By his regular yoga practice <br />For nearly twenty five years, <br />At the bank of a river, <br />An ascetic walked on water. <br /> <br />Buddha told him, “For a penny <br />You can cross the river by a ferry. <br />It’s a worthless gain for your labor <br />Spent for all these years.” <br /> <br />Before his life came to an end, <br />It was his desire to spend <br />On meeting more people <br />And uplift them all. <br /> <br />Day by day, weak he became <br />But to hear him, people came. <br />Ananda, his close disciple, <br />Tried to prevent the people. <br /> <br />He chided Ananda then <br />Saying, “I’ve more concern <br />For people’s happiness, <br />Than for my weakness.” <br /> <br />In his bed, with feeble voice <br />And half-closed eyes <br />He asked his disciples, <br />“Any more questions? ” <br /> <br />Thrice he asked them, <br />And repeated the same, <br />But none had the mood, <br />As speechless, they stood. <br /> <br />He whispered at last, <br />“The decay is inherent <br />Which none can prevent. <br />This is a natural event.” <br /> <br />“You should remember, <br />Truth will remain forever. <br />With diligence you work, <br />Your salvation to seek.” <br /> <br />With these final words, <br />In a meditative mood, <br />Attaining Nirvana at last, <br />He breathed his last. <br /> <br />In 483 BC, on full moon day, <br />In the month of May, <br />Buddha, forever, had left, <br />While the whole world wept. <br /> <br />The sky became dark then, <br />As both the moon and sun, <br />Suddenly, with no trace, <br />Withdrew their long rays. <br /> <br />The earth shook violently. <br />The waves roared vehemently. <br />The trees shed their flowers, <br />And fluttered their leaves. <br /> <br />His teachings still remain, <br />In the hearts of everyone, <br />For he always lived for others, <br />And strived for their happiness. <br /> <br />The End of his life story <br />But the beginning of his era.<br /><br />Rajaram Ramachandran<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/buddha-s-last-days/
