It is a story told about the Buddha that as he stood upon the verge of Nirvana, he turned away, refusing the dissolution as long as a single person is suffering in the world. It is this aspect of Buddha that reflects his love and compassion, which is known as Maitreyi Amitabh Buddha. The story is mainly believed by the Mahayana sect of Buddhism. It is a story of Buddha quoted by Sri Aurobindo and the Mother.
Affectionately,
Alok Da
Follow-up question:
The Buddha attained Nirvana, and people are still suffering, so how could this be true that he refused the Dissolution as long as a single person is suffering in the world?
This story is only to convey the point of Buddha’s compassion and the higher urge in man that refuses personal salvation and prefers to work for making this earth a better, a diviner place. The example of Buddha is given only to illustrate that personal moksha or individual nirvana is not the highest goal. It is, in fact, the last bond of illusion that man has to get rid of to arrive at the Divine Perfection.
As to the Buddha being in Nirvana, the Mother narrates an interesting incidence. She was in active contact with the Buddha at one point in time and narrates her communication with him in one of her prayers dated December 20, 1916. This would not be possible if he had entered Nirvana. Later, she reveals the truth of Buddha’s nirvana to a Buddhist friend from her old days, thus.
‘But, you know, I am desperately struggling against all those who conceive of spiritual life as… brrt! you go off. That’s just the beginning. As for me, I always answer with the story of Buddha: as he was about to enter Nirvana, he suddenly realized that the earth had to be changed… and stayed on.
I remember, once, it was with Madame David-Neel. It’s very interesting. She came to give a lecture (I wasn’t acquainted with her, that’s where I met her for the first time), I think it was at the Theosophical Society (I forget). I went to the lecture, and while she was speaking, I saw Buddha — I saw him clearly: not above her head, a little to the side. He was present. So after the lecture, I was introduced to her (I didn’t know the kind of woman she was!), and I said to her, “Oh, Madam, during your speech I saw Buddha present.” She answered me (in a furious tone), “Impossible! Buddha is in Nirvana!” (Mother laughs) Oho!… “Better keep quiet!” I thought.
But he really was there, whatever she thought!
That’s what it is: going away.’
This does not mean that Buddha had found the way to make this world a better place. His delaying the merger was to take as many beings into nirvana as he could.
Affectionately,
Alok Da
