The Buddha’s Final Nibbana
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Then the Blessed One lay down on his right side as a lion does, covering one foot with the other, mindful and fully aware. Now at that time those two sāl trees were all abloom with flowers out of season, and they rained down their blossoms in worship of the Tathāgata, showering and covering his body. Divine mandārava flowers too fell from the sky, raining down in worship of the Tathāgata, showering and covering his body—likewise divine sandalwood powder. Divine instruments were sounded in the sky in worship of the Tathāgata, and divine songs were being sung. The Blessed One spoke to the venerable Ānanda, ‘The two sāl trees, all abloom with flowers out of season, are raining down their blossoms in worship of the Tathāgata, showering and covering his body. Divine mandārava flowers too are falling from the sky, raining down in worship of the Tathāgata, showering and covering his body — likewise divine sandalwood powder. Divine instruments are sounding in the sky in honour of the Tathāgata, and divine songs are being sung. Yet this does not amount to the showing of respect, honour, reverence, worship, or recognition to the Tathāgata: the one who respects, honours, reveres, and worships the Tathāgata with the ultimate worship is the monk or nun, the layman or laywoman, who lives practising the teaching and its subtleties, conducting him or herself properly, living in accordance with the Truth. Therefore, Ānanda, you should undertake the training with the thought, “We shall live practising the teaching and its subtleties, conducting ourselves properly, living in accordance with the Truth.” ’ Now at that time the venerable Upavāna was standing in front of the Blessed One, fanning him. And the Blessed One rebuked him: ‘Move away, monk. Do not stand in front of me.’ Then the venerable Ānanda thought: ‘The venerable Upavāna has long been an attendant of the Blessed One, staying close, keeping near by, yet now in his final hour the Blessed One rebukes him, telling him to move away and not stand in front of him. What is the reason for the Blessed One’s rebuke? What is the cause?’ So the venerable Ānanda spoke to the Blessed One: ‘Sir, the venerable Upavāna has long been an attendant of the Blessed One, staying close, keeping near by, yet now in your final hour the Blessed One rebukes him, telling him to move away and not stand in front of him. What is the reason for the Blessed One’s rebuke? What is the cause?’
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