Dn16 — Chapter 7

Long Discourses 16

The Great Discourse on the Buddha’s Extinguishment

So I have heard.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, on the Vulture’s Peak Mountain.

Now at that time King Ajātasattu of Magadha, son of the princess of Videha, wanted to invade the Vajjis.

He declared:

“I shall wipe out these Vajjis, so mighty and powerful! I shall destroy them, and lay ruin and devastation upon them!”

And then King Ajātasattu addressed Vassakāra the brahmin minister of Magadha,

“Please, brahmin, go to the Buddha, and in my name bow with your head to his feet. Ask him if he is healthy and well, nimble, strong, and living comfortably.

And then say:

‘Sir, King Ajātasattu of Magadha, son of the princess of Videha, wants to invade the Vajjis.

He says,

“I shall wipe out these Vajjis, so mighty and powerful! I shall destroy them, and lay ruin and devastation upon them!”’

Remember well how the Buddha answers and tell it to me.

For Realized Ones say nothing that is not so.”

1. The Brahmin Vassakāra

“Yes, worthy sir,” Vassakāra replied. He had the finest carriages harnessed. Then he mounted a fine carriage and, along with other fine carriages, set out from Rājagaha for the Vulture’s Peak Mountain.

He went by carriage as far as the terrain allowed, then descended and approached the Buddha on foot, and exchanged greetings with him.

When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha,

“Worthy Gotama, King Ajātasattu of Magadha, son of the princess of Videha, bows with his head to your feet. He asks if you are healthy and well, nimble, strong, and living comfortably.

Worthy Gotama, King Ajātasattu wants to invade the Vajjis.

He has declared:

‘I shall wipe out these Vajjis, so mighty and powerful! I shall destroy them, and lay ruin and devastation upon them!’”

2. Principles That Prevent Decline

Now at that time Venerable Ānanda was standing behind the Buddha fanning him.

Then the Buddha said to him,

“Ānanda, have you heard that the Vajjis meet frequently and have many meetings?”

“I have heard that, sir.”

“As long as the Vajjis meet frequently and have many meetings, they can expect growth, not decline.

Ānanda, have you heard that the Vajjis meet in harmony, leave in harmony, and carry on their business in harmony?”

“I have heard that, sir.”

“As long as the Vajjis meet in harmony, leave in harmony, and carry on their business in harmony, they can expect growth, not decline.

Ānanda, have you heard that the Vajjis don’t make new decrees or abolish existing decrees, but proceed having undertaken the ancient Vajjian traditions as they have been decreed?”

“I have heard that, sir.”

“As long as the Vajjis don’t make new decrees or abolish existing decrees, but proceed having undertaken the ancient Vajjian traditions as they have been decreed, they can expect growth, not decline.

Ānanda, have you heard that the Vajjis honor, respect, esteem, and venerate Vajjian elders, and think them worth listening to?”

“I have heard that, sir.”

“As long as the Vajjis honor, respect, esteem, and venerate Vajjian elders, and think them worth listening to, they can expect growth, not decline.

Ānanda, have you heard that the Vajjis don’t forcibly abduct the women or girls of the clans and make them live with them?”

“I have heard that, sir.”

“As long as the Vajjis don’t forcibly abduct the women or girls of the clans and make them live with them, they can expect growth, not decline.

Ānanda, have you heard that the Vajjis honor, respect, esteem, and venerate the Vajjian shrines, whether inner or outer, not neglecting the proper spirit-offerings that were given and made in the past?”

“I have heard that, sir.”

“As long as the Vajjis honor, respect, esteem, and venerate the Vajjian shrines, whether inner or outer, not neglecting the proper spirit-offerings that were given and made in the past, they can expect growth, not decline.

Ānanda, have you heard that the Vajjis organize proper protection, shelter, and security for perfected ones, so that more perfected ones might come to the realm and those already here may live in comfort?”

“I have heard that, sir.”

“As long as the Vajjis organize proper protection, shelter, and security for perfected ones, so that more perfected ones might come to the realm and those already here may live in comfort, they can expect growth, not decline.”

Then the Buddha said to Vassakāra,

“Brahmin, this one time I was staying near Vesālī at the Sārandada Shrine.

There I taught the Vajjis these seven principles that prevent decline.

As long as these seven principles that prevent decline last among the Vajjis, and as long as the Vajjis are seen following them, they can expect growth, not decline.”

When the Buddha had spoken, Vassakāra said to him,

“Worthy Gotama, if the Vajjis follow even a single one of these principles they can expect growth, not decline.

How much more so all seven!

King Ajātasattu cannot defeat the Vajjis in war, unless by bribery or by sowing dissension.

Well, now, worthy Gotama, I must go. I have many duties, and much to do.”

“Please, brahmin, go at your convenience.”

Then Vassakāra the brahmin, having approved and agreed with what the Buddha said, got up from his seat and left.

3. Principles That Prevent Decline Among the Mendicants

Soon after he had left, the Buddha said to Ānanda,

“Go, Ānanda, gather all the mendicants staying in the vicinity of Rājagaha together in the assembly hall.”

“Yes, sir,” replied Ānanda. He did what the Buddha asked. Then he went back, bowed, stood to one side, and said to him,

“Sir, the mendicant Saṅgha has assembled. Please, sir, go at your convenience.”

Then the Buddha went to the assembly hall, where he sat on the seat spread out

and addressed the mendicants:

“Mendicants, I will teach you these seven principles that prevent decline.

Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”

“Yes, sir,” they replied.

The Buddha said this:

“As long as the mendicants meet frequently and have many meetings, they can expect growth, not decline.

As long as the mendicants meet in harmony, leave in harmony, and carry on their business in harmony, they can expect growth, not decline.

As long as the mendicants don’t make new decrees or abolish existing decrees, but undertake and follow the training rules as they have been decreed, they can expect growth, not decline.

As long as the mendicants honor, respect, esteem, and venerate the senior mendicants—of long standing, long gone forth, fathers and leaders of the Saṅgha—and think them worth listening to, they can expect growth, not decline.

As long as the mendicants don’t fall under the sway of arisen craving for future lives, they can expect growth, not decline.

As long as the mendicants take care to live in wilderness lodgings, they can expect growth, not decline.

As long as the mendicants individually establish mindfulness, so that more good-hearted spiritual companions might come, and those that have already come may live comfortably, they can expect growth, not decline.

As long as these seven principles that prevent decline last among the mendicants, and as long as the mendicants are seen following them, they can expect growth, not decline.

I will teach you seven more principles that prevent decline. …

As long as the mendicants don’t relish work, loving it and liking to relish it, they can expect growth, not decline.

As long as they don’t relish talk …

sleep …

company …

they don’t have corrupt wishes, falling under the sway of corrupt wishes …

they don’t have bad friends, companions, and associates …

they don’t stop half-way after achieving some trifling distinction, they can expect growth, not decline.

As long as these seven principles that prevent decline last among the mendicants, and as long as the mendicants are seen following them, they can expect growth, not decline.

I will teach you seven more principles that prevent decline. …

As long as the mendicants are faithful …

conscientious …

prudent …

learned …

energetic …

mindful …

wise, they can expect growth, not decline.

As long as these seven principles that prevent decline last among the mendicants, and as long as the mendicants are seen following them, they can expect growth, not decline.

I will teach you seven more principles that prevent decline. …

As long as the mendicants develop the awakening factors of mindfulness …

investigation of principles …

energy …

rapture …

tranquility …

immersion …

equanimity, they can expect growth, not decline.

As long as these seven principles that prevent decline last among the mendicants, and as long as the mendicants are seen following them, they can expect growth, not decline.

I will teach you seven more principles that prevent decline. …

As long as the mendicants develop the perceptions of impermanence …

not-self …

ugliness …

drawbacks …

giving up …

fading away …

cessation, they can expect growth, not decline.

As long as these seven principles that prevent decline last among the mendicants, and as long as the mendicants are seen following them, they can expect growth, not decline.

I will teach you six principles that prevent decline. …

As long as the mendicants consistently treat their spiritual companions with bodily kindness …

verbal kindness …

and mental kindness both in public and in private, they can expect growth, not decline.

As long as the mendicants share without reservation any material things they have gained by legitimate means, even the food placed in the alms-bowl, using them in common with their ethical spiritual companions, they can expect growth, not decline.

As long as the mendicants live according to the precepts shared with their spiritual companions, both in public and in private—such precepts as are intact, impeccable, spotless, and unmarred, liberating, praised by sensible people, not mistaken, and leading to immersion—they can expect growth, not decline.

As long as the mendicants live according to the view shared with their spiritual companions, both in public and in private—the view that is noble and emancipating, and delivers one who practices it to the complete end of suffering—they can expect growth, not decline.

As long as these six principles that prevent decline last among the mendicants, and as long as the mendicants are seen following them, they can expect growth, not decline.”

And while staying there at the Vulture’s Peak the Buddha often gave this Dhamma talk to the mendicants:

“Such is ethics, such is immersion, such is wisdom.

When immersion is imbued with ethics it’s very fruitful and beneficial.

When wisdom is imbued with immersion it’s very fruitful and beneficial.

When the mind is imbued with wisdom it is rightly freed from the defilements, namely,

the defilements of sensuality, desire to be reborn, and ignorance.”

When the Buddha had stayed in Rājagaha as long as he pleased, he addressed Venerable Ānanda,

“Come, Ānanda, let’s go to Ambalaṭṭhikā.”

“Yes, sir,” Ānanda replied.

Then the Buddha together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants arrived at Ambalaṭṭhikā,

where he stayed in the royal rest-house.

And while staying there, too, he often gave this Dhamma talk to the mendicants:

“Such is ethics, such is immersion, such is wisdom.

