Year 45 after the Awakening The Buddha at 79 to 80
This is the Buddha's last year, at seventy-nine to eighty (most texts say eighty; some record seventy-nine). The Buddha sets out from Rājagaha , passes through Pāṭaliputta and crosses the Ganges to Vesālī , keeps his last rains retreat at Beluva village and falls gravely ill during it; after the retreat he announces at Vesālī that he will pass away in three months, then travels through many villages to Pāvā , where he accepts the last meal offered by Cunda the smith's son, and finally passes away between two sāla trees (a kind of tall tree) at Kusinārā . The events of this year are arranged mainly according to the texts that record the last journey, such as the Mahāparinibbāna Sutta of the Southern tradition and the Chinese Youxing jing; the names and order of the stages are not identical in every source, and the arrangement here follows the stages shared by most accounts.
The Rains Retreat The last rains retreat is kept at Beluva village near Vesālī, as recorded in the Mahāparinibbāna Sutta of the Southern tradition and most other texts; the later commentaries literally record Sāvatthī , and the Chinese Sengqieluocha suoji jing records Pijiang village in the territory of Baqi (that is, the Vajjians).
Events This Year50 Related Stories143
Attested across multiple schools
King Ajātasattu sends a minister to ask about attacking the Vajjians Attested across multiple schools
The Buddha teaches several sets of conditions for the non-decline of the Sangha Recorded by one school
At Rājagaha the Buddha often teaches virtue, concentration and wisdom Attested across multiple schools
Teaching at the first halt on the way to Pāṭaliputta Recorded by one school
Sāriputta praises the Buddha at Nālandā Attested across multiple schools
At Pāṭaliputta the Buddha teaches lay people the benefits of keeping the precepts Attested across multiple schools
The Buddha predicts that Pāṭaliputta will become a great city Attested across multiple schools
The ministers offer a meal to the Buddha, who speaks a verse of blessing Attested across multiple schools
The Buddha crosses the Ganges by supernormal power Attested across multiple schools
Teaching at Koṭigāma after the crossing Attested across multiple schools
Nādikā: the Buddha teaches the “Mirror of the Dhamma” Attested across multiple schools
At Vesālī the Buddha teaches mindfulness and clear comprehension Attested across multiple schools
Ambapālī invites the Buddha to a meal, and the Licchavis compete for the invitation Attested across multiple schools
Ambapālī offers a meal and donates her mango grove Recorded by one school
The brahmin Pishatuoye invites the Buddha to a meal Attested across multiple schools
The Buddha keeps his last rains retreat at Beluva village Attested across multiple schools
Gravely ill during the retreat, the Buddha tells his disciples to rely on the Dhamma Recorded by two schools
Sāriputta and Moggallāna pass away before the Buddha Attested across multiple schools
The Buddha relinquishes the life force and announces that he will pass away in three months Attested across multiple schools
The Buddha explains the eight causes of earthquakes and reproaches Ānanda Attested across multiple schools
The Buddha assembles his disciples and announces that he will pass away in three months Recorded by one school
The Licchavis ask the Buddha to remain and see him off Attested across multiple schools
The Buddha looks back at Vesālī for the last time Attested across multiple schools
Bhaṇḍagāma: the Buddha teaches virtue, concentration, wisdom and liberation Attested across multiple schools
The Buddha passes through several villages Recorded by one school
Five hundred people take refuge at Jiusuo village Attested across multiple schools
The Buddha teaches how to tell the genuine word of the Buddha Recorded by two schools
The earth quakes again, and the Buddha explains the causes of earthquakes Attested across multiple schools
The Buddha comes to Pāvā, and Cunda invites him to a meal Attested across multiple schools
Cunda offers the Buddha his last meal Attested across multiple schools
Gravely ill after the meal, the Buddha still sets out for Kusinārā Attested across multiple schools
Fetching water on the way: the muddy water turns clear Attested across multiple schools
Pukkusa the Malla presents robes of cloth of gold Attested across multiple schools
The Buddha's body shines, and he foretells that he will pass away this very night Attested across multiple schools
The Buddha bathes in the river and lies down to rest Attested across multiple schools
The Buddha asks Ānanda to comfort Cunda Attested across multiple schools
The Buddha gives instructions that his body be treated as a wheel-turning monarch's Attested across multiple schools
The Buddha gives instructions on the treatment of Channa Attested across multiple schools
The Buddha reaches Kusinārā and lies down between the twin trees Attested across multiple schools
The Buddha asks Upavāṇa to step aside Attested across multiple schools
The Buddha names the four sacred places worthy of pilgrimage Attested across multiple schools
Ānanda asks how monastics should behave towards women Attested across multiple schools
Ānanda weeps, and the Buddha praises him Attested across multiple schools
The Buddha says Kusinārā was once the capital of King Mahāsudassana Attested across multiple schools
The Mallas of Kusinārā come to pay homage to the Buddha Recorded by one school
Two deathbed conversions found in some accounts Attested across multiple schools
The last disciple, Subhadda, goes forth Attested across multiple schools
Members of other sects must serve a probation before going forth Attested across multiple schools
The Buddha's final instructions Attested across multiple schools
The Buddha speaks his last words and passes away (final nirvana) Year 44 After the passing Choose a year Birth The Buddha at 7 The Buddha at 14 The Buddha at 16 The Buddha at 29 The Buddha at 29 to 35 · The Quest and the Austerities The Buddha at 35 · The Eve of the Awakening Year 1 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 35 Year 2 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 36 Year 3 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 37 Year 4 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 38 Year 5 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 39 Year 6 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 40 Year 7 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 41 Year 8 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 42 Year 9 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 43 Year 10 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 44 Year 11 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 45 Year 12 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 46 Year 13 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 47 Year 14 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 48 Year 15 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 49 Year 16 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 50 Year 17 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 51 Year 18 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 52 Year 19 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 53 Year 20 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 54 Year 21 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 55 Year 22 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 56 Year 23 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 57 Year 24 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 58 Year 25 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 59 Year 26 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 60 Year 27 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 61 Year 28 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 62 Year 29 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 63 Year 30 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 64 Year 31 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 65 Year 32 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 66 Year 33 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 67 Year 34 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 68 Year 35 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 69 Year 36 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 70 Year 37 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 71 Year 38 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 72 Year 39 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 73 Year 40 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 74 Year 41 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 75 Year 42 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 76 Year 43 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 77 Year 44 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 78 Year 45 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 79 to 80 After the passing · After the Buddha's final nirvana Events of uncertain year Events known only to fall within a span of years Back to The Final Year 