In the Shizhe jing (Discourse on the Attendant) of the Chinese Madhyama Āgama, Ānanda himself says “I have attended the Buddha for twenty-five years”; when Sāriputta questions Ānanda on Mount Poluoluo in the country of Sāvatthī, he uses the same words. If counted from Year 21 after the Awakening, twenty-five years reach exactly to the Buddha's passing, so these words would have been spoken in Year 45 after the Awakening or a little earlier. For how Ānanda came to be attendant, see the entry “Ānanda becomes the Buddha's permanent attendant”. Taishō Canon
Pali Canon
Different Accounts
The figure “twenty-five years of attendance” is found in the Theragāthā of the Southern tradition, the Chinese Dīrgha Āgama and Madhyama Āgama, and the Fo bannihuan jing; the Chinese Jiu za piyu jing has eight years.
Dating
Known only to fall between Years 21 and 45 after the Awakening (the Buddha aged fifty-five to eighty). “Twenty-five years” is stated in the texts, but the year from which it is counted is an estimate, so the time of the remark can only be placed at the end of this period.
Related Entries
- Year
- Places
- People
- Discourses
Research Notes: Reliability, Dating and Sources
- How Reliability Is Assessed
Recorded in the sutras and Vinayas of several schools. Attested across multiple schools.
- Dating Evidence and Precision
Converted from the Buddha's age (reckoned from the Buddha's age). Time precision: year uncertain.
Sources
- 大正藏大正藏 T01 no.26 p.471c–475a
- 大正藏大正藏 T01 no.26 p.473a
- 巴利註解書巴利註釋 Ud-a，§77
- 巴利註解書巴利註釋 Ud-a
- Pali Canon巴利 Thag 17.3:28.1–28.2
- 大正藏大正藏 T04 no.206 p.520c
- 大正藏大正藏 T01 no.26 p.473b