Than the Blessed One continued: "If thou hast faith, Ānanda, in
the wisdom of the Tathāgata, why, then, Ānanda, dost thou trouble
the Tathāgata even until the third time? Have I not formerly
declared to you that it is in the very nature of all compound
things that they must be dissolved again. We must separate
ourselves from all things near and dear to us, and must leave
them. How then, Ānanda, can it be possible for me to remain,
since everything that is born, or brought into being, and
organized, contains within itself the inherent necessity of
dissolution? How, then, can it be possible that this body of mine
should not be dissolved? No such condition can exist! And this
mortal existence, O Ānanda, has been relinquished, cast away,
renounced, rejected, and abandoned by the Tathāgata." 11
And the Blessed One said to Ānanda: "Go now, Ānanda, and assemble
in the Service Hall such of the brethren as reside in the
neighborhood of Vesālī." 12
Then the Blessed One proceeded to the Service Hall, and sat down
there on the mat spread out for him. And when he was seated, the
Blessed One addressed the brethren, and said: 13
"O brethren, ye to whom the truth has been made known, having
thoroughly made yourselves masters of it, practise it, meditate
upon it, and spread it abroad, in order that pure religion may
last long and be perpetuated, in order that it may continue for
the good and happiness of the great multitudes, out of pity for
the world, and to the good and gain of all living beings! 14
"Star-gazing and astrology, forecasting lucky or unfortunate
events by signs, prognosticating good or evil, all these are
things forbidden. 15
"He who lets his heart go loose without restraint shall not
attain Nirvāna; therefore, must we hold the heart in check, and
retire from worldly excitements and seek tranquillity of mind. 16
"Eat your food to satisfy your hunger, and drink to satisfy you
thirst. Satisfy the necessities of life like the butterfly that
sips the flower, without destroying its fragrance or its texture. 17
"It is through not understanding and grasping the four truths, O
brethren, that we have gone astray so long, and wandered in this
weary path of transmigrations, both you and I, until we have
found the truth. 18
"Practise the earnest meditations I have taught you. Continue in
the great struggle against sin. Walk steadily in the roads of
saintship. Be strong in moral powers. Let the organs of your
spiritual sense be quick. When the seven kinds of wisdom
enlighten your mind, you will find the noble, eightfold path that
leads to Nirvāna. 19
"Behold, O brethren, the final extinction of the Tathāgata will
take place before long. I now exhort you, saying: 'All component
things must grow old and be dissolved again. Seek ye for that
which is permanent, and work out your salvation with diligence.'" 20