When immersion is imbued with ethics it’s very fruitful and beneficial.

When wisdom is imbued with immersion it’s very fruitful and beneficial.

When the mind is imbued with wisdom it is rightly freed from the defilements, namely,

the defilements of sensuality, desire to be reborn, and ignorance.”

When the Buddha had stayed in Ambalaṭṭhikā as long as he pleased, he addressed Venerable Ānanda,

“Come, Ānanda, let’s go to Nāḷandā.”

“Yes, sir,” Ānanda replied.

Then the Buddha together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants arrived at Nāḷandā,

where he stayed in Pāvārika’s mango grove.

4. Sāriputta’s Lion’s Roar

Then Sāriputta went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him,

“Sir, I have such confidence in the Buddha that

I believe there’s no other ascetic or brahmin—whether past, future, or present—whose direct knowledge is superior to the Buddha when it comes to awakening.”

“That’s a grand and bold statement, Sāriputta. You’ve roared a definitive, categorical lion’s roar, saying:

‘I have such confidence in the Buddha that

I believe there’s no other ascetic or brahmin—whether past, future, or present—whose direct knowledge is superior to the Buddha when it comes to awakening.’

What about all the perfected ones, the fully awakened Buddhas who lived in the past? Have you encompassed their minds to know that

those Buddhas had such ethics, or such qualities, or such wisdom, or such meditation, or such freedom?”

“No, sir.”

“And what about all the perfected ones, the fully awakened Buddhas who will live in the future? Have you encompassed their minds to know that

those Buddhas will have such ethics, or such qualities, or such wisdom, or such meditation, or such freedom?”

“No, sir.”

“And what about me, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha at present? Have you encompassed my mind to know that

I have such ethics, or such qualities, or such wisdom, or such meditation, or such freedom?”

“No, sir.”

“In that case, Sāriputta, given that you don’t encompass the minds of Buddhas past, future, or present,

what then are you doing, making such a grand and bold statement, roaring such a definitive, categorical lion’s roar?”

“Sir, though I don’t encompass the minds of Buddhas past, future, and present,

still I understand this by inference from the teaching.

Suppose there was a king’s frontier citadel with fortified embankments, ramparts, and arches, and a single gate.

And it has a gatekeeper who is astute, competent, and intelligent. He keeps strangers out and lets known people in.

As he walks around the patrol path, he doesn’t see a hole or cleft in the wall, not even one big enough for a cat to slip out.

He thinks:

‘Whatever sizable creatures enter or leave the citadel, all of them do so via this gate.’

In the same way, I understand this by inference from the teaching:

‘All the perfected ones, fully awakened Buddhas—whether past, future, or present—give up the five hindrances, corruptions of the heart that weaken wisdom. Their mind is firmly established in the four kinds of mindfulness meditation. They correctly develop the seven awakening factors. And they awaken to the supreme perfect awakening.’”

And while staying at Nāḷandā, too, the Buddha often gave this Dhamma talk to the mendicants:

“Such is ethics, such is immersion, such is wisdom.

When immersion is imbued with ethics it’s very fruitful and beneficial.

When wisdom is imbued with immersion it’s very fruitful and beneficial.

When the mind is imbued with wisdom it is rightly freed from the defilements, namely,

the defilements of sensuality, desire to be reborn, and ignorance.”

5. The Drawbacks of Unethical Conduct

When the Buddha had stayed in Nāḷandā as long as he pleased, he addressed Venerable Ānanda,

“Come, Ānanda, let’s go to Pāṭali Village.”

“Yes, sir,” Ānanda replied.

Then the Buddha together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants arrived at Pāṭali Village.

The lay followers of Pāṭali Village heard that he had arrived.

So they went to see him, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him,

“Sir, please consent to come to our guest house.”

The Buddha consented with silence.

Then, knowing that the Buddha had consented, the lay followers of Pāṭali Village got up from their seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on their right. Then they went to the guest house, where they spread carpets all over, prepared seats, set up a water jar, and placed an oil lamp. Then they went back to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and told him of their preparations, saying:

“Please, sir, come at your convenience.”

In the morning, the Buddha robed up and, taking his bowl and robe, went to the guest house together with the Saṅgha of mendicants. Having washed his feet he entered the guest house and sat against the central column facing east.

The Saṅgha of mendicants also washed their feet, entered the guest house, and sat against the west wall facing east, with the Buddha right in front of them.

The lay followers of Pāṭali Village also washed their feet, entered the guest house, and sat against the east wall facing west, with the Buddha right in front of them.

Then the Buddha addressed them:

“Householders, there are these five drawbacks for an unethical person because of their failure in ethics.

What five?

Firstly, an unethical person loses great wealth on account of negligence.

This is the first drawback for an unethical person because of their failure in ethics.

Furthermore, an unethical person gets a bad reputation.

This is the second drawback.

Furthermore, an unethical person enters any kind of assembly timid and embarrassed, whether it’s an assembly of aristocrats, brahmins, householders, or ascetics.

This is the third drawback.

Furthermore, an unethical person feels lost when they die.

This is the fourth drawback.

Furthermore, an unethical person, when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.

This is the fifth drawback.

These are the five drawbacks for an unethical person because of their failure in ethics.

6. The Benefits of Ethical Conduct

There are these five benefits for an ethical person because of their accomplishment in ethics.

What five?

Firstly, an ethical person gains great wealth on account of diligence.

This is the first benefit.

Furthermore, an ethical person gets a good reputation.

This is the second benefit.

Furthermore, an ethical person enters any kind of assembly bold and self-assured, whether it’s an assembly of aristocrats, brahmins, householders, or ascetics.

This is the third benefit.

Furthermore, an ethical person dies not feeling lost.

This is the fourth benefit.

Furthermore, when an ethical person’s body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.

This is the fifth benefit.

These are the five benefits for an ethical person because of their accomplishment in ethics.”

The Buddha spent much of the night educating, encouraging, firing up, and inspiring the lay followers of Pāṭali Village with a Dhamma talk. Then he sent them off,

“The night is getting late, householders. Please go at your convenience.”

“Yes, sir,” replied the lay followers of Pāṭali Village. They got up from their seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on their right, before leaving.

Soon after they left the Buddha entered a private cubicle.

7. Building a Citadel

Now at that time the Magadhan ministers Sunidha and Vassakāra were building a citadel at Pāṭali Village to keep the Vajjis out.

At that time thousands of deities were taking possession of building sites in Pāṭali Village.

Illustrious rulers or royal ministers inclined to build houses at sites possessed by illustrious deities.

Middling rulers or royal ministers inclined to build houses at sites possessed by middling deities.

Lesser rulers or royal ministers inclined to build houses at sites possessed by lesser deities.

With clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, the Buddha saw those deities taking possession of building sites in Pāṭali Village.

The Buddha rose at the crack of dawn and addressed Ānanda,

“Ānanda, who is building a citadel at Pāṭali Village?”

“Sir, the Magadhan ministers Sunidha and Vassakāra are building a citadel to keep the Vajjis out.”

“It’s as if they were building the citadel in consultation with the gods of the thirty-three.

With clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, I saw those deities taking possession of building sites.

Illustrious rulers or royal ministers inclined to build houses at sites possessed by illustrious deities.

Middling rulers or royal ministers inclined to build houses at sites possessed by middling deities.

Lesser rulers or royal ministers inclined to build houses at sites possessed by lesser deities.

As far as the civilized region extends, as far as the trading zone extends, this will be the chief city: the Pāṭaliputta trade center.

But Pāṭaliputta will face three threats:

from fire, flood, and dissension.”

Then the Magadhan ministers Sunidha and Vassakāra approached the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him.

When the greetings and polite conversation were over, they stood to one side and said,

“Would the worthy Gotama together with the mendicant Saṅgha please accept today’s meal from me?”

The Buddha consented with silence.

Then, knowing that the Buddha had consented, they went to their own guest house, where they had delicious fresh and cooked foods prepared. Then they had the Buddha informed of the time, saying,

“It’s time, worthy Gotama, the meal is ready.”

Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to their guest house together with the mendicant Saṅgha, where he sat on the seat spread out.

Then Sunidha and Vassakāra served and satisfied the mendicant Saṅgha headed by the Buddha with their own hands with delicious fresh and cooked foods.

When the Buddha had eaten and washed his hand and bowl, Sunidha and Vassakāra took a low seat and sat to one side.

The Buddha expressed his appreciation with these verses:

“In the place he makes his dwelling,

having fed the astute

and the virtuous here,

the restrained spiritual practitioners,

he should dedicate an offering

to the deities there.

Venerated, they venerate him;

honored, they honor him.

After that they have sympathy for him,

like a mother for the child at her breast.

A man beloved of the deities

always sees nice things.”

When the Buddha had expressed his appreciation to Sunidha and Vassakāra with these verses, he got up from his seat and left.

Sunidha and Vassakāra followed behind the Buddha, thinking,

“The gate through which the ascetic Gotama exits today shall be named the Gotama Gate.

The ford at which he crosses the Ganges River shall be named the Gotama Ford.”

Then the gate through which the Buddha exited was named the Gotama Gate.

Then the Buddha came to the Ganges River.

Now at that time the Ganges was full to the brim so a crow could drink from it.

Wanting to cross from the near to the far shore, some people were seeking a boat, some a dinghy, while some were tying up a raft.

But, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, the Buddha, together with the mendicant Saṅgha, vanished from the near shore and landed on the far shore.

He saw all those humans wanting to cross over.

Knowing the meaning of this, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:

“Those who cross a deluge or stream

have built a bridge and left the marshes behind.

While some people are still tying a raft,

intelligent people have crossed over.”

The first recitation section.

