The Buddha Speaks the Sutra on Mahāprajāpatī (佛說大愛道般泥洹經)

Sutra on the Great Love Way's Parinirvana

Translated by the Western Jin Dynasty Monk Bai Fazu from Henei

Thus have I heard:

Thus I have heard: At one time, the Buddha was staying in the country of Vaiśālī, at the Kūṭāgāra Hall in the Great Forest near the Monkey Pond. At that time, the great nun Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī was also staying in Vaiśālī, together with five hundred bhikṣuṇīs, all of whom were arhats possessed of great spiritual powers. Among them were the senior disciples—Cundā, Mahāprajāpatī, and other elder bhikṣuṇīs—dwelling in the nuns' quarters within the kingdom of Vaiśālī.

At that time, Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī thought to herself: "I cannot bear to witness the Buddha's parinirvāṇa, nor the passing of the venerable ones—Ānanda, Śāriputra, and Maudgalyāyana. I shall first relinquish my life and enter nirvāṇa myself."

The Buddha, aware of her thought, said to Ānanda: "Here Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī has decided, 'I cannot bear to see the Buddha enter parinirvāṇa, nor the venerable Ānanda, Śāriputra, and Maudgalyāyana pass away. I will first let go of this life and enter nirvāṇa.' Likewise, these five hundred bhikṣuṇīs, having awakened to the end of all Suffering, have resolved: 'We too cannot bear to witness the Buddha's parinirvāṇa, nor the passing of the venerable Ānanda, Śāriputra, and Maudgalyāyana. We shall also relinquish our lives and enter nirvāṇa.'"

Thus spoke the Buddha.

Ananda said to the Buddha, "Therefore, I cannot contain myself. I can no longer distinguish the directions, and the Dharma I have heard I can no longer recognize. Why is this? Because I have heard that Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī is about to enter Parinirvāṇa."

The Buddha then said to the venerable Ananda: "Is it so, Ananda? Do you think that Mahāprajāpatī Gotamī has departed by way of diligence, attaining Parinirvāṇa, along with the qualities of concentration, loving-kindness, liberation, and the wisdom that sees and knows? The Dharma that I myself have realized and awakened to—whether the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, the Four Right Efforts, the Four Bases of Psychic Power, the Five Faculties, the Five Powers, the Seven Factors of Awakening, or the Eightfold Path of Wisdom—do you fear that Mahāprajāpatī Gotamī has taken this Dharma and gone away?"

When the Buddha had finished speaking, Ananda said: "Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī cannot take the pure lineage with her into final Nirvana, nor can she take Concentration, nor Wisdom, nor Liberation, nor the knowledge and vision of Liberation, nor can she take the Awakening lineage. The teachings the Buddha realized through his own wisdom—whether the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, the Four Right Efforts, the Four Bases of Psychic Power, the Five Faculties, the Five Powers, the Seven Factors of Awakening, or the Eightfold Path—she ultimately cannot take these teachings with her into final Nirvana."

Ananda said, "I recall that Mahāprajāpatī Gotamī has great kindness towards the Buddha. When the Buddha's mother passed away, Mahāprajāpatī Gotamī nursed and raised the Buddha to adulthood."

The Buddha said, "Ananda, yes, it is true. Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī has done me a great kindness. When my mother passed away, she nursed me and raised me." The Buddha continued, "Ananda, I have also shown boundless kindness to Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī. Why is this? Because of her connection with me, she has taken refuge in the Buddha, taken refuge in the Dharma, taken refuge in the Sangha of monks, and taken refuge in the Path to Cessation. She no longer doubts the Buddha, no longer doubts the Dharma, no longer doubts the Sangha of monks, and no longer doubts the Path to Cessation—she has fully understood all of these. Ananda, if someone could teach another person to take refuge in the Buddha, to take refuge in the Dharma, to take refuge in the Sangha of monks, and to take refuge in the Path to Cessation—and that person who receives this teaching were to honor it for the rest of their life, providing the teacher with clothing, food, bedding, and medicine, never refusing anything they ask for, serving them in this way for their entire life—even then, they would not have sufficiently repaid the kindness of their teacher." The Buddha concluded, "Therefore, Ananda, I have shown boundless and great kindness to Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī."

