The Pali account of the Buddha's last months, his last meal, his last words.
The Shakya prince of Kapilavastu who left his palace, sat beneath the Bodhi tree, and set in motion the wheel of the dharma. The historical Buddha whose words seeded a tradition that now belongs to a fifth of humanity.
The Buddha's cousin and personal attendant for the last twenty-five years of his life. Foremost among the bhikkhus in learning, in memory, in good conduct, in steadfastness, and in personal attendance. The night before the First Council, he attained arahantship between waking and lying down.
The second basket of the Pali Canon — the Buddha's discourses, organized into five great collections (nikayas) preserving over ten thousand teachings.
The Parinirvana.
