The Buddha had been very sick when in Vesali. After Rainy Season Retreat in Vesali he went with his disciples towards the northwest. On the way he had food offered by the blacksmith Cunda and became seriously ill. Finally he reached the bank of a river in Kusinara. After taking a bath he lay on his right side with his head resting on his right hand, on a hammock placed among four pairs of sala trees. Subsequently, all the recumbent (Sleeping) Buddha statues or the statues of the Buddha’s Nibbana have been modeled in his posture. The Buddha informed his disciples of the approach of his Nibbana, and all his disciples watched over him. At night, a Brahmin scholar named Subhadda came to see the Buddha. When Ananda tried to stop him, the Buddha called Subhadda to his beside and preached a discourse for him, so Subhadda became the last disciple of the Buddha’s lifetime. From the time he left Vesali on the journey, the Buddha preached to his disciples many times and at midnight when he was about to die, he told them for the last time, “You should not think that you no longer have a teacher. Rather you should regard the teachings (Dharma) as your teacher. Be diligent in striving for salvation. Never be indolent.”
First, pertaining to the interpretation of dhamma (all things). Before dealing with the issue, two terms should be defined.
There were considerable differences between the doctrines of Theravada and Mahasamghika. As to the subgroups, they generally had only minor differences from their basic sect. the doctrines of Theravada could be represented by Sarvastivada’s as it was the earliest and largest sect among Theravadins, and bequeathed a wealth of cannons of Abhidhamma Pitaka. Of the Mahasamghika, on the other hand, few works were preserved, only some of its doctrines being known through historical accouts.
He is Maitreya Bodhisatta. According to Buddhist prediction, long after the extinction of the teachings of Sakyamuni Buddha in the far future, Maitreya Bodhisatta would become the Buddha and preach in the world. For this reason, he has been held in universal esteem as well.
When I finished writing the first chapter, it was published in installments in the Journal of Modern Buddhism. I used the pseudonym, “Yin Shui”(drink water), derived from the text Suramgama Sutra that reads “One perceives whether the water is cold or warm only when one drinks it.” A friend of mine asked why I chose such an insignificant title. I replied, “I prefer to make a fuss about trifles rather than underplaying a big issue, not to mention completely ignoring significant subjects.” The title of this book is in conformity with my wish.
The Three Gems are the Gem of the Buddha, the enlightened one, the Gem of Dhamma, the teachings given by the Buddha, and the Gem of Sangha, the Order of the Buddha’s monastic disciples. These three are called gems (ratana) because they can lead people to stop doing evil and to perform kindness, to free themselves from suffering and to gain happiness. The title of “The Three Gems” also shows the great value placed on them. When the Buddha initially turned the wheel of Dhamma, Kondanna and others, five of them in all, followed the Buddha, renounced lay life and became the Buddha’s disciples, thus forming the Sangha Order. Therefore, the Three Gems have been cherished since that time.
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