At that time, Mahaprajapati Gotami, along with five hundred bhikkhunis, left the country of Vaisali together and went to the great grove, where the Buddha was. They bowed their heads at the Buddha's feet and then stood to one side. The five hundred bhikkhunis also paid their respects to the Buddha and stood to one side. Mahaprajapati Gotami then clasped her hands and said to the Buddha: "I cannot bear to see the Buddha enter Parinirvana, along with Ananda, Shariputra, and Maudgalyayana, these venerable bhikkhus. I wish to first relinquish my life and take Parinirvana." Having spoken thus, the Buddha accepted Mahaprajapati Gotami's words in silence. Mahaprajapati Gotami then touched the Buddha's feet with her hands and said: "Today I see for the last time the Refuge of the world, the Light of the world, the Unsurpassed One of the world. From now on, I shall no longer see the Honored One among the three realms." Having paid homage to the Buddha, she sat down to one side. The five hundred bhikkhunis also clasped their hands and spoke to the Buddha in the same way: "We cannot bear to see the Buddha enter Parinirvana, along with the venerable bhikkhus Ananda, Shariputra, and Maudgalyayana. We wish to relinquish our lives and take Parinirvana." When the five hundred bhikkhunis had spoken thus, the Buddha silently accepted their words. The five hundred bhikkhunis then bowed their heads at the Buddha's feet and said: "We see for the last time the Refuge of the world, the Light of the world, the Unsurpassed One of the world. From now on, we shall no longer see the Honored One among the three realms." Having said this, they each returned to their seats.

The Buddha taught Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī and the five hundred bhikṣuṇīs many teachings. When he finished, they all rejoiced, rose from their seats, paid respects to the Buddha, circumambulated him three times, and bowed their heads to his feet. Then they returned to the city of Vaiśālī and entered the park where the bhikṣuṇīs’ quarters were located—the royal garden. There, they arranged five hundred seats, and Mahāprajāpatī and the five hundred bhikṣuṇīs each took their place.

At that moment, Mahāprajāpatī displayed her miraculous powers. She vanished from her seat and reappeared in the east, rising into the sky, ascending from one tree level to the seventh. She manifested the four types of psychic powers, walking through the air. Having walked, she stood; having stood, she sat; having sat, she lay down; having lain down, she emitted flames of five colors from her body. From her upper body, flames of five colors; from her lower body, streams of water. Then from her lower body, flames of five colors; from her upper body, water. Thus she vanished in the east and appeared in the west, vanished in the south and appeared in the north. She then descended from the seventh tree level to the ground, manifesting miracles as before. At that moment, she entered parinirvāṇa, ending her final existence.

Then the five hundred bhikṣuṇīs likewise vanished from their seats and reappeared in the east, rising into the sky, ascending from one tree level to the seventh, manifesting the four types of psychic powers, walking through the air. Having walked, they stood; having stood, they sat; having sat, they lay down; having lain down, they emitted flames of five colors from their bodies. From their upper bodies, flames of five colors; from their lower bodies, streams of water. Then from their lower bodies, flames of five colors; from their upper bodies, water. Thus they vanished in the east and appeared in the west, vanished in the south and appeared in the north. They then descended from the seventh tree level to the ground, manifesting miracles as before. At that moment, they entered parinirvāṇa, ending their final existence.

At that time, the Buddha said to the venerable Ananda, "Go at dawn tomorrow into the city of Vaishali to the home of the householder Yashoda. When you arrive, tell Yashoda that the Buddha's mother has entered Parinirvana, along with five hundred bhikkhunis. The Buddha urges Yashoda to prepare five hundred biers, five hundred jars of sesame oil, five hundred portions of incense, five hundred bundles of firewood, and various kinds of flowers, incense, and music, and bring them to the bhikkhunis' monastery in the royal garden. Why is this? The Buddha's mother has entered Parinirvana, and all five hundred bhikkhunis are arhats with great spiritual powers. Their merit is complete, and they deserve a proper cremation." The Buddha said to Ananda, "Tell Yashoda that the Buddha urges this."