8. Talk on the Noble Truths

Then the Buddha said to Venerable Ānanda,

“Come, Ānanda, let’s go to the village of Koṭi.”

“Yes, sir,” Ānanda replied.

Then the Buddha together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants arrived at the village of Koṭi,

and stayed there.

There he addressed the mendicants:

“Mendicants, due to not understanding and not penetrating four noble truths, both you and I have wandered and transmigrated for such a very long time.

What four?

The noble truths of suffering,

the origin of suffering,

the cessation of suffering,

and the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering.

These noble truths of suffering, origin, cessation, and the path have been understood and comprehended. Craving for continued existence has been cut off; the leash to existence is ended; now there’ll be no more future lives.”

That is what the Buddha said.

Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

“Because of not truly seeing

the four noble truths,

we have transmigrated for a long time

from one rebirth to the next.

But now that these truths have been seen,

the leash to existence is eradicated.

The root of suffering is cut off,

now there’ll be no more future lives.”

And while staying at the village of Koṭi, too, the Buddha often gave this Dhamma talk to the mendicants:

“Such is ethics, such is immersion, such is wisdom.

When immersion is imbued with ethics it’s very fruitful and beneficial.

When wisdom is imbued with immersion it’s very fruitful and beneficial.

When the mind is imbued with wisdom it is rightly freed from the defilements, namely,

the defilements of sensuality, desire to be reborn, and ignorance.”

9. The Deaths in Ñātika

When the Buddha had stayed in the village of Koṭi as long as he pleased, he said to Ānanda,

“Come, Ānanda, let’s go to the land of the Ñātikas.”

“Yes, sir,” Ānanda replied.

Then the Buddha together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants arrived in the land of the Ñātikas,

where he stayed in the brick house at Ñātika.

Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him,

“Sir, the monk named Sāḷha has passed away in Ñātika. Where has he been reborn in his next life?

The nun named Nandā,

the layman named Sudatta,

and the laywoman named Sujātā have passed away in Ñātika. Where have they been reborn in the next life?

The laymen named Kakkaṭa,

Kaḷibha,

Nikata,

Kaṭissaha,

Tuṭṭha,

Santuṭṭha,

Bhadda, and

Subhadda have passed away in Ñātika. Where have they been reborn in the next life?”

“Ānanda, the monk Sāḷha had realized the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom in this very life, having realized it with his own insight due to the ending of defilements.

The nun Nandā had ended the five lower fetters. She’s been reborn spontaneously, and will be extinguished there, not liable to return from that world.

The layman Sudatta had ended three fetters, and weakened greed, hate, and delusion. He’s a once-returner; he will come back to this world once only, then make an end of suffering.

The laywoman Sujātā had ended three fetters. She’s a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, destined for awakening.

The laymen Kakkaṭa,

Kaḷibha,

Nikata,

Kaṭissaha,

Tuṭṭha,

Santuṭṭha,

Bhadda,

and Subhadda had ended the five lower fetters. They’ve been reborn spontaneously, and will be extinguished there, not liable to return from that world.

Over fifty laymen in Ñātika have passed away having ended the five lower fetters. They’ve been reborn spontaneously, and will be extinguished there, not liable to return from that world.

More than ninety laymen in Ñātika have passed away having ended three fetters, and weakened greed, hate, and delusion. They’re once-returners, who will come back to this world once only, then make an end of suffering.

More than five hundred laymen in Ñātika have passed away having ended three fetters. They’re stream-enterers, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, destined for awakening.

10. The Mirror of the Teaching

It’s no wonder that a human being should pass away.

But if you should come and ask me about it each and every time someone passes away, that would be a bother for me.

So Ānanda, I will teach you the explanation of the Dhamma named ‘the mirror of the teaching’. A noble disciple who has this may declare of themselves:

‘I’ve finished with rebirth in hell, the animal realm, and the ghost realm. I’ve finished with all places of loss, bad places, the underworld. I am a stream-enterer! I’m not liable to be reborn in the underworld, and am destined for awakening.’

And what is that mirror of the teaching?

It’s when a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the Buddha:

‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’

They have experiential confidence in the teaching:

‘The teaching is well explained by the Buddha—apparent in the present life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant, so that sensible people can know it for themselves.’

They have experiential confidence in the Saṅgha:

‘The Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples is practicing the way that’s good, direct, systematic, and proper. It consists of the four pairs, the eight individual persons. This is the Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples that is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of greeting with joined palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.’

And a noble disciple’s ethical conduct is loved by the noble ones, unbroken, impeccable, spotless, and unmarred, liberating, praised by sensible people, not mistaken, and leading to immersion.

This is that mirror of the teaching.”

And while staying there in Ñātika the Buddha often gave this Dhamma talk to the mendicants:

“Such is ethics, such is immersion, such is wisdom.

When immersion is imbued with ethics it’s very fruitful and beneficial.

When wisdom is imbued with immersion it’s very fruitful and beneficial.

When the mind is imbued with wisdom it is rightly freed from the defilements, namely,

the defilements of sensuality, desire to be reborn, and ignorance.”

When the Buddha had stayed in Ñātika as long as he pleased, he addressed Venerable Ānanda,

“Come, Ānanda, let’s go to Vesālī.”

“Yes, sir,” Ānanda replied.

Then the Buddha together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants arrived at Vesālī,

where he stayed in Ambapālī’s mango grove.

There the Buddha addressed the mendicants:

“Mendicants, a mendicant should live mindful and aware.

This is my instruction to you.

And how is a mendicant mindful?

It’s when a mendicant meditates by observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world.

They meditate observing an aspect of feelings …

mind …

principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world.

That’s how a mendicant is mindful.

And how is a mendicant aware?

It’s when a mendicant acts with situational awareness when going out and coming back; when looking ahead and aside; when bending and extending the limbs; when bearing the outer robe, bowl and robes; when eating, drinking, chewing, and tasting; when urinating and defecating; when walking, standing, sitting, sleeping, waking, speaking, and keeping silent.

That’s how a mendicant is aware.

A mendicant should live mindful and aware.

This is my instruction to you.”

11. Ambapālī the Courtesan

Ambapālī the courtesan heard that the Buddha had arrived and was staying in her mango grove.

She had the finest carriages harnessed. Then she mounted a fine carriage and, along with other fine carriages, set out from Vesālī for her own park.

She went by carriage as far as the terrain allowed, then descended and approached the Buddha on foot. She bowed and sat down to one side.

The Buddha educated, encouraged, fired up, and inspired her with a Dhamma talk.

Then she said to the Buddha,

“Sir, would the Buddha, together with the mendicant Saṅgha, please accept tomorrow’s meal from me?”

The Buddha consented with silence.

Then, knowing that the Buddha had consented, Ambapālī got up from her seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on her right, before leaving.

The Licchavis of Vesālī also heard that the Buddha had arrived and was staying in Ambapālī’s mango grove.

They had the finest carriages harnessed. Then they mounted a fine carriage and, along with other fine carriages, set out from Vesālī.

Some of the Licchavis were in blue, of blue color, clad in blue, adorned with blue. And some were similarly colored in yellow, red, or white.

Then Ambapālī the courtesan collided with those Licchavi youths, axle to axle, wheel to wheel, yoke to yoke.

The Licchavis said to her,

“What, you wench Ambapālī, are you doing colliding with us axle to axle, wheel to wheel, yoke to yoke?”

“Well, masters, it’s because I’ve invited the Buddha for tomorrow’s meal together with the mendicant Saṅgha.”

“Wench, give us that meal for a hundred thousand!”

“Masters, even if you were to give me Vesālī with her provinces, I still wouldn’t give that meal to you.”

Then the Licchavis snapped their fingers, saying,

“We’ve been beaten by the aunty! We’ve been beaten by the aunty!”

Then they continued on to Ambapālī’s mango grove.

The Buddha saw them coming off in the distance,

and addressed the mendicants:

“Any of the mendicants who’ve never seen the gods of the thirty-three before, just have a look at the assembly of Licchavis.

See the assembly of Licchavis,

check them out:

they’re just like the thirty-three!”

The Licchavis went by carriage as far as the terrain allowed, then descended and approached the Buddha on foot. They bowed to the Buddha, sat down to one side,

and the Buddha educated, encouraged, fired up, and inspired them with a Dhamma talk.

Then they said to the Buddha,

“Sir, would the Buddha, together with the mendicant Saṅgha, please accept tomorrow’s meal from us?”

Then the Buddha said to the Licchavis,

“I have already accepted tomorrow’s meal from Ambapālī the courtesan.”

Then the Licchavis snapped their fingers, saying,

“We’ve been beaten by the aunty! We’ve been beaten by the aunty!”

And then those Licchavis approved and agreed with what the Buddha said. They got up from their seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on their right, before leaving.

And when the night had passed Ambapālī had delicious fresh and cooked foods prepared in her own park. Then she had the Buddha informed of the time, saying,

“Sir, it’s time. The meal is ready.”

Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to the home of Ambapālī together with the mendicant Saṅgha, where he sat on the seat spread out.

Then Ambapālī served and satisfied the mendicant Saṅgha headed by the Buddha with her own hands with delicious fresh and cooked foods.

When the Buddha had eaten and washed his hands and bowl, Ambapālī took a low seat, sat to one side,

and said to the Buddha,

“Sir, I present this park to the mendicant Saṅgha headed by the Buddha.”

The Buddha accepted the park.

Then the Buddha educated, encouraged, fired up, and inspired her with a Dhamma talk, after which he got up from his seat and left.

And while staying at Vesālī, too, the Buddha often gave this Dhamma talk to the mendicants:

“Such is ethics, such is immersion, such is wisdom.

When immersion is imbued with ethics it’s very fruitful and beneficial.

