การปลงอายุสังขารของพระพุทธเจ้า
… อานนท์ บัดนี้ เรามีสติสัมปชัญญะ ปลงอายุสังขารแล้ว ณ ปาวาลเจดีย์นี้.
เมื่อพระผู้มีพระภาคตรัสอย่างนี้แล้ว ท่านพระอานนท์ได้ทูลว่า ภันเต ขอพระผู้มีพระภาคจงทรงดำรงอยู่ตลอดกัป ขอพระสุคตจงทรงดำรงอยู่ตลอดกัป เพื่อประโยชน์แก่มหาชน เพื่อความสุขแก่มหาชน เพื่ออนุเคราะห์โลก เพื่อประโยชน์ เพื่อความเกื้อกูล เพื่อความสุข แก่เทวดาและมนุษย์ทั้งหลาย.
อานนท์ อย่าเลย อย่าวิงวอนตถาคตเลย มิใช่เวลาจะวิงวอนตถาคตเสียแล้ว.
(ท่านพระอานนท์ทูลวิงวอนอีกจนครบ ๓ ครั้ง ได้รับพระดำรัสตอบปฏิเสธอย่างเดียวกัน ท่านพระอานนท์ได้กล่าวถึงว่า พระผู้มีพระภาคสามารถดำรงพระชนม์ชีพอยู่ตลอดกัปหนึ่งหรือเกินกว่ากัป ด้วยเหตุของอิทธิบาทภาวนา พระผู้มีพระภาคกล่าวในเรื่องนี้ว่า เป็นความผิดพลาดของท่านพระอานนท์ผู้เดียว แล้วทรงอธิบายถึงสถานที่ ๑๖ แห่งที่เคยให้โอกาสแก่ท่านพระอานนท์ในเรื่องนี้ แต่ท่านพระอานนท์รู้ไม่ทัน).
อานนท์ ในที่นั้นๆ ถ้าเธอวิงวอนตถาคต ตถาคตจักห้ามเสีย ๒ ครั้ง แล้วจักรับคำในครั้งที่ ๓ อานนท์ เพราะฉะนั้น ในเรื่องนี้ จึงเป็นความผิดพลาดของเธอแต่ผู้เดียว.
อานนท์ ตถาคตได้บอกแล้วมิใช่หรือ ว่าสัตว์จะต้องพลัดพรากจากของรักของชอบใจทั้งสิ้น สัตว์จะได้ตามปรารถนาในสังขารนี้แต่ที่ไหนเล่า ข้อที่สัตว์จะหวังเอาสิ่งที่เกิดแล้ว เป็นแล้ว มีปัจจัยปรุงแต่งแล้ว มีการแตกดับเป็นธรรมดา ว่าสิ่งนี้อย่าฉิบหายเลย ดังนี้ ย่อมไม่เป็นฐานะที่มีได้เป็นได้.
อานนท์ สิ่งใดที่ตถาคตพ้นแล้ว คายแล้ว ปล่อยแล้ว ละแล้ว สลัดแล้ว สิ่งนั้นคืออายุสังขารที่ตถาคตปลงแล้ว ตถาคตกล่าววาจาตายตัวแล้ว ว่าจักมีการปรินิพพานในไม่ช้า ตถาคตจักปรินิพพานจากนี้ไปอีก ๓ เดือน การที่จะคืนคำนั้น แม้เพราะเหตุจะต้องเสียชีวิต ก็ไม่เป็นสิ่งที่จะเป็นไปได้เลย.
อานนท์ มาเถิด เราจักไปสู่ป่ามหาวัน เราจักไปยังกูฏาคารศาลา อานนท์ เธอจงให้ภิกษุทุกรูป ที่อาศัยอยู่เมืองเวสาลีมาประชุมพร้อมกัน ที่อุปัฏฐานศาลาเถิด.
ท่านพระอานนท์ทูลรับพระดำรัสของพระผู้มีพระภาคแล้ว จึงให้ภิกษุทุกรูป ที่อาศัยอยู่เมืองเวสาลีมาประชุมพร้อมกันที่อุปัฏฐานศาลา แล้วจึงเข้าไปเฝ้าพระผู้มีพระภาคถึงที่ประทับ ครั้นเข้าไปเฝ้าแล้ว ถวายอภิวาทพระผู้มีพระภาคแล้ว ยืนอยู่ ณ ที่สมควร ครั้นแล้ว ท่านพระอานนท์ได้ทูลว่า ภันเต ภิกษุสงฆ์ประชุมพร้อมกันแล้ว ขอพระผู้มีพระภาคโปรดทราบกาลอันควรในบัดนี้เถิด.
