Last week, on February 15, we celebrated Shakyamuni Buddha’s Parinirvana, his final and complete entering into Nirvana. We made offerings on a specially beautiful altar, with a small figure of the reclining Buddha and extra flowers and candles.
Parinirvana Altar
I read his last teaching, Excerpts from the Parinirvana Brief Admonitions Sutra:
O good followers of the path! Do not grieve! Even if I were to live in the world for as long as a kalpa, our coming together would have to end. There can be no coming together without parting. The teaching which benefits both self and others has reached completion. Even if I were to live longer, there would be nothing to add to the teaching. Those who were to be awakened, whether in the heavens or among human beings, have all been awakened. Those who have not yet been awakened all possess the conditions for attaining awakening. If all my disciples practice from now on through generation after generation, the dharma body of the Tathagatha will exist forever and will not be destroyed.
Therefore, you should know that all things in the world are impermanent; coming together inevitably means departing. Do not be troubled, for this is the nature of life. Diligently practicing right effort, you must seek liberation immediately. With the light of wisdom, destroy the darkness of ignorance. Nothing is secure. Everything in this life is precarious.
Amanda, it may be that you think, “The teacher’s instructions have ceased.” But it should not be seen like this. For what I have taught shall be your teacher, all living beings shall be your teacher, this bright world and your very mind itself, shall be your teacher. Now, good followers of the way: You should always wholeheartedly seek the way of liberation. All things in the world, whether moving or non-moving, are characterized by disappearance and instability.
Be as lamps unto yourselves and pass on that light throughout the generations and to everyone in this world.
Stop now! Do not speak! Time is passing. I am about to cross over. This is my final teaching.
These words remind us to keep practicing, bringing the recognition into this world that the true nature of life is wisdom and compassion. Keep checking the website for updates on events throughout the year and visit Milwaukee Zen Center in person, or schedule a zoom meeting with the teacher.