THE BUDDHA’S LAST MEAL
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THE BUDDHA’S LAST MEAL
The DÄ«gha NikÄ�ya records that before the Buddha passed away he ate a meal given to him by a blacksmith named Cunda. This meal consisted of a preparation called sÅ«karamaddava which can be translated as ‘pig’s delight’ (D.II, 127). There has been a great deal of speculation as to what this meal consisted of. Some say that it was a pork dish, which is quite possible, as the Buddha was not a vegetarian and did not advocate vegetarianism. One of the more bizarre theories and one that has gained wide acceptance is that it was a type of truffle. Early European scholars of Buddhism theorized that because the French use trained pigs to find truffles, the ‘pig’s delight’ mentioned in the Buddhist scriptures might be a variety of truffle. This theory is based on the false premise that what is so of the French countryside must have been so in ancient India. In fact, truffles do not grow in India and the use of trained pigs to find them even in France is a recent practice. Thus the theory that the Buddha’s last meal was truffles is without any foundation.
Equally unfounded theories, presumably derived from this first one, is that the Buddha died of eating poison mushrooms, from food poisoning or even that he was poisoned. Again, the facts contradict such fanciful speculations. All we can say is that sūkaramaddava was some kind of preparation, the ingredients of which have long ago been forgotten.
In the months before his passing the Buddha had suffered ‘a severe illness causing him sharp pains as if he were to die’ and which he ‘endured mindfully, fully aware and without complaint’ (D.II, 99). He was 80 years old, unusually long-lived for the time, and Ä€nanda described him at this stage as having ‘slack and wrinkled limbs and being stooped’ (S.V, 217). He himself said that his body could ‘only be kept going by being patched up’ (D.II, 100). After his last meal, he had a severe bout of ‘diarrhoea with blood’ (lohitapakkhandikÄ�), a continuation of the sickness he had been suffering from for some time, and later the next day he passed away. Obviously the Buddha died of the typical complications brought on by exhaustion, sickness and old age, not because of what he had eaten the day before.
From the Buddhist perspective the only significance of the Buddha’s last meal is that it demonstrated once again his infinite capacity for compassion. When he realized that the end was near, he immediately thought that Cunda might be blamed for causing his death. To prevent this from happening he instructed Ä€nanda to return to Cunda’s village and tell him that to serve a Buddha his last meal was a most auspicious and blessed act. Thus, even being sick, exhausted and nearing death the Buddha’s only thought was for the welfare of others.
The Last Days of the Buddha, trans. by Sister Vajira and Francis Story, 1988.
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"From the Buddhist perspective the only significance of the Buddha’s last meal is that it demonstrated once again his infinite capacity for compassion. When he realized that the end was near, he immediately thought that Cunda might be blamed for causing his death. To prevent this from happening he instructed Ä€nanda to return to Cunda’s village and tell him that to serve a Buddha his last meal was a most auspicious and blessed act. Thus, even being sick, exhausted and nearing death the Buddha’s only thought was for the welfare of others."
Namo Shakyamuni Buddha... /\
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did the Buddha before he ate the meal, knew about what was going to take place?
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HIS constitution was weak at that age of 80, coupled with food (turning bad...perhaps to the unawareness of the person who prepared it) ....and resulted in his diarrhea and blood..which shows the acuteness of food poisoning ...HE must have suffered great intestinal pains and given his poor immunity system .... and the exhaustion of constant diarrhea and pains....he passed on....
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I believe he knows of his impending death, from the description of his display of mental mastery immediately prior to the moment of his parinibbana. See SN 6.15 - Parinibbana Sutta: Total Unbinding
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just a check.. after Buddha entered parinirvana, did the disciples cremate the body after 8 hours...?
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why u ask this?
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Originally posted by Aik TC:
I believe he knows of his impending death, from the description of his display of mental mastery immediately prior to the moment of his parinibbana. See SN 6.15 - Parinibbana Sutta: Total Unbinding
I think you misunderstood my question. what I want to ask is, did the Buddha knows before he ate the meal as he is omniscience isnt it, that this would cause him to fall seriously ill and finally pass away in 3 months time?
so assuming he knew that he would fell ill and passed away in 3 months time, he ate it anyway. I am wondering, if he would have contemplated not eating it, as not as afraid of death, as he is already beyond death, so that his presence would benefit the people in that era.
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Originally posted by Rooney9:
I think you misunderstood my question. what I want to ask is, did the Buddha knows before he ate the meal as he is omniscience isnt it, that this would cause him to fall seriously ill and finally pass away in 3 months time?
so assuming he knew that he would fell ill and passed away in 3 months time, he ate it anyway. I am wondering, if he would have contemplated not eating it, as not as afraid of death, as he is already beyond death, so that his presence would benefit the people in that era.
