"Seeking the way, ye must exert yourselves and strive with
diligence. It is not enough to have seen me! Walk as I have
commanded you; free yourselves from the tangled net of sorrow.
Walk in the path with steadfast aim. 3
"A sick man may be cured by the healing power of medicine and
will be rid of all his ailments without beholding the physician. 4
"He who does not do what I command sees me in vain. This brings
no profit. Whilst he who lives far off from where I am and yet
walks righteously is ever near me. 5
"A man may dwell beside me, and yet, being disobedient, be far
away from me. Yet he who obeys the Dharma will always enjoy the
bliss of the Tathāgata's presence." 6
Then the mendicant Subhadda went to the sāla grove of the Mallas
and said to the venerable Ānanda: "I have heard from fellow
mendicants of mine, who were deep stricken in years and teachers
of great experience: 'Sometimes and full seldom to Tathāgatas
appear in the world, the holy Buddhas.' Now it is said that
to-day in the last watch of the night, the final passing away of
the samana Gotama will take place. My mind is full of
uncertainty, yet have I faith in the samana Gotama and trust he
will be able so to present the truth that I may become rid of my
doubts. O that I might be allowed to see the samana Gotama!" 7
When he had thus spoken the venerable Ānanda said to the
mendicant Subhadda: "Enough! friend Subhadda. Trouble not the
Tathāgata. The Blessed One is weary." 8
Now the Blessed One overheard this conversation of the venerable
Ānanda with the mendicant Subhadda. And the Blessed One called
the venerable Ānanda, and said: "Ānanda! Do not keep out
Subhadda. Subhadda may be allowed to see the Tathāgata. Whatever
Subhadda will ask of me, he will ask from a desire for knowledge,
and not to annoy me, and whatever I may say in answer to his
questions, that he will quickly understand." 9
Then the venerable Ānanda said to Subhadda the mendicant: "Step
in, friend Subhadda; for the Blessed One gives thee leave." 10
When the Blessed One had instructed Subhadda, and aroused and
gladdened him with words of wisdom and comfort, Subhadda said to
the Blessed One: 11
"Glorious Lord, glorious Lord! Most excellent are the words of
thy mouth, most excellent! They set up that which has been
overturned, they reveal that which has been hidden. They point
out the right road to the wanderer who has gone astray. They
bring a lamp into the darkness so that those who have eyes to see
can see. Thus, Lord, the truth has been made known to me by the
Blessed One and I take my refuge in the Blessed One, in the
Truth, and in the Order. May the Blessed One accept me as a
disciple and true believer, from this day forth as long as life
endures." 12
And Subhadda, the mendicant, said to the venerable Ānanda: "Great
is thy gain, friend Ānanda, great is thy good fortune, that for
so many years thou hast been sprinkled with the sprinkling of
discipleship in this brotherhood at the hands of the Master
himself!" 13
Now the Blessed One addressed the venerable Ānanda, and said: "It
may be, Ānanda, that in some of you the thought may arise, 'The
word of the Master is ended, we have no teacher more!' But it is
not thus, Ānanda, that you should regard it. It is true that no
more shall I receive a body, for all future sorrow has now
forever passed away. But though this body will be dissolved, the
Tathāgata remains. The truth and the rules of the order which I
have set forth and laid down for you all, let them, after I am
gone, be a teacher unto you. When I am gone, Ānanda, let the
order, if it should so wish, abolish all the lesser and minor
precepts." 14
Then the Blessed One addressed the brethren, and said: "There
may be some doubt or misgiving in the mind of a brother as to the
Buddha, or the truth, or the path. Do not have to reproach
yourselves afterwards with the thought, 'We did not inquire of
the Blessed One when we were face to face with him.' Therefore
inquire now, O brethren, inquire freely." 15