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[Pg 231] And when they had driven as far as the ground was passable for carriages, the Licchavi alighted and went on foot to the place where the Blessed One was, taking their seats respectfully by his side. And when they were thus seated, the Blessed One instructed, aroused, and gladdened them with religious discourse.13
Then they addressed the Blessed One and said: "Will the Blessed One do us the honor of taking his meal, together with the brethren, at our palace to-morrow?"14
"O Licchavi," said the Blessed One, "I have promised to dine to-morrow with Ambapl, the courtesan."15
Then the Licchavi, expressing their approval of the words of the Blessed One, arose from their seats and bowed down before the Blessed One, and, keeping him on their right hand as they passed him, they departed thence; but when they came home, they cast up their hands, saying: "A worldly woman has outdone us; we have been left behind by a frivolous girl!"16
And at the end of the night Ambapl, the courtesan, made ready in her mansion sweet rice and cakes, and on the next day announced through a messenger the time to the Blessed One, saying, "The hour, Lord, has come, and the meal is ready!"17
And the Blessed One robed himself early in the morning, took his bowl, and went with the brethren to the place where Ambapl's dwelling-house was; and when they had come there they seated themselves on the seats prepared for them. And Ambapl, the courtesan, set the sweet rice and cakes before the order, with the Buddha at their head, and waited upon them till they refused to take more.18
And when the Blessed One had finished his meal, the courtesan had a low stool brought, and sat down at his[Pg 232] side, and addressed the Blessed One, and said: "Lord, I present this mansion to the order of bhikkhus, of which the Buddha is the chief."19
And the Blessed One accepted the gift; and after instructing, arousing, and gladdening her with religious edification, he rose from his seat and departed thence.20
When the Blessed One had remained as long as he wished at Ambapl's grove, he went to Beluva, near Vesl. There the Blessed One addressed the brethren, and said: "O mendicants, take up your abode for the rainy season round about Vesl, each one according to the place where his friends and near companions may five. I shall enter upon the rainy season here at Beluva."1
When the Blessed One had thus entered upon the rainy season there fell upon him a dire sickness, and sharp pains came upon him even unto death. But the Blessed One, mindful and self-possessed, bore his ailments without complaint.2
Then this thought occurred to the Blessed One, "It would not be right for me to pass away from life without addressing the disciples, without taking leave of the order. Let me now, by a strong effort of the will, subdue this sickness, and keep my hold on life till the allotted time have come."3
And the Blessed One, by a strong effort of the will subdued the sickness, and kept his hold on life till the time he fixed upon should come. And the sickness abated.4
Thus the Blessed One began to recover; and when he had quite got rid of the sickness, he went out from the[Pg 233] monastery, and sat down on a seat spread out in the open air. And the venerable nanda, accompanied by many other disciples, approached where the Blessed One was, saluted him, and taking a seat respectfully on one side, said: "I have beheld, Lord, how the Blessed One was in health, and I have beheld how the Blessed One had to suffer. And though at the sight of the sickness of the Blessed One my body became weak as a creeper, and the horizon became dim to me, and my faculties were no longer clear, yet notwithstanding I took some little comfort from the thought that the Blessed One would not pass away from existence until at least he had left instructions as touching the order."5
And the Blessed One addressed nanda in behalf of the order, saying:6
"What, then, nanda, does the order expect of me? I have preached the truth without making any distinction between exoteric and esoteric doctrine; for in respect of the truth, nanda, the Tathgata has no such thing as the closed fist of a teacher, who keeps some things back.7
"Surely, nanda, should there be any one who harbors the thought, 'It is I who will lead the brotherhood,' or, 'The order is dependent upon me,' he should lay down instructions in any matter concerning the order. Now the Tathgata, nanda, thinks not that it is he who should lead the brotherhood, or that the order is dependent upon him.8
"Why, then, should the Tathgata leave instructions in any matter concerning the order?9
"I am now grown old, O nanda, and full of years; my journey is drawing to its close, I have reached the sum of my days, I am turning eighty years of age.10
"Just as a worn-out cart can not be made to move along without much difficulty, so the body of the Tathgata can only be kept going with much additional care.11
"It is only, nanda, when the Tathgata, ceasing to[Pg 234] attend to any outward thing, becomes plunged in that devout meditation of heart which is concerned with no bodily object, it is only then that the body of the Tathgata is at ease.12
"Therefore, O nanda, be ye lamps unto yourselves. Rely on yourselves, and do not rely on external help.13
"Hold fast to the truth as a lamp. Seek salvation alone in the truth. Look not for assistance to any one besides yourselves.14
"And how, nanda, can a brother be a lamp unto himself, rely on himself only and not on any external help, holding fast to the truth as his lamp and seeking salvation in the truth alone, looking not for assistance to any one besides himself?15
"Herein, O nanda, let a brother, as he dwells in the body, so regard the body that he, being strenuous, thoughtful, and mindful, may, whilst in the world, overcome the grief which arises from the body's cravings.16
"While subject to sensations let him continue so to regard the sensations that he, being strenuous, thoughtful, and mindful, may, whilst in the world, overcome the grief which arises from the sensations.17
"And so, also, when he thinks or reasons, or feels, let him so regard his thoughts that being strenuous, thoughtful, and mindful he may, whilst in the world, overcome the grief which arises from the craving due to ideas, or to reasoning, or to feeling.18
