Realising the end is near

81. In the morning, after eating, the Buddha went to the Pava Stupa to meditate. He sat on a rock in the shade of a tree and investigated with his mind when he would be due to pass away. He concluded that he would enter the final nirvana after three months. When he told this to Ananda, Ananda begged him: “Please stay and continue helping people to end suffering!” The Buddha replied: “Ananda, the life of the Buddha is drawing to its close. He will attain final nirvana three months from now. Death is unavoidable.”