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And the Blessed One said to the venerable nanda, as he sat there by his side:7
"Enough, nanda! 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
[Pg 245] "For a long time, nanda, 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, nanda! 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 nanda, 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
nanda said: "How shall we know him?"14
The Blessed One said: "He will be known as Metteyya, which means 'he whose name is kindness.'"15
Then the Mallas, with their young men and maidens and their wives, being grieved, and sad, and afflicted at heart, went to the Upavattana, the sla grove of the Mallas, and wanted to see the Blessed One, in order to partake of the bliss that devolves upon those who are in the presence of the Holy One.1
And the Blessed One addressed them and said:2
"Seeking the way, ye must exert yourselves and strive[Pg 246] 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 Tathgata's presence."6
Then the mendicant Subhadda went to the sla grove of the Mallas and said to the venerable nanda: "I have heard from fellow mendicants of mine, who were deep stricken in years and teachers of great experience: 'Sometimes and full seldom to Tathgatas 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 nanda said to the mendicant Subhadda: "Enough! friend Subhadda. Trouble not the Tathgata. The Blessed One is weary."8
Now the Blessed One overheard this conversation of the venerable nanda with the mendicant Subhadda. And the Blessed One called the venerable nanda, and said: "nanda! Do not keep out Subhadda. Subhadda may be allowed to see the Tathgata. 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."[Pg 247] 10
Then the venerable nanda said to Subhadda the mendicant: "Step in, friend Subhadda; for the Blessed One gives thee leave."11
When the Blessed One had instructed Subhadda, and aroused and gladdened him with words of wisdom and comfort, Subhadda said to the Blessed One:12
"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."13
And Subhadda, the mendicant, said to the venerable nanda: "Great is thy gain, friend nanda, 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!"14
Now the Blessed One addressed the venerable nanda, and said: "It may be, nanda, 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, nanda, 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 Tathgata 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, nanda, let the order, if it should so wish, abolish all the lesser and minor precepts."15
Then the Blessed One addressed the brethren, and said:[Pg 248] "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."16
