The Lord Buddha

I watched a programme, last week, which explained many things about The Lord Buddha - His Birth - His Enlightenment - His Death.

During this I learnt that he, apparently, foretold his own death (to his followers) and then proceeded to accept an invitation to eat at the home of a blacksmith.

On that visit he would NOT allow his companion (his name escapes me but was one of his most faithful followers) to eat anything, which was most unusual and proceeded to eat ALL of the food provided, following which he died of food poisoning.

My questions are these (and I ask them with all respect):

1) Did he, knowingly, commit suicide - Knowing the food was poisoned?

Or

2) Could it just be historians attempting to recreate the "Last Supper"?

If there is anyone on this forum who understands more than just the fundamentals of Buddhism I would be very interested to learn what they think!

I have not asked my TGF (Who is VERY religious) because I think she would feel that I was being disrespectful, which is the last thing that I wish to be.

As Buddha live more than 500 years before Jesus, it's not possible that the chroniclers were trying to recreate the last supper of Jesus and his disciples.

Here's one Monks analysis of the Buddha's passing.

During Wesak Day, we are informed that it is also the day Buddha attained Parinibbana. But not many know how the Buddha died. Ancient texts weave two stories about the Lord Buddha's death. Was it planned and willed by the Buddha, or was it food poisoning, or something else altogether? Here's an account

http://www.viet.net/~anson/ebud/ebdha192.htm

UdonExpat wrote:As Buddha live more than 500 years before Jesus, it's not possible that the chroniclers were trying to recreate the last supper of Jesus and his disciples.

Here's one Monks analysis of the Buddha's passing.

During Wesak Day, we are informed that it is also the day Buddha attained Parinibbana. But not many know how the Buddha died. Ancient texts weave two stories about the Lord Buddha's death. Was it planned and willed by the Buddha, or was it food poisoning, or something else altogether? Here's an account

http://www.viet.net/~anson/ebud/ebdha192.htm

I've accessed the website and saved it to read later/tomorrow but wanted to thank you for your reply.

I was not suggesting, though, that the Lord Buddha's death had been misrepresented - only that later historians may have used the "Last Supper" as a guide, because it was then (already) a story that had captured the imagination and (as such) one that people could relate to.

Can you see the similarities?

Yes. It's unlikely that the texts of any religion get handed down through time without some enterprising monks, priests, mullas, yogis, or whatever, 'improving' the stories and accomplishments of their chosen teacher, redeemer, prophet, sadhu, or whatever.