When wisdom is imbued with immersion it’s very fruitful and beneficial.

When the mind is imbued with wisdom it is rightly freed from the defilements, namely,

the defilements of sensuality, desire to be reborn, and ignorance.”

12. Commencing the Rains at Beluva

When the Buddha had stayed in Ambapālī’s mango grove as long as he pleased, he addressed Venerable Ānanda,

“Come, Ānanda, let’s go to the little village of Beluva.”

“Yes, sir,” Ānanda replied.

Then the Buddha together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants arrived at the little village of Beluva,

and stayed there.

There the Buddha addressed the mendicants:

“Mendicants, please enter the rainy season residence with whatever friends or acquaintances you have around Vesālī.

I’ll commence the rainy season residence right here in the little village of Beluva.”

“Yes, sir,” those mendicants replied. They did as the Buddha said,

while the Buddha commenced the rainy season residence right there in the little village of Beluva.

After the Buddha had commenced the rainy season residence, he fell severely ill, struck by dreadful pains, close to death.

But he endured unbothered, with mindfulness and situational awareness.

Then it occurred to the Buddha,

“It would not be appropriate for me to be fully extinguished before informing my supporters and taking leave of the mendicant Saṅgha.

Why don’t I forcefully suppress this illness, stabilize the life force, and live on?”

So that is what he did.

Then the Buddha’s illness died down.

Soon after the Buddha had recovered from that sickness, he came out from his dwelling and sat in the shade of the porch on the seat spread out.

Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him,

“Sir, it’s fantastic that the Buddha is comfortable and well. Because when the Buddha was sick, my body felt like it was drugged. I was disorientated, and the teachings weren’t clear to me.

Still, at least I was consoled by the thought that

the Buddha won’t be fully extinguished without bringing something up regarding the Saṅgha of mendicants.”

“But what could the mendicant Saṅgha expect from me, Ānanda?

I’ve taught the Dhamma without making any distinction between secret and public teachings.

The Realized One doesn’t have the closed fist of a tutor when it comes to the teachings.

If there’s anyone who thinks:

‘I shall lead the mendicant Saṅgha,’ or ‘the Saṅgha of mendicants is meant for me,’ let them bring something up regarding the Saṅgha.

But the Realized One doesn’t think like this,

so why should he bring something up regarding the Saṅgha?

I’m now old, elderly and senior. I’m advanced in years and have reached the final stage of life.

I’m currently eighty years old.

Just as a decrepit old cart is kept going by a rope,

in the same way, the Realized One’s body is kept going as if by a rope.

Sometimes the Realized One, not focusing on any signs, and with the cessation of certain feelings, enters and remains in the signless immersion of the heart. Only then does the Realized One’s body become more comfortable.

So Ānanda, live as your own island, your own refuge, with no other refuge. Let the teaching be your island and your refuge, with no other refuge.

And how does a mendicant do this?

It’s when a mendicant meditates by observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world.

They meditate observing an aspect of feelings …

mind …

principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world.

That’s how a mendicant is their own island, their own refuge, with no other refuge. That’s how the teaching is their island and their refuge, with no other refuge.

Whether now or after I have passed, any who shall live as their own island, their own refuge, with no other refuge; with the teaching as their island and their refuge, with no other refuge—those mendicants of mine who want to train shall be among the best of the best.”

The second recitation section.

13. An Obvious Hint

Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Vesālī for alms.

Then, after the meal, on his return from almsround, he addressed Venerable Ānanda:

“Ānanda, get your sitting cloth.

Let’s go to the Cāpāla Shrine for the day’s meditation.”

“Yes, sir,” replied Ānanda. Taking his sitting cloth he followed behind the Buddha.

Then the Buddha went up to the Cāpāla Shrine, where he sat on the seat spread out.

Ānanda bowed to the Buddha and sat down to one side.

The Buddha said to him:

“Ānanda, Vesālī is lovely. And the Udena, Gotamaka, Seven Maidens, Many Sons, Sārandada, and Cāpāla Shrines are all lovely.

Whoever has developed and cultivated the four bases of psychic power—made them a vehicle and a basis, kept them up, consolidated them, and properly implemented them—may, if they wish, live for the proper lifespan or what’s left of it.

The Realized One has developed and cultivated the four bases of psychic power, made them a vehicle and a basis, kept them up, consolidated them, and properly implemented them. If he wished, the Realized One could live for the proper lifespan or what’s left of it.”

But Ānanda didn’t get it, even though the Buddha dropped such an obvious hint, such a clear sign.

He didn’t beg the Buddha:

“Sir, may the Blessed One please remain for the proper lifespan! May the Holy One please remain for the proper lifespan! That would be for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of sympathy for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.” For his mind was as if possessed by Māra.

For a second time …

And for a third time, the Buddha said to Ānanda:

“Ānanda, Vesālī is lovely. And the Udena, Gotamaka, Seven Maidens, Many Sons, Sārandada, and Cāpāla Shrines are all lovely.

Whoever has developed and cultivated the four bases of psychic power—made them a vehicle and a basis, kept them up, consolidated them, and properly implemented them—may, if they wish, live for the proper lifespan or what’s left of it.

The Realized One has developed and cultivated the four bases of psychic power, made them a vehicle and a basis, kept them up, consolidated them, and properly implemented them. If he wished, the Realized One could live for the proper lifespan or what’s left of it.”

But Ānanda didn’t get it, even though the Buddha dropped such an obvious hint, such a clear sign.

He didn’t beg the Buddha:

“Sir, may the Blessed One please remain for the proper lifespan! May the Holy One please remain for the proper lifespan! That would be for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of sympathy for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.” For his mind was as if possessed by Māra.

Then the Buddha got up and said to Venerable Ānanda,

“Go now, Ānanda,

at your convenience.”

“Yes, sir,” replied Ānanda. He rose from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before sitting at the root of a tree close by.

14. The Appeal of Māra

And then, not long after Ānanda had left, Māra the Wicked went up to the Buddha, stood to one side, and said to him:

“Sir, may the Blessed One now be fully extinguished! May the Holy One now be fully extinguished! Now is the time for the full extinguishment of the Buddha.

Sir, you once made this statement:

‘Wicked One, I shall not be fully extinguished until I have monk disciples who are competent, educated, assured, learned, have memorized the teachings, and practice in line with the teaching. Not until they practice properly, living in line with the teaching. Not until they’ve learned their tradition, and explain, teach, assert, establish, disclose, analyze, and make it clear. Not until they can legitimately and completely refute the doctrines of others that come up, and teach with a demonstrable basis.’

Today you do have such monk disciples.

May the Blessed One now be fully extinguished! May the Holy One now be fully extinguished! Now is the time for the full extinguishment of the Buddha.

Sir, you once made this statement:

‘Wicked One, I shall not be fully extinguished until I have nun disciples who are competent, educated, assured, learned …’

Today you do have such nun disciples.

May the Blessed One now be fully extinguished! May the Holy One now be fully extinguished! Now is the time for the full extinguishment of the Buddha.

Sir, you once made this statement:

‘Wicked One, I shall not be fully extinguished until I have layman disciples who are competent, educated, assured, learned …’

Today you do have such layman disciples.

May the Blessed One now be fully extinguished! May the Holy One now be fully extinguished! Now is the time for the full extinguishment of the Buddha.

Sir, you once made this statement:

‘Wicked One, I shall not be fully extinguished until I have laywoman disciples who are competent, educated, assured, learned …’

Today you do have such laywoman disciples.

May the Blessed One now be fully extinguished! May the Holy One now be fully extinguished! Now is the time for the full extinguishment of the Buddha.

Sir, you once made this statement:

‘Wicked One, I will not be fully extinguished until my spiritual path is successful and prosperous, extensive, popular, widespread, and well proclaimed wherever there are gods and humans.’

Today your spiritual path is successful and prosperous, extensive, popular, widespread, and well proclaimed wherever there are gods and humans.

May the Blessed One now be fully extinguished! May the Holy One now be fully extinguished! Now is the time for the full extinguishment of the Buddha.”

When this was said, the Buddha said to Māra,

“Relax, Wicked One. The full extinguishment of the Realized One will be soon.

Three months from now the Realized One will be fully extinguished.”

15. Surrendering the Life Force

So at the Cāpāla Shrine the Buddha, mindful and aware, surrendered the life force.

When he did so there was a great earthquake, awe-inspiring and hair-raising, and thunder cracked the sky.

Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:

“Comparing the incomparable with the creation of prolonged life,

the sage surrendered the life force.

Happy inside, serene,

he shattered self-creation like a suit of armor.”

16. The Causes of Earthquakes

Then Venerable Ānanda thought,

“How incredible, how amazing! That was a really big earthquake!

That was really a very big earthquake; awe-inspiring and hair-raising, and thunder cracked the sky!

What’s the cause, what’s the reason for a great earthquake?”

Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha,

bowed, sat down to one side,

and said to him,

“How incredible, sir, how amazing!

That was a really big earthquake!

That was really a very big earthquake; awe-inspiring and hair-raising, and thunder cracked the sky!

What’s the cause, what’s the reason for a great earthquake?”

“Ānanda, there are these eight causes and reasons for a great earthquake.

What eight?

This great earth is established on water, the water is established on air, and the air stands in space. At a time when a great wind blows, it stirs the water, and the water stirs the earth.

This is the first cause and reason for a great earthquake.

Furthermore, there is an ascetic or brahmin with psychic power who has achieved mastery of the mind, or a god who is mighty and powerful. They’ve developed a limited perception of earth and a limitless perception of water. They make the earth shake and rock and tremble.

This is the second cause and reason for a great earthquake.

