Birth, Enlightenment, Death (Parinirvana)

A chronicle of The Enlightened One, who once walked this Earth:

(I couldn't find a satisfactorily cute-yet-mighty, standalone pic without anyone but the Buddha when he was just born. Had to made do with the one below.)

And finally, this is by far my favourite Parinibbana portrayal.

As the Buddha was lying down, the Enlightened One said thus to the Venerable Ananda and the rest of the Bhikkus:

"Enough, Ananda! Do not grieve, do not lament! For have I not taught from the very beginning that with all that is dear and beloved there must be change, separation, and severance? Of that which is born, come into being, compounded, and subject to decay, how can one say: 'May it not come to dissolution!'? There can be no such state of things. Now for a long time, Ananda, you have served the Tathagata with loving-kindness in deed, word, and thought, graciously, pleasantly, with a whole heart and beyond measure. Great good have you gathered, Ananda! Now you should put forth energy, and soon you too will be free from the taints."

"Behold now, bhikkhus, I exhort you: All compounded things are subject to vanish. Strive with earnestness!"

As the Buddha entered into Parinirvana, never to be born again into any world, Sakka, the king of the gods uttered thus:

"Transient are all compounded things, Subject to arise and vanish; Having come into existence they pass away; Good is the peace when they forever cease. "

As only the Bhikkus remained, Venerable Maha Kassapa spoke out thus:

"Enough friends! Do not grieve, do not lament! For has not the Blessed One declared that with all that is dear and beloved there must be change, separation, and severance? Of that which is born, come into being, compounded, and subject to decay, how can one say: 'May it not come to dissolution!'?"

As I reflected this, I thought thus:

"All compounded things are subject to decay, seperation and impermanence.

The chronical of myself: Birth, Unknown, Death, Rebirth..."