This year the Buddha keeps the at Sāvatthī. According to the later commentaries, from Year 21 after the Awakening the Buddha regularly kept the rains retreat at the Jeta Grove (the monastery donated by the wealthy merchant Anāthapiṇḍika) or Migāramātā's Mansion in the Eastern Park (the hall built by the lady Visākhā) at Sāvatthī; on this basis Years 21 to 44 are all placed here at Sāvatthī, and the final year separately at Beluva village. This year has no teaching or conversion recorded with the year stated.
Different Accounts
On how he stayed during the rains retreat, the later commentaries differ: in each retreat going back and forth between the Jeta Grove and the Eastern Park by day and by night; staying one time at the Jeta Grove and the next at the Eastern Park, alternating year by year; or nineteen times at the Jeta Grove and six at the Eastern Park.
More differences between accounts (3)
Taken literally, the later commentaries have him at Sāvatthī every year after Year 21, the final year included; Dīgha Nikāya 16 of the , the Mahāparinibbāna Sutta, however records the last rains retreat at Beluva village, so Years 21 to 44 are counted here, twenty-four in all.
The Chinese Sengqieluocha suoji jing says that from Year 26 to Year 44 he kept nineteen consecutive rains retreats in the country of Sāvatthī. Taishō Canon
Pali Buddha biographies of later date (such as the Jinacarita) also say the Buddha stayed twenty-five years in all at the Jeta Grove and Migāramātā's Mansion; cited only for reference.
Dating
Year 34 after the Awakening, the Buddha aged sixty-eight, during the rains retreat; that “from Year 21 he kept the rains retreat at Sāvatthī” is given by the later commentaries, and the number 34 for this year is inferred from the sequence of events (worked out from the order of the rains retreats), so only the year is known; whether he stayed at the Jeta Grove or the Eastern Park is not recorded year by year.
Related Entries
- Year
- Places
- People
- Discourses
Research Notes: Reliability, Dating and Sources
- How Reliability Is Assessed
Not recorded in the early sutras and Vinayas of any school; found only in the commentaries or later Buddha biographies. Later addition.
- Dating Evidence and Precision
Commentarial dating (the canonical texts give no date; later commentaries record it); converted from the Buddha's age (reckoned from the Buddha's age). Time precision: year uncertain.
Sources
- 巴利註解書巴利註釋 AN-a
- 巴利註解書巴利註釋 Bv-a，序分
- 巴利註解書巴利註釋 Bv-a
- 巴利註解書巴利註釋 MN-a，PTS 2.165
- 巴利註解書巴利註釋 Dhp-a，VRI 1.4
- 大正藏大正藏 T04 no.194 p.144b
- 巴利註解書巴利註釋 DN-a，§111
- 巴利註解書巴利註釋 DN-a
- 巴利註解書巴利註釋 MN-a，§390
- 巴利註解書巴利註釋 MN-a
- Pali Canon巴利 DN 16:2.22.3
- 巴利註解書巴利註釋 Jinacarita
- 巴利註解書巴利註釋 《Jinavaṃsadīpanī》