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Buddha's words came true. Devadatta and Ananda, cousins of the Buddha, also became his disciples. At the age of sixty the Buddha appointed Ananda as his chief attendant. Ananda remained in Lord Buddha's service wholeheartedly until Buddha's passing away from this material world.
Towards the Setting Sun (End of Buddha's
Life)
Buddha continued to teach the path to ultimate freedom which is achieved by following the truth, practicing nonviolence, and maintaining purity of conduct. He gave understanding to people with regard to purity of the self and the Inner Light. In 483 B.C.E., at the age of 80, while in Kushinagar (in the Gorakhpur district in the state of Uttar Pradesh), the Buddha left his physical
body and attained Mahparanirvana (Great Freedom).
In the last moments of his life he gave final words to his disciples:
O! Mendicants! Be a lamp to thyself and take refuge in yourself. Be your own support and make Dharma (the path of the Buddha) your lamp, taking refuge in it.
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