Departure of the Perfected One

Departure of the Perfected One: The Story of the Buddha’s Transition from Earth to Nirvana—the Mahāparinibbānasutta

Presenting vivid pictures of Gautama Buddha’s life, teaching, suffering, death, and subsequent nirvāṇa, the Mahāparinibbānasutta is a principal Buddhist text. In Hermann Beckh’s words, it describes “one of the greatest human beings that ever lived, who stood at the threshold of the super-human—a teacher and leader of humanity.”

Prof. Beckh’s translation of this important sutta achieved a quality and faithfulness based on decades of extensive study and meditation. From his academic and spiritual knowledge, Beckh added insightful editorial material, including an introduction, commentary, and notes. The English rendering here—by Indologist andlong-standing Buddhist practitioner Dr Katrin Binder—is based on both the original Pālī and Beckh’s German translation. An afterword by Thomas Meyer—informed by Rudolf Steiner’s research—traces the development of Buddha’s individuality in the afterlife.

Departure of the Perfected One concludes Beckh’s great triad of works on the subject of Buddha, which includes Buddha’s Life and Teaching and From Buddha to Christ. Through a contemporary reading, these books open up vast new perspectives on the world of sacred Buddhist scriptures to anyone interested in spiritual development.

C O N T E N T S:

Preface by Neil Franklin
Translator’s Note by Katrin Binder
Introduction by Hermann Beckh

THE SACRED NARRATIVE OF THE GREAT NIRVANA

Afterword by Thomas Meyer
Postscript: Transference of Merit and Self-surrender
Editor’s note by Hermann Beckh

About the Author

Hermann Beckh (1875–1937) studied Law and later Sanskrit, becoming Professor of Oriental Studies at the University of Berlin. A master of ancient and modern languages, he wrote extensively on religious and philosophical subjects, including Buddhism, Indology, Christianity, alchemy, and music. In 1911, he heard a lecture by Rudolf Steiner and was inspired to join the Anthroposophical Society, where he became a valued coworker. In 1922, he helped found The Christian Community, a movement for religious renewal. His many books are gradually being translated from the original German and published in English.