THE BUDDHA'S FAREWELL

  WHEN the Blessed One had remained as long as he wished at Ambapali's

grove, he went to Beluva, near Vesali. There the Blessed One addressed

the brethren, and said: "O mendicants, take up your abode for the

rainy season round about Vesali, each one according to the place where

his friends and near companions may live. I shall enter upon the rainy

season here at Beluva."

  When the Blessed One had thus entered upon the rainy season there

fell upon him a dire sickness and sharp pains came upon him even

unto death. But the Blessed One, mindful and self-possessed, bore

his ailments without complaint. Then this thought occurred to the

Blessed. It would not be right for me to pass away from life without

addressing the disciples, without taking leave of the order. Let me

now, by a strong effort of the will, subdue this sickness, and keep my

hold on life till the allotted time have come." And the Blessed One by

a strong effort of the will subdued the sickness, and kept his hold on

life till the time he fixed upon should come. And the sickness abated.

  Thus the Blessed One began to recover; and when he had quite got rid

of the sickness, he went out from the monastery, and sat down on a

seat spread out in the open air. And the venerable Ananda, accompanied

by many other disciples, approached where the Blessed One was, saluted

him, and taking a seat respectfully on one side, said: "'I have

beheld, Lord, how the Blessed One was in health, and I have beheld how

the Blessed One had to suffer. And though at the sight of the sickness

of the Blessed One my body became weak as a creeper, and the horizon

became dim to me, and my faculties were no longer clear, yet

notwithstanding I took some little comfort from the thought that the

Blessed One would not pass away from existence until at least he had

left instructions as touching the order."

  The Blessed One addressed Ananda in behalf of the order, saying:

"What, then, Ananda, does the order expect of me? I have preached

the truth without making any distinction between doctrine hidden or

revealed; for in respect of the truth, Ananda, the Tathagata has no

such thing as the closed fist of a teacher, who keeps some things

back.

  "Surely, Ananda, should there be any one who harbor the thought, "It

is I who will lead the brotherhood,' or, 'The order is dependent

upon me,' he should lay down instructions in any matter concerning the

order. Now the Tathagata, Ananda, thinks not that it is he who

should lead the brotherhood, or that the order is dependent upon

him. Why, then, should the Tathagata leave instructions in any

matter concerning the order?

  "I am now grown old, O Ananda, and full of years; my journey is

drawing to its close, I have reached the sum of my days, I am

turning eighty years of age. Just as a wornout cart can not be made to

move along without much difficulty, so the body of the Tathagata can

only be kept going with much additional care. It is only when the

Tathagata, Ananda, ceasing to attend to any outward thing, becomes

plunged in that devout meditation of heart which is concerned with

no bodily object, it is only then that the body of the Tathagata is at

ease.

  "Therefore, O Ananda, be ye lamps unto yourselves. Rely on

yourselves, and do not rely on external help. Hold fast to the truth

as a lamp. Seek salvation alone in the truth. Look not for

assistance to any one besides yourselves.

  "And how, Ananda, can a brother be a lamp unto himself, rely on

himself only and not on any external help, holding fast to the truth

as his lamp and seeking salvation in the truth alone, looking not

for assistance to any one besides himself? Herein, O Ananda, let a

brother, as he dwells in the body, so regard the body that he, being

strenuous, thoughtful, and mindful, may, whilst in the world, overcome

the grief which arises from the body's cravings. While subject to

sensations let him continue so to regard the sensations that he, being

strenuous, thoughtful, and mindful, may, whilst in the world, overcome

the grief which arises from the sensations. And so, also, when he

thinks or reasons, or feels, let him so regard his thoughts that being

strenuous, thoughtful and mindful he may, whilst in the world,

overcome the grief which arises from the craving due to ideas, or to

reasoning, or to feeling.

  "Those who, either now or after I am dead, shall be lamps unto

themselves, relying upon themselves only and not relying upon any

external help, but holding fast to the truth as their lamp, and

seeking their salvation in the truth alone, and shall not look for

assistance to any one besides themselves, it is they, Ananda, among my

bhikkhus, who shall reach the very topmost height! But they must be

anxious to learn."