inspiring suttas on grave illness and death
https://discourse.suttacentral.net/t/suttas-related-to-sickness/9777/2
AN 10.60 girimananda, 10 perceptions
I’d be interested to read what the commentary for that sutta says, but I suspect the ending of the sutta got a “hollywood ending” where he magically recovers from the grave illness upon hearing the 10 perceptions recited.
What would be much more realistic, and I suspect the true and original version of the sutta,
Girimananda dies at the end of the sutta from the grave illness, is reborn in the deva realm, with his memory of the 10 perceptions intact, as well as his memories of Dhamma, vinaya, the way of practice leading to Arahantship. Then abiding diligent, ardent, resolute, soon he realized the goal of the holy life…(attains arahantship while in the deva realm)
By giving the hollywood ending, AN 10.60 misses the point, and people treat it as another bojjhanga placebo paritta, a magical incantation to recover from illness.
What I seein this sutta, is the Buddha giving girimanda his final care package, a short summary of the holy life, so he can die well and quickly accomplish his mission upon rebirth in the deva realm with those 10 perceptions.
MN 143 Sariputta gives deep talk on letting go to Anathapindika on his death bed
SN 52 Anuruddha uses 4sp