Buddha Maitreya.
May there be good!