What
Buddhists Believe
Venerable K. Sri Dhammananda Maha Thera
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The Last
Message of the Buddha
'When I am gone, my Teaching shall be your Master
and Guide.'
Three
months before His passing away the Buddha addressed His disciples and
said: 'I have delivered sermons to you during these forty-five years. You
must learn them well and treasure them. You must practise them and teach
them to others. This will be of great use for the welfare of the living
and for the welfare of those who come after you'.
'My years are
now full ripe; the life span left is short. I will soon have to leave you.
You must be earnest. O monks, be mindful and of pure virtue! Whoever
untiringly pursues the Teaching, will go beyond the cycle of birth and
death and will man an end of Suffering.'
When Ananda
asked the Buddha what would become of the Order after He pass away, the
Buddha replied, 'What does the Order expect of me, Ananda? I have preached
the Truth without any distinction; for in regard to the Truth, there is no
clenched hand in the Teachings of the Buddha°‚. It may be, Ananda, that
to some among you, the thought will come 'The Master's words will soon
end; soon we will no longer have a master.' But do not think like this,
Ananda. When I am gone, my Teaching and the disciplinary code shall be
your Master.'
The Buddha
further explained: 'If there is anyone who thinks, 'It is I who will lead
the brotherhood', or 'The Order is dependent on me, it is I who should
give instructions', the Buddha does not think that He should lead the
order or that the Order is dependent on Him. I have reached the end of my
days. Just as a worn-out cart can only be made to move with much
additional care, so my body can be kept going only with much additional
care. Therefore, Ananda, be a lamp and refuge unto yourselves. Look for no
other refuge. Let the Truth be your lamp and your refuge. Seek no refuge
elsewhere.'
At the age of eighty, on
His birthday, He passed away without showing any worldly supernatural
powers. He showed the real nature of component things even in His own
life.
When the Buddha
passed away into Nibbana, one of His disciples remarked, 'All must
depart---all beings that have life must shed their compounded forms. Yes,
even a Master such as He, a peerless being, powerful in Wisdom and
Enlightenment, even He must pass away.'
The parting words of the Buddha:
'Appamadena
Sampadetha Vaya Dhamma Sankhara'.
'Work diligently. Component things are impermanent.'
-ooOoo-
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Source: Buddhist
Study and Practice Group, http://www.sinc.sunysb.edu/Clubs/buddhism/
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Layout: Chan Duc - Nguyen Thao
Update : 01-11-2002