As the Buddha did said, "All component things must grow old and pass away” which would also include himself, there was no need for him to live longer than his natural life span as he has instructed his disciples as follows; "each of you should make the Dharma his island, and have no other as his refuge. And whoever after I am dead shall be an island unto themselves, who makes the Dharma their island, the Dharma their refuge, they will be the foremost amongst my monks."
So, if they should have followed his advice and made the Dharma as their island, his physical present would be only secondary even though desirable.
@2009novice.....
The Blessed One was cremated on the seventh day of his parinibbana.
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thx aik
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Originally posted by Aik TC:
As the Buddha did said, "All component things must grow old and pass away” which would also include himself, there was no need for him to live longer than his natural life span as he has instructed his disciples as follows; "each of you should make the Dharma his island, and have no other as his refuge. And whoever after I am dead shall be an island unto themselves, who makes the Dharma their island, the Dharma their refuge, they will be the foremost amongst my monks."
So, if they should have followed his advice and made the Dharma as their island, his physical present would be only secondary even though desirable.
@2009novice.....
The Blessed One was cremated on the seventh day of his parinibbana.
yes he has taught the dhamma in his 45 years of expounding. but if he did not ate the meal and supposing he can still live for a few more years, the few more years can benefit quite a lot of people during that time. he could have expounded more sutras even.
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Originally posted by Rooney9:
yes he has taught the dhamma in his 45 years of expounding. but if he did not ate the meal and supposing he can still live for a few more years, the few more years can benefit quite a lot of people during that time. he could have expounded more sutras even.
Condition was ripen for him to enter parinirvana. Chan sixth patriarch knew hw was leaving one years later. Professor Li Pin Nan knew 2 years prior to his departure for pure land. Buddha sakyamuni is 圆满佛, surely know. Lah。。。 -
Originally posted by Rooney9:
yes he has taught the dhamma in his 45 years of expounding. but if he did not ate the meal and supposing he can still live for a few more years, the few more years can benefit quite a lot of people during that time. he could have expounded more sutras even.
don't bother asking this kinda questions...people will not answer it directly because they're unable to, but give u an alternative view.
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Originally posted by whylikethatah:
don't bother asking this kinda questions...people will not answer it directly because they're unable to, but give u an alternative view.
He has many disciples who were more acquainted to people in India due to past karma. These people would only listen his disciples instead of Buddha Sakyamuni personally. And the dharma rooted people in India then were practically liberated lest those that were not ready for Buddha dharma. In addition, the buddha dharma was gradually swifted and flourished in China etc. It is in accordance with the advantage lifespan of people then, and if he would to live for another 300 years, it invited more contempt rather than good.
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Originally posted by Aik TC:
THE BUDDHA’S LAST MEAL
There has been a great deal of speculation as to what this meal consisted of. Some say that it was a pork dish, which is quite possible, as the Buddha was not a vegetarian and did not advocate vegetarianism. The Last Days of the Buddha, trans. by Sister Vajira and Francis Story, 1988.
Buddha is a vegetarian, it is mentioned in many sutra on his personal advocacy of vegetarianism for the wellness of beings and its surrounding.
Even Einstein experienced the wellness of being vegetarianism.
"Although I have been prevented by outward circumstances from observing a strictly vegetarian diet, I have long been an adherent to the cause in principle. Besides agreeing with the aims of vegetarianism for aesthetic and moral reasons, it is my view that a vegetarian manner of living by its purely physical effect on the human temperament would most beneficially influence the lot of mankind." Translation of letter to Hermann Huth, December 27, 1930. Einstein Archive 46-756.
Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet. ~Albert Einstein
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Originally posted by Amitayus48:
Buddha is a vegetarian, it is mentioned in many sutra on his personal advocacy of vegetarianism for the wellness of beings and its surrounding.
Even Einstein experienced the wellness of being vegetarianism.
"Although I have been prevented by outward circumstances from observing a strictly vegetarian diet, I have long been an adherent to the cause in principle. Besides agreeing with the aims of vegetarianism for aesthetic and moral reasons, it is my view that a vegetarian manner of living by its purely physical effect on the human temperament would most beneficially influence the lot of mankind." Translation of letter to Hermann Huth, December 27, 1930. Einstein Archive 46-756.
Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet. ~Albert Einstein
I am not sure if Buddha is a vegetarian, depending if you are using Theravada or Mahayana sources.
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Originally posted by Amitayus48:
He has many disciples who were more acquainted to people in India due to past karma. These people would only listen his disciples instead of Buddha Sakyamuni personally. And the dharma rooted people in India then were practically liberated lest those that were not ready for Buddha dharma. In addition, the buddha dharma was gradually swifted and flourished in China etc. It is in accordance with the advantage lifespan of people then, and if he would to live for another 300 years, it invited more contempt rather than good.
that's just your opinion without any scriptural sources. i too can say whatever i want and use it to convince people.