Furthermore, when the being intent on awakening passes away from the host of joyful gods, he’s conceived in his mother’s belly, mindful and aware. Then the earth shakes and rocks and trembles.

This is the third cause and reason for a great earthquake.

Furthermore, when the being intent on awakening comes out of his mother’s belly mindful and aware, the earth shakes and rocks and trembles.

This is the fourth cause and reason for a great earthquake.

Furthermore, when the Realized One awakens to the supreme perfect awakening, the earth shakes and rocks and trembles.

This is the fifth cause and reason for a great earthquake.

Furthermore, when the Realized One rolls forth the supreme Wheel of Dhamma, the earth shakes and rocks and trembles.

This is the sixth cause and reason for a great earthquake.

Furthermore, when the Realized One, mindful and aware, surrenders the life force, the earth shakes and rocks and trembles.

This is the seventh cause and reason for a great earthquake.

Furthermore, when the Realized One becomes fully extinguished in the element of extinguishment with no residue, the earth shakes and rocks and trembles.

This is the eighth cause and reason for a great earthquake.

These are the eight causes and reasons for a great earthquake.

17. Eight Assemblies

There are, Ānanda, these eight assemblies.

What eight?

The assemblies of aristocrats, brahmins, householders, and ascetics. An assembly of the gods of the four great kings. An assembly of the gods of the thirty-three. An assembly of Māras. An assembly of divinities.

I recall having approached an assembly of hundreds of aristocrats.

There I used to sit with them, converse, and engage in discussion.

And my appearance and voice became just like theirs.

I educated, encouraged, fired up, and inspired them with a Dhamma talk.

But when I spoke they didn’t know:

‘Who is this that speaks? Is it a god or a human?’

And when my Dhamma talk was finished I vanished.

But when I vanished they didn’t know:

‘Who was that who vanished? Was it a god or a human?’

I recall having approached an assembly of hundreds of brahmins …

householders …

ascetics …

the gods of the four great kings …

the gods of the thirty-three …

Māras …

divinities.

There too I used to sit with them, converse, and engage in discussion.

And my appearance and voice became just like theirs.

I educated, encouraged, fired up, and inspired them with a Dhamma talk.

But when I spoke they didn’t know:

‘Who is this that speaks? Is it a god or a human?’

And when my Dhamma talk was finished I vanished.

But when I vanished they didn’t know:

‘Who was that who vanished? Was it a god or a human?’

These are the eight assemblies.

18. Eight Dimensions of Mastery

Ānanda, there are these eight dimensions of mastery.

What eight?

Perceiving form internally, someone sees forms externally, limited, both pretty and ugly.

Mastering them, they perceive: ‘I know and see.’

This is the first dimension of mastery.

Perceiving form internally, someone sees forms externally, limitless, both pretty and ugly.

Mastering them, they perceive: ‘I know and see.’

This is the second dimension of mastery.

Not perceiving form internally, someone sees forms externally, limited, both pretty and ugly.

Mastering them, they perceive: ‘I know and see.’

This is the third dimension of mastery.

Not perceiving form internally, someone sees forms externally, limitless, both pretty and ugly.

Mastering them, they perceive: ‘I know and see.’

This is the fourth dimension of mastery.

Not perceiving form internally, someone sees forms externally that are blue, with blue color and blue appearance.

They’re like a flax flower that’s blue, with blue color and blue appearance. Or a cloth from Varanasi that’s smoothed on both sides, blue, with blue color and blue appearance.

In the same way, not perceiving form internally, someone sees forms externally, blue, with blue color and blue appearance.

Mastering them, they perceive: ‘I know and see.’

This is the fifth dimension of mastery.

Not perceiving form internally, someone sees forms externally that are yellow, with yellow color and yellow appearance.

They’re like a champak flower that’s yellow, with yellow color and yellow appearance. Or a cloth from Varanasi that’s smoothed on both sides, yellow, with yellow color and yellow appearance.

In the same way, not perceiving form internally, someone sees forms externally that are yellow, with yellow color and yellow appearance.

Mastering them, they perceive: ‘I know and see.’

This is the sixth dimension of mastery.

Not perceiving form internally, someone sees forms externally that are red, with red color and red appearance.

They’re like a scarlet mallow flower that’s red, with red color and red appearance. Or a cloth from Varanasi that’s smoothed on both sides, red, with red color and red appearance.

In the same way, not perceiving form internally, someone sees forms externally that are red, with red color and red appearance.

Mastering them, they perceive: ‘I know and see.’

This is the seventh dimension of mastery.

Not perceiving form internally, someone sees forms externally that are white, with white color and white appearance.

They’re like the morning star that’s white, with white color and white appearance. Or a cloth from Varanasi that’s smoothed on both sides, white, with white color and white appearance.

In the same way, not perceiving form internally, someone sees forms externally that are white, with white color and white appearance.

Mastering them, they perceive: ‘I know and see.’

This is the eighth dimension of mastery.

These are the eight dimensions of mastery.

19. The Eight Liberations

Ānanda, there are these eight liberations.

What eight?

Having physical form, they see forms.

This is the first liberation.

Not perceiving form internally, they see forms externally.

This is the second liberation.

They’re focused only on beauty.

This is the third liberation.

Going totally beyond perceptions of form, with the disappearance of perceptions of impingement, not focusing on perceptions of diversity, aware that ‘space is infinite’, they enter and remain in the dimension of infinite space.

This is the fourth liberation.

Going totally beyond the dimension of infinite space, aware that ‘consciousness is infinite’, they enter and remain in the dimension of infinite consciousness.

This is the fifth liberation.

Going totally beyond the dimension of infinite consciousness, aware that ‘there is nothing at all’, they enter and remain in the dimension of nothingness.

This is the sixth liberation.

Going totally beyond the dimension of nothingness, they enter and remain in the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception.

This is the seventh liberation.

Going totally beyond the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception, they enter and remain in the cessation of perception and feeling.

This is the eighth liberation.

These are the eight liberations.

Ānanda, this one time, when I was first awakened, I was staying in Uruvelā at the goatherd’s banyan tree on the bank of the Nerañjarā River.

Then Māra the wicked approached me, stood to one side, and said:

‘Sir, may the Blessed One now be fully extinguished! May the Holy One now be fully extinguished! Now is the time for the full extinguishment of the Buddha.’

When he had spoken, I said to Māra:

‘Wicked One, I shall not be fully extinguished until I have monk disciples …

nun disciples …

layman disciples …

laywoman disciples who are competent, educated, assured, learned.

I shall not be fully extinguished until my spiritual path is successful and prosperous, extensive, popular, widespread, and well proclaimed wherever there are gods and humans.’

Today, just now at the Cāpāla Shrine Māra the Wicked approached me once more with the same request, reminding me of my former statement, and saying that those conditions had been fulfilled.

When he had spoken, I said to Māra:

‘Relax, Wicked One. The full extinguishment of the Realized One will be soon.

Three months from now the Realized One will be fully extinguished.’

So today, just now at the Cāpāla Shrine, mindful and aware, I surrendered the life force.”

20. The Appeal of Ānanda

When he said this, Venerable Ānanda said to the Buddha,

“Sir, may the Blessed One please remain for the proper lifespan! May the Holy One please remain for the proper lifespan! That would be for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of sympathy for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.”

“Enough now, Ānanda.

Do not beg the Realized One. Now is not the time to beg the Realized One.”

For a second time …

For a third time, Ānanda said to the Buddha,

“Sir, may the Blessed One please remain for the proper lifespan! May the Holy One please remain for the proper lifespan! That would be for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of sympathy for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.”

“Ānanda, do you have faith in the Realized One’s awakening?”

“Yes, sir.”

“So why then do you keep pressing me up to the third time?”

“Sir, I have heard and learned this in the presence of the Buddha:

‘Whoever has developed and cultivated the four bases of psychic power—made them a vehicle and a basis, kept them up, consolidated them, and properly implemented them—may, if they wish, live for the proper lifespan or what’s left of it.

The Realized One has developed and cultivated the four bases of psychic power, made them a vehicle and a basis, kept them up, consolidated them, and properly implemented them. If he wished, the Realized One could live for the proper lifespan or what’s left of it.’”

“Do you have faith, Ānanda?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Therefore, Ānanda, the misdeed is yours alone, the mistake is yours alone. For even though the Realized One dropped such an obvious hint, such a clear sign, you didn’t beg me to remain for the proper lifespan, or what’s left of it.

If you had begged me, I would have turned you down twice, but consented on the third time.

Therefore, Ānanda, the misdeed is yours alone, the mistake is yours alone.

Ānanda, this one time I was staying near Rājagaha, on the Vulture’s Peak Mountain.

There I said to you:

‘Ānanda, Rājagaha is lovely, and so is the Vulture’s Peak.

Whoever has developed and cultivated the four bases of psychic power—made them a vehicle and a basis, kept them up, consolidated them, and properly implemented them—may, if they wish, live for the proper lifespan or what’s left of it.

The Realized One has developed and cultivated the four bases of psychic power, made them a vehicle and a basis, kept them up, consolidated them, and properly implemented them. If he wished, the Realized One could live for the proper lifespan or what’s left of it.’

But you didn’t get it, even though I dropped such an obvious hint, such a clear sign. You didn’t beg me to remain for the proper lifespan, or what’s left of it.

If you had begged me, I would have turned you down twice, but consented on the third time.

Therefore, Ānanda, the misdeed is yours alone, the mistake is yours alone.

