METTEYYA

METTEYYA

  THE Blessed One proceeded with a great company of the brethren to

the sala grove of the Mallas, the Upavattana of Kusinara on the

further side of the river Hirannavati, and when he had arrived he

addressed the venerable Ananda, and said: "Make ready for me, I pray

you, Ananda, the couch with its head to the north, between the twin

sala trees. I am weary, Ananda, and wish to lie down."

  "Be it so, Lord!" said the venerable Ananda, and he spread a couch

with its head to the north, between the twin sala trees. And the

Blessed One laid himself down, and he was mindful and self-possessed.

  Now, at that time the twin sala trees were full of bloom with

flowers out of season; and heavenly songs came wafted from the

skies, out of reverence for the successor of the Buddhas of old. And

Ananda was filled with wonder that the Blessed One was thus honored.

But the Blessed One said: "Not by such events, Ananda, is the

Tathagata rightly honored, held sacred, or revered. But the devout

man, who continually fulfills the greater and lesser duties, walking

according to the precepts, it is who rightly honors, holds sacred, and

reveres the Tathagata with the worthiest homage. Therefore, O

Ananda, be ye constant in the fulfillment of the greater and of the

lesser duties, and walk according to the precepts; thus, Ananda,

will ye honor the Master."

  Then the venerable Ananda went into the vihara, and stood leaning

against the doorpost, weeping at the thought: "Alas! I remain still

but a learner, one who has yet to work out his own perfection. And the

Master is about to pass away from me-who is so kind!"

  Now, the Blessed One called the brethren, and said: "Where, O

brethren, is Ananda?" One of the brethren went and called Ananda.

And Ananda came and said to the Blessed One: "Deep darkness reigned

for want of wisdom; the world of sentient creatures was groping for

want of light; then the Tathagata lit up the lamp of wisdom, and now

it will be extinguished again, ere he has brought it out."

  The Blessed One said to the venerable Ananda, as he sat there by his

side: "Enough, Ananda Let not thy self be troubled; do not weep!

Have I not already, on former occasions, told you that it is in the

very nature of all things most near and dear unto us that we must

separate from them and leave them? The foolish man conceives the

idea of 'self,' the wise man sees there is no ground on which to build

the idea of 'self,' thus he has a right conception of the world and

well concludes that all compounds amassed by sorrow will be

dissolved again, but the truth will remain. Why should I preserve this

body of flesh, when the body of the excellent law will endure? I am

resolved; having accomplished my purpose and attended to the work

set me, I look for rest I For a long time, Ananda, thou hast been very

near to me by thoughts and acts of such love as is beyond all measure.

Thou hast done well, Ananda I Be earnest in effort and thou too

shalt soon be free from evils, from sensuality, from selfishness, from

delusion, and from ignorance!"

  Ananda, suppressing his tears, said to the Blessed One: "Who shall

teach us when thou art gone?"

  And the Blessed One replied: "I am not the first Buddha who came

upon earth, nor shall I be the last. In due time another Buddha will

arise in the world, a Holy One, a supremely enlightened One, endowed

with wisdom in conduct, auspicious, knowing the universe, an

incomparable leader of men, a master of angels and mortals. He will

reveal to you the same eternal truths which I have taught you. He will

preach his religion, glorious in its origin, glorious at the climax,

and glorious at the goal, in the spirit and in the letter. He will

proclaim a religious life, wholly perfect and pure; such as I now

proclaim."

  Ananda said: "How shall we know him?" The Blessed One said: "He will

be known as Metteyya, which means 'he whose name is kindness.'"