ครั้งนั้น พระผู้มีพระภาคเสด็จเข้าไปยังอุปัฏฐานศาลา ประทับนั่งบนอาสนะที่เขาปูลาดไว้ ครั้นแล้ว พระผู้มีพระภาครับสั่งกะภิกษุทั้งหลายว่า
ภิกษุทั้งหลาย ธรรมเหล่าใดที่เราแสดงแล้วด้วยปัญญาอันยิ่ง ธรรมเหล่านั้น พวกเธอพึงเรียนเอาให้ดี พึงเสพให้ทั่ว พึงเจริญ ทำให้มาก โดยอาการที่พรหมจรรย์นี้ จักมั่นคง ตั้งอยู่ได้ตลอดกาลนาน ข้อนั้นจักเป็นไปเพื่อประโยชน์เกื้อกูลแก่มหาชน เพื่อความสุขแก่มหาชน เพื่ออนุเคราะห์โลก เพื่อประโยชน์ เพื่อความเกื้อกูล เพื่อความสุข แก่เทวดาและมนุษย์ทั้งหลาย ภิกษุทั้งหลาย ธรรมเหล่าไหนเล่า ที่เราแสดงแล้วด้วยปัญญาอันยิ่ง … คือ สติปัฏฐาน ๔ สัมมัปปธาน ๔ อิทธิบาท ๔ อินทรีย์ ๕ พละ ๕ โพชฌงค์ ๗ อริยมรรคมีองค์ ๘ ภิกษุทั้งหลาย ธรรมเหล่านี้แล ที่เราแสดงแล้วด้วยปัญญาอันยิ่ง พวกเธอพึงเรียนเอาให้ดี พึงเสพให้ทั่ว พึงเจริญ ทำให้มาก โดยอาการที่พรหมจรรย์นี้ จักมั่นคง ตั้งอยู่ได้ตลอดกาลนาน ข้อนั้นจักเป็นไปเพื่อประโยชน์เกื้อกูลแก่มหาชน เพื่อความสุขแก่มหาชน เพื่ออนุเคราะห์โลก เพื่อประโยชน์ เพื่อความเกื้อกูล เพื่อความสุข แก่เทวดาและมนุษย์ทั้งหลาย.
ภิกษุทั้งหลาย บัดนี้เราจักเตือนเธอทั้งหลายว่า สังขารทั้งหลาย มีความเสื่อมไปเป็นธรรมดา เธอทั้งหลายจงถึงพร้อมด้วยความไม่ประมาทเถิด การปรินิพพานของตถาคต จักมีในกาลไม่นานเลย ตถาคตจักปรินิพพาน จากนี้ไปอีก ๓ เดือน.
สัตว์ทั้งปวง ทั้งที่เป็นคนหนุ่ม คนแก่ ทั้งที่เป็นคนพาล และบัณฑิต
ทั้งที่มั่งมี และยากจน ล้วนแต่มีความตายเป็นที่ไปถึง ในเบื้องหน้า
เปรียบเหมือนภาชนะดิน ที่ช่างหม้อปั้นแล้ว ทั้งเล็ก และใหญ่
ทั้งที่สุกแล้ว และยังดิบ ล้วนแต่มีการแตกทำลายเป็นที่สุด ฉันใด
ชีวิตแห่งสัตว์ทั้งหลาย ก็มีความตายเป็นเบื้องหน้า ฉันนั้น.
วัยของเรา แก่หง่อมแล้ว ชีวิตของเราริบหรี่แล้ว
เราจักละพวกเธอไป สรณะของตัวเองเราได้ทำไว้แล้ว
ภิกษุทั้งหลาย พวกเธอจงเป็นผู้ไม่ประมาท มีสติ มีศีลเป็นอย่างดี
มีความดำริอันตั้งไว้แล้วด้วยดี ตามรักษาซึ่งจิตของตนเถิด
ในธรรมวินัยนี้ ภิกษุใดเป็นผู้ไม่ประมาทแล้ว
จักละชาติสงสาร ทำที่สุดแห่งทุกข์ได้. …
-บาลี มหา. ที. 10/138/102.
https://84000.org/tipitaka/pali/?10//138
https://etipitaka.com/read/pali/10/138
English translation by Bhikkhu Sujato
… Today, just now at the Cāpāla shrine Māra the Wicked approached me once more with the same request, reminding me of my former statement, and saying that those conditions had been fulfilled.