Ānanda, this one time I was staying right there near Rājagaha, at the Gotama banyan tree …

at Bandit’s Cliff …

in the Sattapaṇṇi cave on the slopes of Vebhāra …

at the Black Rock on the slopes of Isigili …

in the Cool Grove, under the Snake’s Hood Grotto …

in the Hot Springs Monastery …

in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground …

in Jīvaka’s mango grove …

in the Maddakucchi deer park …

And in each place I said to you:

‘Ānanda, Rājagaha is lovely, and so are all these places. …

If he wished, the Realized One could live for the proper lifespan or what’s left of it.’

But you didn’t get it, even though I dropped such an obvious hint, such a clear sign. You didn’t beg me to remain for the proper lifespan, or what’s left of it.

Ānanda, this one time I was staying right here near Vesālī, at the Udena Shrine …

at the Gotamaka Shrine …

at the Seven Maidens Shrine …

at the Many Sons Shrine …

at the Sārandada Shrine …

and just now, today at the Cāpāla Shrine. There I said to you:

‘Ānanda, Vesālī is lovely. And the Udena, Gotamaka, Seven Maidens, Many Sons, Sārandada, and Cāpāla Shrines are all lovely.

Whoever has developed and cultivated the four bases of psychic power—made them a vehicle and a basis, kept them up, consolidated them, and properly implemented them—may, if they wish, live for the proper lifespan or what’s left of it.

The Realized One has developed and cultivated the four bases of psychic power, made them a vehicle and a basis, kept them up, consolidated them, and properly implemented them. If he wished, the Realized One could live for the proper lifespan or what’s left of it.’

But you didn’t get it, even though I dropped such an obvious hint, such a clear sign. You didn’t beg me to remain for the proper lifespan, or what’s left of it, saying:

‘Sir, may the Blessed One please remain for the proper lifespan! May the Holy One please remain for the proper lifespan! That would be for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of sympathy for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.’

If you had begged me, I would have turned you down twice, but consented on the third time.

Therefore, Ānanda, the misdeed is yours alone, the mistake is yours alone.

Did I not prepare for this when I explained that

we must be parted and separated from all we hold dear and beloved?

How could it possibly be so that what is born, created, conditioned, and liable to wear out should not wear out?

The Realized One has discarded, eliminated, released, given up, relinquished, and surrendered the life force. He has categorically stated:

‘The full extinguishment of the Realized One will be soon.

Three months from now the Realized One will be fully extinguished.’

It’s not possible for the Realized One, for the sake of life, to take back the life force once it has been given up like that.

Come, Ānanda, let’s go to the Great Wood, the hall with the peaked roof.”

“Yes, sir,” Ānanda replied.

So the Buddha went with Ānanda to the hall with the peaked roof, and said to him,

“Go, Ānanda, gather all the mendicants staying in the vicinity of Vesālī together in the assembly hall.”

“Yes, sir,” replied Ānanda. He did what the Buddha asked, went up to him, bowed, stood to one side, and said to him,

“Sir, the mendicant Saṅgha has assembled. Please, sir, go at your convenience.”

Then the Buddha went to the assembly hall, where he sat on the seat spread out

and addressed the mendicants:

“So, mendicants, having carefully memorized those things I have taught you from my direct knowledge, you should cultivate, develop, and make much of them so that this spiritual practice may last for a long time. That would be for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of sympathy for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.

And what are those things I have taught from my direct knowledge?

They are: the four kinds of mindfulness meditation, the four right efforts, the four bases of psychic power, the five faculties, the five powers, the seven awakening factors, and the noble eightfold path.

These are the things I have taught from my direct knowledge. Having carefully memorized them, you should cultivate, develop, and make much of them so that this spiritual practice may last for a long time. That would be for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of sympathy for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.”

Then the Buddha said to the mendicants:

“Come now, mendicants, I say to you all:

‘Conditions fall apart. Persist with diligence.’

The full extinguishment of the Realized One will be soon.

Three months from now the Realized One will be fully extinguished.”

That is what the Buddha said.

Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

“I’ve reached a ripe old age,

and little of my life is left.

Having given it up, I’ll depart;

I’ve made a refuge for myself.

Diligent and mindful,

be of good virtues, mendicants!

With well-settled thoughts,

take good care of your minds.

Whoever meditates diligently

in this teaching and training,

giving up transmigration through rebirths,

will make an end to suffering.”

The third recitation section.

21. The Elephant Look

Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Vesālī for alms.

Then, after the meal, on his return from almsround, he turned to gaze back at Vesālī, the way that elephants do. He said to Venerable Ānanda:

“Ānanda, this will be the last time the Realized One sees Vesālī.

Come, Ānanda, let’s go to Wares Village.”

“Yes, sir,” Ānanda replied.

Then the Buddha together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants arrived at Wares Village,

and stayed there.

There the Buddha addressed the mendicants:

“Mendicants, due to not understanding and not penetrating four things, both you and I have wandered and transmigrated for such a very long time.

What four?

Noble ethics,

immersion,

wisdom,

and freedom.

These noble ethics, immersion, wisdom, and freedom have been understood and comprehended. Craving for continued existence has been cut off; the leash to existence is ended; now there’ll be no more future lives.”

That is what the Buddha said.

Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

“Ethics, immersion, and wisdom,

and the supreme freedom:

these things have been understood

by Gotama the renowned.

And so the Buddha, having insight,

explained this teaching to the mendicants.

The teacher made an end of suffering,

seeing clearly, he is fully quenched.”

And while staying there, too, he often gave this Dhamma talk to the mendicants:

“Such is ethics, such is immersion, such is wisdom.

When immersion is imbued with ethics it’s very fruitful and beneficial.

When wisdom is imbued with immersion it’s very fruitful and beneficial.

When the mind is imbued with wisdom it is rightly freed from the defilements, namely,

the defilements of sensuality, desire to be reborn, and ignorance.”

22. The Four Great References

When the Buddha had stayed in Wares Village as long as he pleased, he addressed Ānanda,

“Come, Ānanda, let’s go to Elephant Village.”…

“Let’s go to Mango Village.”…

“Let’s go to Black Plum Village.”…

“Let’s go to Bhoga City.”

“Yes, sir,” Ānanda replied.

Then the Buddha together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants arrived at Bhoga City,

where he stayed at the Ānanda Shrine.

There the Buddha addressed the mendicants:

“Mendicants, I will teach you the four great references.

Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”

“Yes, sir,” they replied.

The Buddha said this:

“Take a mendicant who says:

‘Reverend, I have heard and learned this in the presence of the Buddha:

this is the teaching, this is the training, this is the Teacher’s instruction.’

You should neither approve nor reject that mendicant’s statement.

Instead, having carefully memorized those words and phrases, you should make sure they fit in the discourse and are exhibited in the training.

If they do not fit in the discourse and are not exhibited in the training, you should draw the conclusion:

‘Clearly this is not the word of the Buddha.

It has been incorrectly memorized by that mendicant.’

And so you should discard it.

If they do fit in the discourse and are exhibited in the training, you should draw the conclusion:

‘Clearly this is the word of the Buddha.

It has been correctly memorized by that mendicant.’

You should remember it. This is the first great reference.

Take another mendicant who says:

‘In such-and-such monastery lives a Saṅgha with seniors and leaders.

I’ve heard and learned this in the presence of that Saṅgha:

this is the teaching, this is the training, this is the Teacher’s instruction.’

You should neither approve nor reject that mendicant’s statement.

Instead, having carefully memorized those words and phrases, you should make sure they fit in the discourse and are exhibited in the training.

If they do not fit in the discourse and are not exhibited in the training, you should draw the conclusion:

‘Clearly this is not the word of the Buddha.

It has been incorrectly memorized by that Saṅgha.’

And so you should discard it.

If they do fit in the discourse and are exhibited in the training, you should draw the conclusion:

‘Clearly this is the word of the Buddha.

It has been correctly memorized by that Saṅgha.’

You should remember it. This is the second great reference.

Take another mendicant who says:

‘In such-and-such monastery there are several senior mendicants who are very learned, inheritors of the heritage, who have memorized the teachings, the monastic law, and the outlines.

I’ve heard and learned this in the presence of those senior mendicants:

this is the teaching, this is the training, this is the Teacher’s instruction.’

You should neither approve nor reject that mendicant’s statement.

Instead, having carefully memorized those words and phrases, you should make sure they fit in the discourse and are exhibited in the training.

If they do not fit in the discourse and are not exhibited in the training, you should draw the conclusion:

‘Clearly this is not the word of the Buddha.

It has not been correctly memorized by those senior mendicants.’

And so you should discard it.

If they do fit in the discourse and are exhibited in the training, you should draw the conclusion:

‘Clearly this is the word of the Buddha.

It has been correctly memorized by those senior mendicants.’

You should remember it. This is the third great reference.

Take another mendicant who says:

‘In such-and-such monastery there is a single senior mendicant who is very learned, an inheritor of the heritage, who has memorized the teachings, the monastic law, and the outlines.

I’ve heard and learned this in the presence of that senior mendicant:

this is the teaching, this is the training, this is the Teacher’s instruction.’

You should neither approve nor reject that mendicant’s statement.

Instead, having carefully memorized those words and phrases, you should make sure they fit in the discourse and are exhibited in the training.

If they do not fit in the discourse and are not exhibited in the training, you should draw the conclusion:

‘Clearly this is not the word of the Buddha.

It has been incorrectly memorized by that senior mendicant.’

And so you should discard it.

If they do fit in the discourse and are exhibited in the training, you should draw the conclusion:

‘Clearly this is the word of the Buddha.

It has been correctly memorized by that senior mendicant.’

You should remember it. This is the fourth great reference.

These are the four great references.”

And while staying at the Ānanda Shrine, too, the Buddha often gave this Dhamma talk to the mendicants:

“Such is ethics, such is immersion, such is wisdom.

When immersion is imbued with ethics it’s very fruitful and beneficial.

