Than Hsiang DMS

Kesariya

The Kalamas of Kesaputta heard, ‘The samana Gotama, a son of he Sakyans, having gone forth from the Sakyan clan, has arrived in Kesaputta.’

It was during a visit to Kesaputta that the Buddha gave one of his most important discourses, the celebrated Kessaputtiya Sutta, popularly known as the Kalama Sutta. Various wandering teachers would come to Kesaputta, expound their own idea and criticize the idea of others. As a result the Kalamas didn’t know whom to believe. The Buddha advised them to reply on their own experience.

‘It is good to doubt, Kalamas. Doubt has arisen in a matter that is doubtful. Do not be led by revelation, by hearsay or by lineage. Do not be led by the sacred scriptures, by logical conjecture or by inference. Do not be led by analogies, by speculation, by probability or because you think, “He is our teacher.” But when yourself know, “These things are skillful, these things are blameless, these things are praised by the wise and when acted upon lead to welfare and happiness,” then follow them.’

Stupa

Even in its ruined state Kesariya’s Stupa is an extremely impressive sight.
Cunningham found it to be 424 meters in circumference and 51 feet high. He wrote, “The excavations have disclosed the walls of a small temple 10 feet square, and the head and shoulders of colossal figure of the Buddha, with the usual crisp curly hair.’ Proper excavations were started in Kesariya only in 1999 and are still not completed. The lower part of the stupa dates from the Gupta period while the upper part and dome was added during the Pala period. The stupa rises in six huge terraces each of a different shape in similar fashion to the Lauriya Nandangaha stupa. Around the sides of each terrace are cells containing life-size statues of the Buddha in the earth-touching gesture.

Kushinagar

Then Ananda said to the Lord: ‘Lord, do not pass away into final Nivana in this wattle-and-daub town, this jungle town, this town in the woods.

As the end drew near, the Buddha gave some last instructions on practical matters, and then reminded those gathered around that they could still practice the Dhamma even though he would not be there to guide them: ‘Ananda, you may think: “The Teacher’s instruction has ceased, now we have no teacher! “But it should not be seen like this. Let the Dhamma and the discipline that I have taught and explained to you be your teacher after my passing.’ Then the Buddha uttered his last words: ‘Now, monks, I say to you, all conditioned things are subjected to decay, strive on with diligence.’ ‘Those who were not yet enlightened wept and cried, saying: “ Too soon has the Lord passed away, too soon has the Happy One passed away, too soon has the Eye of the World closed.”