Ananda heard what the Buddha said and respectfully agreed. He rose, bowed with his head at the Buddha's feet, and at dawn entered the city of Vaishali. He went to the home of the elder Yashoda. Upon arriving, he said to the gatekeeper, "Please go in and tell the elder that Ananda is outside." The gatekeeper, hearing Ananda's words, went in and announced this. At that time, the elder Yashoda was in a high tower, enjoying himself with musicians and dancers. When he heard the gatekeeper's message, he was startled, and his hair stood on end. He came down from the tower and went out to meet Ananda. Bowing his head at the feet of the venerable Ananda, he paid his respects and said, "Venerable Ananda, this is no ordinary matter, nor is it a trivial one. Why is that? Why have you come into the city so early?" Yashoda then asked, "What is your intention?" Ananda replied, "The Buddha has sent me to urge you, the elder, to prepare five hundred beds, five hundred jars of sesame oil, five hundred portions of incense, five hundred bundles of firewood, and various kinds of fine flowers and music, and bring them to the royal park where the nuns reside. Why is this? The Buddha's mother has passed into final Nirvana, and with her five hundred nuns, all of whom are Arhats, endowed with great spiritual powers and complete in merit. They deserve a proper funeral. The Buddha urges you, the elder, to do this."

When Kālodayin heard these words from Ananda, he collapsed to the ground in despair, crying out: "Venerable Ananda! What wrong have we committed against the nun? What grievance does she hold against us that she would attain final liberation without telling us? Venerable Ananda! From this day forward, the houses will be empty, the seats will be empty, the places of walking meditation will be empty, and the streets and alleyways at the four crossroads will be empty—only the land of Vaiśālī is already made empty. Venerable Ananda! From now on, we shall no longer see nuns walking through Vaiśālī to beg for alms. How painful this is!"

When Yedha Karavet had finished speaking, Ananda said to him: "The Buddha himself has said that all love and attachment must come to parting and dissolution. Each person goes his own way, each follows his own path. Where one is born, where one goes, what one thinks—each has its own course, each has its own causes. All must eventually come to an end, all must eventually separate. To wish for no separation is something that can never be obtained. A wise person should simply uphold the Dharma and walk its path." At that time, the venerable Ananda, having cited various scriptures for Karavet, used their essential teachings to guide his understanding and inspire his heart. When Karavet's mind was opened, gladdened, and encouraged, Ananda then went to the country of Vaishali.

The Brahmin householders of Vaishali gathered in the lecture hall for a particular occasion. The venerable Ananda arrived and took his seat. Then he addressed the Brahmins and householders of Vaishali: "Prepare five hundred funeral biers, five hundred jars of sesame oil, five hundred portions of incense, five hundred bundles of firewood, and various kinds of fine flowers and perfumes, along with various types of music, and bring them to the nuns' monastery in the royal park. Why? The Buddha's mother has entered Parinirvana, along with five hundred nuns—all arhats, all of great spiritual power, whose merit is already complete. They deserve a proper funeral. The Buddha urges you Brahmins and householders to do this."

Then the Brahmins and householders of Vaishali prostrated themselves on the ground and said to the venerable Ananda: "What fault do we have against the nuns? What grievance do the nuns hold against us? What have we done to displease them, that they have entered Parinirvana without telling us? Venerable Ananda! From now on, our homes will be empty, our seats will be empty, the crossroads and alleyways will all be empty, and Vaishali itself will seem emptied. From now on, we will never again see the nuns come into Vaishali to walk for alms."

At that time, the venerable Ananda said to Kālodā, a Brahmin elder of the country of Vaiśālī: "The Buddha himself has said that all attachments and affections must inevitably part and dissolve. Each person goes their own way, each with their own thoughts, actions, and causes. Separation is unavoidable—wishing not to part will never succeed. A wise person should simply uphold the Dharma." Then the venerable Ananda, having shared many essential teachings with Kālodā, the Brahmin elder of Vaiśālī, to help him understand, bring him joy, and encourage him in the Dharma—having thus instructed, delighted, and inspired him—rose from his seat and went to where the Buddha was.