When wisdom is imbued with immersion it’s very fruitful and beneficial.

When the mind is imbued with wisdom it is rightly freed from the defilements, namely,

the defilements of sensuality, desire to be reborn, and ignorance.”

23. On Cunda the Smith

When the Buddha had stayed in Bhoga City as long as he pleased, he addressed Ānanda,

“Come, Ānanda, let’s go to Pāvā.”

“Yes, sir,” Ānanda replied.

Then the Buddha together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants arrived at Pāvā,

where he stayed in Cunda the smith’s mango grove.

Cunda heard that the Buddha had arrived and was staying in his mango grove.

Then he went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side.

The Buddha educated, encouraged, fired up, and inspired him with a Dhamma talk.

Then Cunda said to the Buddha,

“Sir, would the Buddha, together with the mendicant Saṅgha, please accept tomorrow’s meal from me?”

The Buddha consented with silence.

Then, knowing that the Buddha had consented, Cunda got up from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before leaving.

And when the night had passed Cunda had delicious fresh and cooked foods prepared in his own home, and plenty of pork on the turn. Then he had the Buddha informed of the time, saying,

“Sir, it’s time. The meal is ready.”

Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to the home of Cunda together with the mendicant Saṅgha, where he sat on the seat spread out

and addressed Cunda,

“Cunda, please serve me with the pork on the turn that you’ve prepared.

And serve the mendicant Saṅgha with the other foods.”

“Yes, sir,” replied Cunda, and did as he was asked.

Then the Buddha addressed Cunda,

“Cunda, any pork on the turn that’s left over, you should bury it in a pit.

I don’t see anyone in this world—with its gods, Māras, and Divinities, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, its gods and humans—who could properly digest it except for the Realized One.”

“Yes, sir,” replied Cunda. He did as he was asked, then came back to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side.

Then the Buddha educated, encouraged, fired up, and inspired him with a Dhamma talk, after which he got up from his seat and left.

After the Buddha had eaten Cunda’s meal, he fell severely ill with bloody dysentery, struck by dreadful pains, close to death.

But he endured unbothered, with mindfulness and situational awareness.

Then he addressed Ānanda,

“Come, Ānanda, let’s go to Kusinārā.”

“Yes, sir,” Ānanda replied.

I’ve heard that after eating

the meal of Cunda the smith,

the attentive one fell severely ill,

with pains, close to death.

A severe sickness struck the Teacher

who had eaten the pork on the turn.

While still purging the Buddha said:

“I’ll go to the citadel of Kusinārā.”

24. Bringing a Drink

Then the Buddha left the road and went to the root of a certain tree, where he addressed Ānanda,

“Go on then, Ānanda, fold my outer robe in four and spread it out for me. I am tired and will sit down.”

“Yes, sir,” replied Ānanda, and did as he was asked.

The Buddha sat on the seat spread out.

When he was seated he said to Venerable Ānanda,

“Go on then, Ānanda, fetch me some water. I am thirsty and will drink.”

When he said this, Venerable Ānanda said to the Buddha,

“Sir, just now around five hundred carts have passed by. The shallow water has been churned up by their wheels, and it flows cloudy and murky.

The Kakudhā river is not far away, with clear, sweet, cool water, clean, with smooth banks, delightful.

There the Buddha can drink and cool his limbs.”

For a second time, the Buddha asked Ānanda for a drink,

and for a second time Ānanda suggested going to the Kakudhā river.

And for a third time, the Buddha said to Ānanda,

“Go on then, Ānanda, fetch me some water. I am thirsty and will drink.”

“Yes, sir,” replied Ānanda. Taking his bowl he went to the river.

Now, though the shallow water in that creek had been churned up by wheels, and flowed cloudy and murky, when Ānanda approached it flowed transparent, clear, and unclouded.

Then Ānanda thought,

“Oh lord, how incredible, how amazing! The Realized One has such psychic power and might!

For though the shallow water in that creek had been churned up by wheels, and flowed cloudy and murky, when I approached it flowed transparent, clear, and unclouded.”

Gathering a bowl of drinking water he went back to the Buddha, and said to him,

“It’s incredible, sir, it’s amazing! The Realized One has such psychic power and might!

Just now, though the shallow water in that creek had been churned up by wheels, and flowed cloudy and murky, when I approached it flowed transparent, clear, and unclouded.

Drink the water, Blessed One! Drink the water, Holy One!”

So the Buddha drank the water.

25. On Pukkusa the Malla

Now at that time Pukkusa the Malla, a disciple of Āḷāra Kālāma, was traveling along the road from Kusinārā to Pāvā.

He saw the Buddha sitting at the root of a certain tree.

He went up to him, bowed, sat down to one side, and said,

“It’s incredible, sir, it’s amazing! Those who have gone forth remain in such peaceful meditations.

Once it so happened that Āḷāra Kālāma, while traveling along a road, left the road and sat at the root of a nearby tree for the day’s meditation.

Then around five hundred carts passed by right beside Āḷāra Kālāma.

Then a certain person coming behind those carts went up to Āḷāra Kālāma and said to him:

‘Sir, didn’t you see the five hundred carts pass by?’

‘No, respectable sir, I didn’t see them.’

‘But sir, didn’t you hear a sound?’

‘No, respectable sir, I didn’t hear a sound.’

‘But sir, were you asleep?’

‘No, friend, I wasn’t asleep.’

‘But sir, were you conscious?’

‘Yes, respectable sir.’

‘So, sir, while conscious and awake you neither saw nor heard a sound as five hundred carts passed by right beside you?

Why sir, even your outer robe is covered with dust!’

‘Yes, respectable sir.’

Then that person thought:

‘Oh lord, how incredible, how amazing! Those who have gone forth remain in such peaceful meditations,

in that, while conscious and awake he neither saw nor heard a sound as five hundred carts passed by right next to him.’

And after declaring his lofty confidence in Āḷāra Kālāma, he left.”

“What do you think, Pukkusa?

Which is harder and more challenging to do while conscious and awake:

to neither see nor hear a sound as five hundred carts pass by right next to you?

Or to neither see nor hear a sound as the heavens are raining and pouring, lightning’s flashing, and thunder’s cracking?”

“What do five hundred carts matter, or six hundred, or seven hundred, or eight hundred, or nine hundred, or a thousand, or even a hundred thousand carts?

It’s far harder and more challenging to neither see nor hear a sound as the heavens are raining and pouring, lightning’s flashing, and thunder’s cracking!”

“This one time, Pukkusa, I was staying near Ātumā in a threshing-hut.

At that time the heavens were raining and pouring, lightning was flashing, and thunder was cracking. And not far from the threshing-hut two farmers who were brothers were killed, as well as four oxen.

Then a large crowd came from Ātumā to the place where that happened.

Now at that time I came out of the threshing-hut and was walking mindfully in the open near the door of the hut.

Then having left that crowd, a certain person approached me, bowed, and stood to one side. I said to them,

‘Why, respectable sir, has this crowd gathered?’

‘Just now, sir, the heavens were raining and pouring, lightning was flashing, and thunder was cracking. And two farmers who were brothers were killed, as well as four oxen.

Then this crowd gathered here.

But sir, where were you?’

‘I was right here, respectable sir.’

‘But sir, did you see?’

‘No, respectable sir, I didn’t see anything.’

‘But sir, didn’t you hear a sound?’

‘No, respectable sir, I didn’t hear a sound.’

‘But sir, were you asleep?’

‘No, respectable sir, I wasn’t asleep.’

‘But sir, were you conscious?’

‘Yes, respectable sir.’

‘So, sir, while conscious and awake you neither saw nor heard a sound as the heavens were raining and pouring, lightning was flashing, and thunder was cracking?’

‘Yes, respectable sir.’

Then that person thought:

‘Oh lord, how incredible, how amazing! Those who have gone forth remain in such peaceful meditations,

in that, while conscious and awake he neither saw nor heard a sound as the heavens were raining and pouring, lightning was flashing, and thunder was cracking.’

And after declaring their lofty confidence in me, they bowed and respectfully circled me, keeping me on their right, before leaving.”

When he said this, Pukkusa said to him,

“Any confidence I had in Āḷāra Kālāma I whisk away as in a strong wind, or glide away as down a swift stream.

Excellent, sir! Excellent!

As if he were righting the overturned, or revealing the hidden, or pointing out the path to the lost, or lighting a lamp in the dark so people with clear eyes can see what’s there, the Buddha has made the teaching clear in many ways.

I go for refuge to the Buddha, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Saṅgha.

From this day forth, may the Buddha remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”

Then Pukkusa addressed a certain man,

“Go on then, I must say, fetch me a pair of ready to wear garments the color of mountain gold.”

“Yes, sir,” replied that man, and did as he was asked.

Then Pukkusa brought the garments to the Buddha,

“Sir, please accept this pair of ready to wear garments the color of mountain gold from me out of sympathy.”

“Well then, Pukkusa, clothe me in one, and Ānanda in the other.”

“Yes, sir,” replied Pukkusa, and did so.

Then the Buddha educated, encouraged, fired up, and inspired Pukkusa the Malla with a Dhamma talk,

after which he got up from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha before leaving.

Then, not long after Pukkusa had left, Ānanda placed the pair of garments the color of mountain gold by the Buddha’s body.

But when placed by the Buddha’s body they seemed to lose their shine.

Then Ānanda said to the Buddha,

“It’s incredible, sir, it’s amazing, how pure and bright is the color of the Realized One’s skin.

When this pair of ready to wear garments the color of mountain gold is placed by the Buddha’s body they seem to lose their sheen.”

“That’s so true, Ānanda, that’s so true! There are two times when the color of the Realized One’s skin becomes extra pure and bright.

What two?

