MN 140, the poignant story about Pukkusati unknowingly meeting the Lord Buddha, is certainly an inspiring, lofty, deep, supramundane & often favourite sutta. But is it fake, i.e., a later addition? MN 140 includes the following Pali sentence, including the words 'paraṃ maraṇā':
Compare with SN 12.51:‘kāyassa bhedā paraṃ maraṇā uddhaṃ jīvitapariyādānā idheva sabbavedayitāni anabhinanditāni sītībhavissantī’ti pajānāti.
One discerns that 'With the break-up of the body, after the termination of life, all that is sensed, not being relished, will grow cold right here.' (Thanissaro)
They understand: ‘When my body breaks up and my life has come to an end, everything that’s felt, since I no longer take pleasure in it, will become cool right here.’ (Sujato)
MN 140 https://suttacentral.net/mn140/en/sujato
Compare with Iti 44:Kāyassa bhedā uddhaṃ jīvitapariyādānā idheva sabbavedayitāni anabhinanditāni sītībhavissanti, sarīrāni avasissantīti pajānāti.
They understand: ‘When my body breaks up and my life has come to an end, everything that’s felt, since I no longer take pleasure in it, will become cool right here. Only bodily remains will be left.’ (Sujato)
SN 12.51 https://suttacentral.net/sn12.51/en/sujato
Now the issue I have with MN 140 is the words "paraṃ maraṇā", which neither Bhikkhus Thanissaro, Bodhi or Sujato appear to have translated. I note how Bhikkhu Sujato's translations of MN 140 and SN 12.51 are identical yet the Pali in these two suttas is not identical, given SN 12.51 does not include the words "paraṃ maraṇā".Tassa idheva, bhikkhave, sabbavedayitāni anabhinanditāni sīti bhavissanti
For him, here in this very life, all that is experienced, not being delighted in, will be extinguished. That, bhikkhus, is called the Nibbāna-element with no residue left.
https://suttacentral.net/iti44/en/ireland
I have mentioned before how many suttas say arahants or a Tathagata do not experience "death" ("marana"). Also & importantly, the term "paraṃ maraṇā" appears to be found in suttas about kamma & the rebirth of non-arahants. Rebirth occurs with "paraṃ maraṇā" as a preceding cause.
While I think the translation of "termination of life" for "jīvitapariyādānā" is OK, how can Nibbana occur "paraṃ maraṇā" as described in MN 140?
Any opinions?