At that time, Yadu the householder, along with five hundred Brahmin householders, brought five hundred beds, five hundred jars of sesame oil, five hundred bundles of firewood, five hundred portions of incense, and various fine fragrances, flowers, and music, and went to the King's Garden convent for nuns. When they arrived, the gate of the King's Garden convent was closed. Yadu the householder then said to one of his men, "Come, climb onto another man's shoulders, cross over the wall into the garden, and open the gate." That man, following the householder's instruction, climbed onto another's shoulders, went over the wall, and opened the gate. Yadu the householder and the five hundred Brahmins all entered the King's Garden convent.

At that time, the five hundred nuns had six young novice monks serving them. These six novices said to Yadu the householder, "Venerable householder, do not disturb these five hundred nuns. Why? Because they are all seated in deep Concentration (Samādhi)."

At that time, the householder said to the six novices, "These five hundred nuns have not arisen from Concentration—they have already let go of their lives and entered Nirvāṇa."

Hearing these words, the six novices collapsed to the ground in shock and lamented, "Who will now teach and guide us? Who will counsel and advise us? Whose robes and bowls shall we carry and follow?"

At that time, the elder Kālodayin said to the virtuous novice Śāriputra, "The Buddha himself has said that all attachments and loved ones must eventually part. Virtuous novice Śāriputra, do not grieve, but strive diligently and increase your efforts." Then the elder Kālodayin took the relics of Mahāprajāpatī Gotamī, and with various fragrant flowers and music, respectfully gathered the relics and placed them on a golden couch. He did the same with the relics of the five hundred nuns. Then the elder Yaśodā and the five hundred Brahmin elders together took the relics of Mahāprajāpatī Gotamī and the five hundred nuns and went to the place where the Buddha was.

At that time, the Buddha addressed the elder Shariputra, saying: "Come now. Face east, press your palms together, place your right knee on the ground, and speak thus: 'All those in the east with direct faith and direct karma, who have perfected the three divine powers, the six superknowledges, and great spiritual abilities, and whose merit is complete — let them all come here. Why? The Buddha's mother has entered final nirvana, and together with her five hundred bhikshunis, all arhats possessing great spiritual powers, their merit complete, we should give them a proper and honorable funeral.' Do the same to the south, the west, the north, and the east."

The elder Shariputra received these instructions and proceeded to invite all the arhats in the east, south, west, and north. Instantly, three hundred and fifty arhats arrived from the east, and likewise from the south, west, and north — altogether a thousand arhats assembled before the Buddha.

The Buddha then, along with the assembly of a thousand monks, went to the place where Mahaprajapati Gotami's relics lay. The Buddha sat down, and the thousand monks took their seats.

At that time, the Buddha said to the venerable Ananda, "Rise, take the relics of Mahapajapati Gotami, place them in my bowl, and bring them to my hand." Ananda replied, "Yes, I will." He then rose from his seat, collected the relics of Mahapajapati Gotami, placed them in the bowl, and offered them to the Buddha. The Buddha received them with both hands. Having accepted the relics of Mahapajapati Gotami, the Buddha then addressed the community of monks, saying, "These are the relics of a woman who once had a body of negativity, marked by impatience, harshness, fickleness, and jealousy. But Mahapajapati Gotami has now shed that female form and attained what is attained by men of virtue—the spiritual goals worthy of a man."

At that time, the Buddha instructed the community of monks led by Yashodhara and the assembly of monks to build a stupa for Mahaprajapati Gotami and the five hundred bhikkhunis. After the stupa was completed, the people of Vaisali, along with gods and humans, all came together to honor the stupa of Mahaprajapati Gotami and the five hundred bhikkhunis.

The Buddha spoke thus, and all the monks rejoiced. Rising from their seats, they paid their respects to the Buddha and departed.

Sutra on the Great Love Way's Parinirvana