When he had spoken, I said to Māra: ‘Relax, Wicked One. The final extinguishment of the Realized One will be soon. Three months from now the Realized One will finally be extinguished.’ So today, just now at the Cāpāla Tree-shrine, mindful and aware, I surrendered the life force.”
20. The Appeal of Ānanda
When he said this, Venerable Ānanda said to the Buddha, “Sir, may the Blessed One please remain for the eon! May the Holy One please remain for the eon! That would be for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of compassion for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.”
“Enough now, Ānanda. Do not beg the Realized One. Now is not the time to beg the Realized One.”
For a second time … For a third time, Ānanda said to the Buddha, “Sir, may the Blessed One please remain for the eon! May the Holy One please remain for the eon! That would be for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of compassion for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.”
“Ānanda, do you have faith in the Realized One’s awakening?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then why do you keep pressing me up to the third time?”
“Sir, I have heard and learned this in the presence of the Buddha: ‘Whoever has developed and cultivated the four bases of psychic power—made them a vehicle and a basis, kept them up, consolidated them, and properly implemented them—may, if they wish, live on for the eon or what’s left of the eon. The Realized One has developed and cultivated the four bases of psychic power, made them a vehicle and a basis, kept them up, consolidated them, and properly implemented them. If he wished, the Realized One could live on for the eon or what’s left of the eon.’”
“Do you have faith, Ānanda?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Therefore, Ānanda, the misdeed is yours alone, the mistake is yours alone. For even though the Realized One dropped such an obvious hint, such a clear sign, you didn’t beg me to remain for the eon, or what’s left of it. If you had begged me, I would have refused you twice, but consented on the third time. Therefore, Ānanda, the misdeed is yours alone, the mistake is yours alone.
Ānanda, this one time I was staying near Rājagaha, on the Vulture’s Peak Mountain. There I said to you: ‘Ānanda, Rājagaha is lovely, and so is the Vulture’s Peak. Whoever has developed and cultivated the four bases of psychic power—made them a vehicle and a basis, kept them up, consolidated them, and properly implemented them—may, if they wish, live on for the eon or what’s left of the eon. The Realized One has developed and cultivated the four bases of psychic power, made them a vehicle and a basis, kept them up, consolidated them, and properly implemented them. If he wished, the Realized One could live on for the eon or what’s left of the eon.’ But you didn’t get it, even though I dropped such an obvious hint, such a clear sign. You didn’t beg me to remain for the eon, or what’s left of it. If you had begged me, I would have refused you twice, but consented on the third time. Therefore, Ānanda, the misdeed is yours alone, the mistake is yours alone.
Ānanda, this one time I was staying right there near Rājagaha, at the Gotama banyan tree … at Bandit’s Cliff … in the Sattapaṇṇi cave on the slopes of Vebhara … at the Black rock on the slopes of Isigili … in the Cool Grove, under the Snake’s Hood Grotto … in the Hot Springs Monastery … in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground … in Jīvaka’s mango grove … in the Maddakucchi deer park …
And in each place I said to you: ‘Ānanda, Rājagaha is lovely, and so are all these places. … If he wished, the Realized One could live on for the eon or what’s left of the eon.’ But you didn’t get it, even though I dropped such an obvious hint, such a clear sign. You didn’t beg me to remain for the eon, or what’s left of it.
Ānanda, this one time I was staying right here near Vesālī, at the Udena shrine … at the Gotamaka shrine … at the Sattamba shrine … at the Many Sons shrine … at the Sārandada shrine … and just now, today at the Cāpāla shrine. There I said to you: ‘Ānanda, Vesālī is lovely. And the Udena, Gotamaka, Sattamba, Bahuputta, Sārandada, and Cāpāla Tree-shrines are all lovely. Whoever has developed and cultivated the four bases of psychic power—made them a vehicle and a basis, kept them up, consolidated them, and properly implemented them—may, if they wish, live on for the eon or what’s left of the eon. The Realized One has developed and cultivated the four bases of psychic power, made them a vehicle and a basis, kept them up, consolidated them, and properly implemented them. If he wished, the Realized One could live on for the eon or what’s left of the eon.’ But you didn’t get it, even though I dropped such an obvious hint, such a clear sign. You didn’t beg me to remain for the eon, or what’s left of it, saying: ‘Sir, may the Blessed One please remain for the eon! May the Holy One please remain for the eon! That would be for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of compassion for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.’
