Dear Ruwan,
The Buddha would not like us to be sad and lonely, because this is
dosa, aversion, and thus akusala.
We are so fortunate to still being able to hear the Dhamma he left us
as his successor. We can rejoice and feel so grateful!
In order to help you, not to be sad, I quote more from the
'Perfections' by Sujin Boriharnwanaket:

We read in the �Illustrator of Ultimate Meaning� (Paramatthajotik�),
Commentary to the Minor Collection (Khuddakap��ha), of the
Khuddakanik�ya, in the Commentary to the �Good Omen
Discourse� (Mangala Sutta) about the first Council. We read that the
venerable Mah�-Kassapa, the venerable Up�li, the venerable �nanda and
the other arahats, fivehundred bhikkhus in all, met for the first
rehearsal of the Dhamma Vinaya, near the door of the Sattapa��i Cave,
on the slopes of the Vebh�ra Rock, in R�jagaha.

"... in order to show his own discipleship, he said: �Eva.m me
sutta.m. Eka.m samaya.m bhagav� S�vatthiya.m viharati Jetavane
An�thapi.n.dikassa �r�me...� which means: Thus have I heard. On one
occasion the Blessed One was living at S�vatth� in Jeta�s Wood,
An�thapi.n.dika�s Park...�

These words were spoken by the venerable �nanda, more than
twothousand and fivehundred years ago. If we today just hear the
words, �Thus have I heard�, we are impressed by the thoughts of the
venerable �nanda who on the occasion of the first rehearsal made it
clear that he was only a disciple. That is why he said, �Thus have I
heard�. He did not speak his own words, because he was not the
Exalted One. He was only a disciple and had heard these words from
the Exalted One. When Buddhists hear the words, �Thus have I heard�,
even after more than twothousand and fivehundred years have passed,
enthusiasm and joy can arise because they have an opportunity to hear
these words again. Thus, they can consider the Buddha�s teachings
when he was dwelling in the Jeta Grove or at other places.

We read further on:

�Meanwhile the five hundred Arahants and many thousand deities
applauded the venerable �nanda, saying �Good (s�dhu), good�, while
there was a great earth-tremor with a rain of various kinds of
flowers falling from the sky and many other manifested marvels, and
in many deities a sense of urgency arose (with the thought) �What we
heard in the Blessed One�s presence is now reproduced in his absence
too!� �
The Buddha had finally passed away and the arahats who were present
at the first Council for the rehearsal of the teachings had heard
these words before. However, even though the words they heard were
spoken in the past and they would not hear them any more in the
presence of the Blessed One, there was yet an opportunity to hear the
Dhamma again. This fact can be recollected with reverence to the
Triple Gem by all listeners today. Although these events occurred a
long time ago, each time we hear the Dhamma we can see its benefit
and we can understand that the accumulation of kusala in the past is
the condition for the kusala vip�ka which is hearing the Dhamma again
in this life.
�nanda consoled people who were disappointed at not seeing the
Blessed One, assuring them that this was not a teaching of a dead
teacher, but that the very Dhamma Vinaya was their teacher.
By the words, eva.m me sutta.m, thus have I heard, the venerable
�nanda wanted to console the Buddhists in times to come, who may feel
dismay that they cannot see the Buddha in person. However, we should
remember that what we hear is not the teaching of a dead teacher, but
that the Dhamma Vinaya is now our teacher.
We shall know whether the Buddha is our real teacher if we listen,
consider and follow the right practice.
(end quote).
Nina

Op 15-aug-2007, om 19:07 heeft Ruwan Rajapakse het volgende geschreven:

> Mahaparinibbana sutta is like a mirror to that ancient time where
> Buddha was about to die. I had a sad and lonely feeling after
> reading the sutta.

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