Parinirvana Day: the death of the Buddha

The Buddha’s death came when he was eighty years old after spending some forty years teaching following his Enlightenment. The notion that all things are impermanent is central to Buddhist teaching and, for Buddhists, loss and impermanence are things to be accepted rather than just being causes of pain and grief. The Maha-parinibbana Sutta gives a moving and dignified account of the Buddha’s last days and passages from it are often read on Parinirvana Day.

The day is used as an opportunity to reflect on the fact of one’s own future death and on people whom one has known who have recently died.

Please bring photos, objects or memories of those who have passed over the last year.

All welcome.

Listen to talks on Parinirvana, and on the theme of death and dying.