If you had begged me, I would have refused you twice, but consented on the third time. Therefore, Ānanda, the misdeed is yours alone, the mistake is yours alone.
Did I not prepare for this when I explained that we must be parted and separated from all we hold dear and beloved? How could it possibly be so that what is born, created, conditioned, and liable to fall apart should not fall apart? The Realized One has discarded, eliminated, released, given up, relinquished, and surrendered the life force. He has definitively stated: ‘The final extinguishment of the Realized One will be soon. Three months from now the Realized One will finally be extinguished.’ It’s not possible for the Realized One, for the sake of life, to take back the life force once it has been given up like that.
Come, Ānanda, let’s go to the Great Wood, the hall with the peaked roof.”
“Yes, sir,” Ānanda replied.
So the Buddha went with Ānanda to the hall with the peaked roof, and said to him, “Go, Ānanda, gather all the mendicants staying in the vicinity of Vesālī together in the assembly hall.”
“Yes, sir,” replied Ānanda. He did what the Buddha asked, went up to him, bowed, stood to one side, and said to him, “Sir, the mendicant Saṅgha has assembled. Please, sir, go at your convenience.”
Then the Buddha went to the assembly hall, where he sat on the seat spread out and addressed the mendicants:
“So, mendicants, having carefully memorized those things I have taught you from my direct knowledge, you should cultivate, develop, and make much of them so that this spiritual practice may last for a long time. That would be for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of compassion for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans. And what are those things I have taught from my direct knowledge? They are: the four kinds of mindfulness meditation, the four right efforts, the four bases of psychic power, the five faculties, the five powers, the seven awakening factors, and the noble eightfold path.
These are the things I have taught from my direct knowledge. Having carefully memorized them, you should cultivate, develop, and make much of them so that this spiritual practice may last for a long time. That would be for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of compassion for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.”
Then the Buddha said to the mendicants:
“Come now, mendicants, I say to you all: ‘Conditions fall apart. Persist with diligence.’ The final extinguishment of the Realized One will be soon. Three months from now the Realized One will finally be extinguished.”
That is what the Buddha said. Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:
“I’ve reached a ripe old age,
and little of my life is left.
Having given it up, I’ll depart;
I’ve made a refuge for myself.Diligent and mindful,
be of good virtues, mendicants!
With well-settled thoughts,
take good care of your minds.Whoever meditates diligently
in this teaching and training,
giving up transmigration through rebirths,
will make an end to suffering.”
English translation by Bhikkhu Ānandajoti
… When that was said, Ānanda, I said this to the Wicked Māra: ‘You should have little concern, Wicked One, in no long time the Realised One will be Finally Emancipated, after three months have passed from now, the Realised One will attain Final Emancipation.’ Now today, Ānanda, at the Cāpāla Shrine the Realised One mindfully, with full awareness, gave up the life-process.”
When this was said venerable Ānanda said this to the Gracious One: “Let the Gracious One remain, reverend Sir, for the lifespan, let the Fortunate One remain for the lifespan, for the benefit of many people, for the happiness of many people, having compassion on the world, for the welfare, benefit, and happiness of Divinities and men.”
“Enough, Ānanda, do not beg the Realised One, now is the wrong time, Ānanda, for begging the Realised One.”
For a second time venerable Ānanda said this to the Gracious One:
“Let the Gracious One remain, reverend Sir, for the lifespan, let the Fortunate One remain for the lifespan, for the benefit of many people, for the happiness of many people, having compassion on the world, for the welfare, benefit, and happiness of Divinities and men.”
“Enough, Ānanda, do not beg the Realised One, now is the wrong time, Ānanda, for begging the Realised One.”
For a third time venerable Ānanda said this to the Gracious One:
“Let the Gracious One remain, reverend Sir, for the lifespan, let the Fortunate One remain for the lifespan, for the benefit of many people, for the happiness of many people, having compassion on the world, for the welfare, benefit, and happiness of Divinities and men.”
“Do you, Ānanda, have faith in the Realised One’s Awakening?”
“Yes, reverend Sir,”
“Then why do you, Ānanda, harrass the Realised One up until the third time?”