The night when a Realized One awakens to the supreme perfect awakening; and the night he becomes fully extinguished in the element of extinguishment with no residue.

These are the are two times when the color of the Realized One’s skin becomes extra pure and bright.

Today, Ānanda, in the last watch of the night, between a pair of sal trees in the sal forest of the Mallas at Upavattana near Kusinārā, shall be the Realized One’s full extinguishment.

Come, Ānanda, let’s go to the Kakudhā River.”

“Yes, sir,” Ānanda replied.

A pair of garments the color of mountain gold

was presented by Pukkusa;

when the teacher was clothed with them,

his snow gold skin glowed bright.

Then the Buddha together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants went to the Kakudhā River. He plunged into the river and bathed and drank. And when he had emerged, he went to the mango grove,

where he addressed Venerable Cundaka,

“Go on then, Cundaka, fold my outer robe in four and spread it out for me. I am tired and will lie down.”

“Yes, sir,” replied Cundaka, and did as he was asked.

And then the Buddha laid down in the lion’s posture—on the right side, placing one foot on top of the other—mindful and aware, and focused on the time of getting up.

But Cundaka sat down right there in front of the Buddha.

Having gone to Kakudhā Creek,

whose water was transparent, sweet, and clear,

the Teacher, being tired, plunged in,

the Realized One, without compare in the world.

And after bathing and drinking the Teacher emerged.

Before the group of mendicants, in the middle, the Buddha,

the Teacher who rolled forth the present dispensation,

the great seer went to the mango grove.

He addressed the mendicant named Cundaka:

“Spread out my folded robe so I can lie down.”

The evolved one urged Cunda,

who quickly spread the folded robe.

The Teacher lay down so tired,

while Cunda sat there before him.

Then the Buddha said to Venerable Ānanda:

“Now it may happen, Ānanda, that someone may give rise to regret in Cunda the smith:

‘It’s your loss, respected Cunda, it’s your misfortune, in that the Realized One was fully quenched after eating his last almsmeal from you.’

You should dispel remorse in Cunda the smith like this:

‘You’re fortunate, respected Cunda, you’re so very fortunate,

in that the Realized One was fully quenched after eating his last almsmeal from you.

I have heard and learned this in the presence of the Buddha.

There are two almsmeal offerings that have identical fruit and result, and are more fruitful and beneficial than other almsmeal offerings.

What two?

The almsmeal after eating which a Realized One awakens to the supreme perfect awakening; and the almsmeal after eating which he becomes fully extinguished in the element of extinguishment with no residue.

These two almsmeal offerings have identical fruit and result, and are more fruitful and beneficial than other almsmeal offerings.

You’ve accumulated a deed that leads to long life, beauty, happiness, fame, heaven, and sovereignty.’

That’s how you should dispel remorse in Cunda the smith.”

Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:

“A giver’s merit grows;

enmity doesn’t build up when you have self-control.

A skillful person gives up bad things—

with the end of greed, hate, and delusion, they’re quenched.”

The fourth recitation section.

26. The Pair of Sal Trees

Then the Buddha said to Ānanda,

“Come, Ānanda, let’s go to the far shore of the Golden River, and on to the sal forest of the Mallas at Upavattana near Kusinārā.”

“Yes, sir,” Ānanda replied.

And that’s where they went. Then the Buddha addressed Ānanda,

“Go on then, Ānanda, set up a cot for me between the twin sal trees, with my head to the north. I am tired and will lie down.”

“Yes, sir,” replied Ānanda, and did as he was asked.

And then the Buddha laid down in the lion’s posture—on the right side, placing one foot on top of the other—mindful and aware.

Now at that time the twin sal trees were in full blossom with flowers out of season.

They sprinkled and bestrewed the Realized One’s body in honor of the Realized One.

And the flowers of the heavenly Flame Tree fell from the sky, and they too sprinkled and bestrewed the Realized One’s body in honor of the Realized One.

And heavenly sandalwood powder fell from the sky, and it too sprinkled and bestrewed the Realized One’s body in honor of the Realized One.

And heavenly music played in midair in honor of the Realized One.

And heavenly choirs sang in midair in honor of the Realized One.

Then the Buddha pointed out to Ānanda what was happening, adding:

“That’s not the full extent of how the Realized One is honored, respected, revered, venerated, and esteemed.

Any monk or nun or male or female lay follower who practices in line with the teaching, practicing properly, living in line with the teaching—they honor, respect, revere, venerate, and esteem the Realized One with the highest honor.

So Ānanda, you should train like this: ‘We shall practice in line with the teaching, practicing properly, living in line with the teaching.’”

27. The Monk Upavāṇa

Now at that time Venerable Upavāṇa was standing in front of the Buddha fanning him.

Then the Buddha made him move,

“Move over, mendicant, don’t stand in front of me.”

Ānanda thought,

“This Venerable Upavāṇa has been the Buddha’s attendant for a long time, close to him, living in his presence.

Yet in his final hour the Buddha makes him move, saying:

‘Move over, mendicant, don’t stand in front of me.’

What is the cause, what is the reason for this?”

Then Ānanda said to the Buddha,

“This Venerable Upavāṇa has been the Buddha’s attendant for a long time, close to him, living in his presence.

Yet in his final hour the Buddha makes him move, saying:

‘Move over, mendicant, don’t stand in front of me.’

What is the cause, sir, what is the reason for this?”

“Most of the deities from ten solar systems have gathered to see the Realized One.

For twelve leagues all around this sal grove there’s no spot, not even a fraction of a hair’s tip, that’s not crowded full of illustrious deities.

The deities are complaining:

‘We’ve come such a long way to see the Realized One!

Only rarely do Realized Ones arise in the world, perfected ones, fully awakened Buddhas.

This very day, in the last watch of the night, the Realized One will be fully extinguished.

And this illustrious mendicant is standing in front of the Buddha blocking the view. We won’t get to see the Realized One in his final hour!’”

“But sir, what kind of deities are you thinking of?”

“There are, Ānanda, deities—both in space and on the earth—who are aware of the earth. With hair disheveled and arms raised, they fall down like their feet were chopped off, rolling back and forth, lamenting:

‘Too soon the Blessed One will be fully extinguished! Too soon the Holy One will be fully extinguished! Too soon the Eye of the World will vanish!’

But the deities who are free of desire endure, mindful and aware, thinking:

‘Conditions are impermanent. How could it possibly be otherwise?’”

28. The Four Inspiring Places

“Previously, sir, when mendicants had completed the rainy season residence in various districts they came to see the Realized One.

We got to see the esteemed mendicants, and to pay homage to them.

But when the Buddha has passed, we won’t get to see the esteemed mendicants or to pay homage to them.”

“Ānanda, a faithful gentleman should go to see these four inspiring places.

What four?

Thinking: ‘Here the Realized One was born!’—that is an inspiring place.

Thinking: ‘Here the Realized One became awakened as a supreme fully awakened Buddha!’—that is an inspiring place.

Thinking: ‘Here the supreme Wheel of Dhamma was rolled forth by the Realized One!’—that is an inspiring place.

Thinking: ‘Here the Realized One was fully quenched in the element of extinguishment with no residue!’—that is an inspiring place.

These are the four inspiring places that a faithful gentleman should go to see.

Faithful monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen will come, and think:

‘Here the Realized One was born!’ and ‘Here the Realized One became awakened as a supreme fully awakened Buddha!’ and ‘Here the supreme Wheel of Dhamma was rolled forth by the Realized One!’ and ‘Here the Realized One was fully quenched in the element of extinguishment with no residue!’

Anyone who passes away while on pilgrimage to these shrines will, when their body breaks up, after death, be reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.”

29. Ānanda’s Questions

“Sir, how do we proceed when it comes to ladies?”

“Without looking, Ānanda.”

“But when looking, how to proceed?”

“Without chatting, Ānanda.”

“But when chatting, how to proceed?”

“Be mindful, Ānanda.”

“Sir, how do we proceed when it comes to the Realized One’s corpse?”

“Don’t get involved in the rites for venerating the Realized One’s corpse, Ānanda.

Please, Ānanda, you must all strive and practice for your heart’s goal! Meditate diligent, keen, and resolute for your heart’s goal!

There are astute aristocrats, brahmins, and householders who are devoted to the Realized One. They will perform the rites for venerating the Realized One’s corpse.”

“But sir, how to proceed when it comes to the Realized One’s corpse?”

“Proceed in the same way as they do for the corpse of a wheel-turning monarch.”

“But how do they proceed with a wheel-turning monarch’s corpse?”

“They wrap a wheel-turning monarch’s corpse with unworn cloth, then with uncarded cotton, then again with unworn cloth.

In this way they wrap the corpse with five hundred double-layers. Then they place it in an iron casket filled with oil and close it up with another casket. Then, having built a funeral pyre out of all kinds of aromatics, they cremate the corpse.

They build a monument for the wheel-turning monarch at the crossroads.

That’s how they proceed with a wheel-turning monarch’s corpse.

Proceed in the same way with the Realized One’s corpse.

A monument for the Realized One is to be built at the crossroads.

When someone there lifts up garlands or fragrance or powder, or bows, or inspires confidence in their heart, that will be for their lasting welfare and happiness.

30. Individuals Worthy of a Monument

Ānanda, these four are worthy of a monument.

What four?

A Realized One, a perfected one, a fully awakened Buddha; an independent Buddha; a disciple of a Realized One; and a wheel-turning monarch.

And for what reason is a Realized One worthy of a monument?

So that many people will inspire confidence in their hearts, thinking: ‘This is the monument for that Blessed One, perfected and fully awakened!’

And having done so, when their body breaks up, after death, they are reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.

It is for this reason that a Realized One is worthy of a monument.