Dialogues of the Buddha, Part II — trans. T. W. and C. A. F. Rhys Davids (1910)

172 XVI. MAHA PAR1NIBBANA SUTTANTA. D. ii. 154.

brethren should neither speak to him, nor exhort him, nor admonish him V

5. Then the Exalted One addressed the brethren, and said : — ' It may be, brethren, that there may be doubt or misgiving in the mind of some brother as to the Buddha, or the doctrine, or the path, or the method2. Inquire, brethren, freely. Do not have to reproach yourselves [155] afterwards with the thought : — " Our teacher was face to face with us, and we could not bring ourselves to inquire of the Exalted One when we were face to face with him." '

And when he had thus spoken the brethren were silent.

And aijain the second and the third time the Exalted One addressed the brethren, and said: — 'It maybe, brethren, that there may be doubt or misgiving in the mind of some brother as to the Buddha, or the doctrine, or the path, or the method. Inquire, brethren, freely. Do not have to reproach yourselves afterwards with the thought : — " Our teacher was face to face with us, and we could not bring ourselves to inquire of the Exalted One when we were face to face with him."

And even the third time the brethren were silent.

Then the Exalted One addressed the brethren, and said : — ' It may be, brethren, that you put no questions out of reverence for the teacher. Let one friend communicate to another.'

And when he had thus spoken the brethren were silent.

6. And the venerable Ananda said to the Exalted

1 This brother is represented as an obstinate, perverse man ; so destitute of the proper esprit dc corps that he dared to take part with the sisterhood, and against the brotherhood, in a dispute which had arisen between them. But after the social penalty here referred to had been duly imposed upon him, even his proud and independent spirit was tamed ; he became humble ; his eyes were opened ; and he, also, attained to the ' supreme goal ' of the Buddhist faith. (The passages are shown in the index to ' Vinaya Texts.')

2 Comp. D. II, 287.

D. ii. 156. THE BOOK OF THE GREAT DECEASE. I 7,

One : — l How wonderful a thing is it, lord, and how marvellous ! Verily, I believe that in this whole assembly of the brethren there is not one brother who has any doubt or misgiving as to the Buddha, or the doctrine, or the path, or the method ! '

' It is out of the fullness of faith that thou hast spoken, Ananda ! But, Ananda, the Tathagata knows for certain that in this whole assembly of the brethren there is not one brother who has any doubt or misgiving as to the Buddha, or the doctrine, or the path, or the method ! For even the most backward, Ananda, of all these five hundred brethren has become converted, is no longer liable to be born in a state of suffering, and is assured of hereafter attaining to the Enlightenment [of Arahantship] \

7. Then the Exalted One addressed the brethren, and said : — [156] ' Behold now, brethren, I exhort you, saying : — " Decay is inherent in all component things ! Work out your salvation with diligence ! "

This was the last word of the Tathagata !

8. Then the Exalted One entered into the first stage of Rapture2. And rising out of the first stage he passed into the second. And rising out of the second he passed into the third. And rising out of the third stage he passed into the fourth. And rising out of the fourth stage of Rapture, he entered into the state of mind to which the infinity of space is alone present 3. And passing out of the mere consciousness of the infinity of space he entered into the state of mind to which the infinity of thought is alone present. And passing out of the mere consciousness of the

1 Compare above, Chap. II, § 7. By ' the most^ backward ' according to Buddhaghosa, the Exalted One referred to Ananda, and he said this to encourage him.

2 The full text and an explanation of this Rapture will be found in the translator's 'Buddhism,' pp. 174-6.

3 Compare above, Chap. Ill, § 33, p. 119.

174 XVI- MAHA PARINIBHANA SUTTANTA. D. ii. 156.