“Face to face with me, reverend Sir, face to face I have heard you say: ‘Whoever has developed, Ānanda, made much of, carried on, established, maintained, augmented, and properly instigated the Four Paths to Power, could, if he wanted, remain for the lifespan or for what is left of the lifespan. The Realised One has developed, Ānanda, made much of, carried on, established, maintained, augmented, and properly instigated the Four Paths to Power. If he wanted, Ānanda, the Realised One could remain for the lifespan or for what is left of the lifespan.’”
“Do you have faith, Ānanda?”
“Yes, reverend Sir,”
“Then, Ānanda, there is this wrong-doing for you, there is this fault for you, in that you, despite such a gross hint being made by the Realised One, such a gross suggestion being made, was unable to penetrate it, and did not beg the Realised One, saying:
‘May the Gracious One remain, reverend Sir, for the lifespan; may the Fortunate One remain for the lifespan, for the benefit of many people, for the happiness of many people, out of compassion for the world, for the welfare, benefit, and happiness of Divinities and men.’
If you, Ānanda, had begged the Realised One twice the Realised One might have rejected your speech, but would have accepted it on the third occasion. So, Ānanda, there is this wrong-doing for you, there is this fault for you.
24: Ānanda’s Fault at Rājagaha
At one time, Ānanda, I was living at Rājagaha on the Vulture’s Peak Mountain, I was living right there at Rājagaha near the Gotama Banyan Tree, I was living right there at Rājagaha near the Thieves’ Precipice, I was living right there at Rājagaha on the side of the Vebhāra mountain in the Seven Leaves Cave, I was living right there at Rājagaha on the side of the Isigili mountain on Black Rock, I was living right there at Rājagaha in the Cool Wood, at the Snake Tank Slope, I was living right there at Rājagaha in the River Tapodā Monastery, I was living right there near Rājagaha, at Jīvaka’s Mango Wood, I was living right there near Rājagaha, in the Deer Park at the place called Crushing Womb, in that place, Ānanda, I addressed you, saying:
‘Delightful, Ānanda, is Rājagaha, delightful is the Vulture’s Peak Mountain, delightful is the Gotama Banyan Tree, delightful is the Thieves’ Precipice, delightful is the side of the Vebhāra mountain in the Seven Leaves Cave, delightful is the side of the Isigili mountain on Black Rock, delightful is the Cool Wood, at the Snake Tank Slope, delightful is the River Tapodā Monastery, delightful is the Squirrel’s Feeding Place in Bamboo Wood, delightful is Jīvaka’s Mango Wood, delightful is the Deer Park at the place called Crushing Womb.
Whoever has developed, Ānanda, made much of, carried on, established, maintained, augmented, and properly instigated the Four Paths to Power, could, if he wanted, remain for the lifespan or for what is left of the lifespan. The Realised One has developed, Ānanda, made much of, carried on, established, maintained, augmented, and properly instigated the Four Paths to Power. If he wanted, Ānanda, the Realised One could remain for the lifespan or for what is left of the lifespan.’
But despite such a gross hint being made by the Realised One, such a gross suggestion being made, you were unable to penetrate it, and did not beg the Realised One, saying:
‘May the Gracious One remain, reverend Sir, for the lifespan; may the Fortunate One remain for the lifespan, for the benefit of many people, for the happiness of many people, out of compassion for the world, for the welfare, benefit, and happiness of Divinities and men.’
If you, Ānanda, had begged the Realised One twice the Realised One might have rejected your speech, but would have accepted it on the third occasion. So, Ānanda, there is this wrong-doing for you, there is this fault for you.
25: Ānanda’s Fault at Vesālī
At one time, Ānanda, I was living right here near Vesālī, in the Udena Shrine, I was living right here near Vesālī, in the Gotamaka Shrine, I was living right here near Vesālī, in the Seven Mangos Shrine, I was living right here near Vesālī, in the Many Sons Shrine, I was living right here near Vesālī, in the Sārandada Shrine, and here today, Ānanda, at the Cāpāla Shrine I addressed you, saying:
‘Delightful, Ānanda, is Vesālī, delightful is the Udena Shrine, delightful is the Gotamaka Shrine, delightful is the Seven Mangos Shrine, delightful is the Many Sons Shrine, delightful is the Sārandada Shrine, delightful is the Cāpāla Shrine.
Whoever has developed, Ānanda, made much of, carried on, established, maintained, augmented, and properly instigated the Four Paths to Power, could, if he wanted, remain for the lifespan or for what is left of the lifespan. The Realised One has developed, Ānanda, made much of, carried on, established, maintained, augmented, and properly instigated the Four Paths to Power. If he wanted, Ānanda, the Realised One could remain for the lifespan or for what is left of the lifespan.’
