The Blessed One proceeded with a great company of the brethren to
the sāla grove of the Mallas, the Upavattana of Kusinārā on the
further side of the river Hiraññavatī, and when he had arrived he
addressed the venerable Ānanda, and said: "Make ready for me, I
pray you, Ānanda, the couch with its head to the north, between
the twin sāla trees. I am weary, Ānanda, and wish to be down." 1
"Be it so, Lord!" said the venerable Ānanda, and he spread a
couch with its head to the north, between the twin sāla trees.
And the Blessed One laid himself down, and he was mindful and
self-possessed. 2
Now, at that time the twin sāla trees were full of bloom with
flowers out of season; and heavenly songs came wafted from the
skies, out of reverence for the successor of the Buddhas of old.
And Ānanda was filled with wonder that the Blessed One was thus
honored. But the Blessed One said: "Not by such events, Ānanda,
is the Tathāgata rightly honored, held sacred, or revered. But
the brother or the sister, the devout man or the devout woman,
who continually fulfils all the greater and the lesser duties,
walking according to the precepts, it is they who rightly honor,
hold sacred, and revere the Tathāgata with the worthiest homage.
Therefore, O Ānanda, be ye "constant in the fulfilment of the
greater and of the lesser duties, and walk according to the
precepts; thus, Ānanda, will ye honor the Master." 3
Then the venerable Ānanda went into the vihāra, and stood leaning
against the doorpost, weeping at the thought: "Alas! I remain
still but a learner, one who has yet to work out his own
perfection. And the Master is about to pass away from me--he who
is so kind!" 4
Now, the Blessed One called the brethren, and said: "Where, O
brethren, is Ānanda?" 5
And one of the brethren went and called Ānanda. And Ānanda came
and said to the Blessed One: "Deep darkness reigned for want of
wisdom; the world of sentient creatures was groping for want of
light; then the Tathāgata lit up the lamp of wisdom, and now it
will be extinguished again, ere he has brought it out." 6
And the Blessed One said to the venerable Ānanda, as he sat there
by his side: 7
"Enough, Ānanda! Let not thy self be troubled; do not weep! Have
I not already, on former occasions, told you that it is in the
very nature of all things most near and dear unto us that we must
separate from them and leave them? 8
"The foolish man conceives the idea of 'self,' the wise man sees
there is no ground on which to build the idea of 'self,' thus he
has a right conception of the world and well concludes that all
compounds amassed by sorrow will be dissolved again, but the
truth will remain. 9
"Why should I preserve this body of flesh, when the body of the
excellent law will endure? I am resolved; having accomplished my
purpose and attended to the work set me, I look for rest! 10
"For a long time, Ānanda, thou hast been very near to me by
thoughts and acts of such love as never varies and is beyond all
measure. Thou hast done well, Ānanda! Be earnest in effort and
thou too shalt soon be free from the great evils, from
sensuality, from selfishness, from delusion, and from ignorance!" 11
And Ānanda, suppressing his tears, said to the Blessed One: "Who
shall teach us when thou art gone?" 12
And the Blessed One replied: "I am not the first Buddha who came
upon earth, nor shall I be the last. In due time another Buddha
will arise in the world, a Holy One, a supremely enlightened One,
endowed with wisdom in conduct, auspicious, knowing the universe,
an incomparable leader of men, a master of angels and mortals. He
will reveal to you the same eternal truths which I have taught
you. He will preach his religion, glorious in its origin,
glorious at the climax, and glorious at the goal, in the spirit
and in the letter. He will proclaim a religious life, wholly
perfect and pure; such as I now proclaim." 13