Great Emancipation Home Page   Next Section

The Discourse about the Great Emancipation

[The Sixth Chapter for Recitation]

 click to listen to this text being read 

[40: The Last Instructions of the Realised One]

Then the Gracious One addressed venerable ânanda, (saying): ßIt may be, ânanda, that some of you may think in this way: `Past is the Teacher's word, there is now no Teacher for us.' But it should not be seen like that, ânanda, whatever Teaching and Discipline has been taught by me or laid down, ânanda, that is your Teacher after my passing away.

* * *

At present, ânanda, the monks address each other with the word `friend', (but) after my passing away they are not to address (one another) thus. The elder monk, ânanda, should address the younger monk by his name or by his clan (name) or by the word `friend'. (But) the younger monk should address the elder monk as reverend Sir or venerable Sir.

* * *

Desiring (to do so), ânanda, the Community after my passing away, can abolish the minor and subsidiary training rules. ⁰¹

* * *

The highest penalty, ânanda, after my passing away, is to be handed out to the monk Channa.û ßBut what is the highest penalty, reverend Sir?û ßThe monk Channa, ânanda, may say whatever he wishes but he is not to be spoken to or advised or instructed by the monks.û ⁰²

* * *

Then the Gracious One addressed the monks, (saying): ßIt may be, monks, that for one of the monks there is doubt or confusion about the Buddha, or about the Teaching, or about the Community, or about the Path, or about the practice. Ask, monks, do not be regretful later (thinking): `The Teacher was face to face with us and we didn't ask the Gracious One directly about the training.'û After this was said those monks were silent.

For a second time the Gracious One addressed the monks, (saying): ßIt may be, monks, that for one of the monks there is doubt or confusion about the Buddha, or about the Teaching, or about the Community, or about the Path, or about the practice. Ask, monks, do not be regretful later (thinking): `The Teacher was face to face with us and we didn't ask the Gracious One directly about the training.'û For a second time those monks were silent.

For a third time the Gracious One addressed the monks, (saying): ßIt may be, monks, that for one of the monks there is doubt or confusion about the Buddha, or about the Teaching, or about the Community, or about the Path, or about the practice. Ask, monks, do not be regretful later (thinking): `The Teacher was face to face with us and we didn't ask the Gracious One directly about the training.'û For a third time those monks were silent.

Then the Gracious One addressed the monks, (saying): ßIt may be, monks, that out of respect for the Teacher you do not ask, then one friend, monks, can inform another friend (about his doubts).û After this was said those monks were silent.

Then venerable ânanda said this to the Gracious One: ßIt is wonderful, reverend Sir, it is marvellous, reverend Sir, I am confident, reverend Sir, that in this Community of monks there is not one of the monks in this Community of monks who has doubt or confusion about the Buddha, or about the Teaching, or about the Community, or about the Path, or about the practice.û

ßOut of confidence, ânanda, you speak, but the Realised One, ânanda, has knowledge that there is not one of the monks in this Community of monks who has doubt or confusion about the Buddha, or about the Teaching, or about the Community, or about the Path, or about the practice. For amongst these five hundred monks, ânanda, he who is the last monk, is a Stream-Enterer, no longer subject to falling (into the lower realms), and has a fixed destiny ending in Final Awakening.û ⁰³

* * *

Then the Gracious One addressed the monks, (saying): ßCome now, monks, for I tell you (all) conditioned things are subject to decay, strive on with heedfulness!û These were the last words of the Realised One. ⁰⁴