But despite such a gross hint, Ānanda, being made by the Realised One, such a gross suggestion being made, you were unable to penetrate it, and did not beg the Realised One, saying:
‘May the Gracious One remain, reverend Sir, for the lifespan; may the Fortunate One remain for the lifespan, for the benefit of many people, for the happiness of many people, out of compassion for the world, for the welfare, benefit, and happiness of Divinities and men.’
If you, Ānanda, had begged the Realised One twice the Realised One might have rejected your speech, but would have accepted it on the third occasion. So, Ānanda, there is this wrong-doing for you, there is this fault for you.
Were you not warned by me when I declared: ‘There is alteration in, separation from, and changeability in all that is dear and appealing’? How can it be otherwise, Ānanda, for that which is obtained, born, become, conditioned, subject to dissolution? It is not possible to say this: ‘It should not dissolve’. But this has been relinquished, cast out, let loose, abandoned by the Realised One, forsaken, the life-process that has been given up. For sure this word was spoken by the Realised One:
‘Not long now there will be the Realised One’s Final Emancipation, after the passing of three months the Realised One will attain Final Emancipation.’ The Realised One cannot for the sake of life go back on that, it is not possible.
26: The Thirty-Seven Things on the Side of Awakening
Come Ānanda let us approach the Gabled House Hall in Great Wood.”
“Very well, reverend Sir,” venerable Ānanda replied to the Gracious One. Then the Gracious One with venerable Ānanda approached the Gabled House Hall in Great Wood, and after approaching he addressed venerable Ānanda, saying:
“Go, Ānanda, and whatever monks are living in dependence on Vesālī assemble them in the Attendance Hall.”
“Very well, reverend Sir,” said venerable Ānanda, and after replying to the Gracious One and assembling whatever monks were living in dependence on Vesālī in the Attendance Hall, he approached the Gracious One, and after approaching and worshipping the Gracious One, he stood at one side. While standing on one side, venerable Ānanda said this to the Gracious One: “The Community of monks has assembled, reverend Sir, now is the time, Gracious One, for whatever you are thinking.”
Then the Gracious One approached the Attendance Hall, and after approaching he sat down on the prepared seat. While sitting the Gracious One addressed the monks, saying:
“Therefore, monks, whatever Teachings have, with deep knowledge, been taught by me, after grasping them well, you should practise, develop, and make a lot of them, so that the Spiritual Life may last long, and may endure for a long time, and that will be for the benefit of many people, for the happiness of many people, out of compassion for the world, for the welfare, benefit, and happiness of Divinities and men.
And what are those Teachings that have, with deep knowledge, been taught by me, which after grasping them well, you should practise, develop, and make a lot of them, so that the Spiritual Life may last long, and may endure for a long time, that will be for the benefit of many people, for the happiness of many people, out of compassion for the world, for the welfare, benefit, and happiness of Divinities and men?
They are as follows:
The Four Ways of Attending to Mindfulness,
the Four Right Strivings,
the Four Paths to Power,
the Five Faculties,
the Five Strengths,
the Seven Factors of Awakening,
the Noble Eight-Fold Path.
These, monks, are those Teachings that have, with deep knowledge, been taught by me, after grasping them well, you should practise, develop, and make a lot of them, so that the Spiritual Life may last long, and may endure for a long time, and that will be for the benefit of many people, for the happiness of many people, out of compassion for the world, for the welfare, benefit, and happiness of Divinities and men.”
Then the Gracious One addressed the monks, saying:
“Come now, monks, for I tell you all conditioned things are subject to decay, strive on with heedfulness! Not long now there will be the Realised One’s Final Emancipation, after the passing of three months the Realised One will attain Final Emancipation.”
The Gracious One said this, and after saying this, the Fortunate One, the Teacher, said something more:
“Youths and also the old, fools and also the wise,
Rich and also the poor—all end in death.
Like an earthen vessel made by a potter,
Small and great, that which is baked and unbaked,
All end in breakage, just so life ends in death.”Then the Teacher, said something more:
“Well-matured, decayed, with little of my life remaining,
Having abandoned rebirth I will go, having made myself a refuge.
Be heedful, mindful, and virtuous, monks,
With well-reasoned thoughts, protect your minds.Whoever in this Teaching and Discipline will live heedful,
Having given up the round of rebirths, he will put an end to suffering.”
