The Cambridge History of India, Vol. I: Ancient India v1.c19.s9.28

v1.c19.s9.28

Of the long episodes the first is in the Majjhima¹, and describes the events of the period from the time when he had first become a Wanderer down to his attainment of *Nibbāna* (or Arahantship) under the Bodhi Tree². The events are not the names and dates of kings and battles, but events in religious experience, the gradually increased grasp of ethical and philosophical concepts, the victory won over oneself. The Vinaya, very naturally, continues this episode down to the time of the founding of the Order, the sending forth of the sixty and the accession of the most famous of the Arahants³. This episode covers about seven years, the Vinaya addition to it being responsible for one. The other long episode, about twice as long as the first, describes in detail the events of the last month of the Buddha's life. It is contained in the Dīgha, and forms a whole Suttanta, the *Mahā-parinibbāna Suttanta*, referred to above as a composite document.