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Mahàparinibbànasuttaü
The Discourse about the Great Emancipation
[Chaññhabhàõavàraü]
[The Sixth Chapter for Recitation]
[40: Tathàgatassa PacchimàAnusàsanà]
[The Last Instructions of the Realised One]
Atha kho Bhagavà àyasmantaü ânandaü àmantesi:
Then the Gracious One addressed venerable ânanda, (saying):
ßSiyà kho pan' ânanda tumhàkaü evam-assa:
ßIt may be, ânanda, that some of you may think in this way:
`Atãtasatthukaü pàvacanaü natthi no Satthà.' ti
`Past is the Teacher's word, there is now no Teacher for us.'
Na kho panetaü ânanda evaü daññhabbaü,
But it should not be seen like that, ânanda,
yo vo ânanda mayà Dhammo ca Vinayo ca desito paÿÿatto
whatever Teaching and Discipline has been taught by me or laid down, ânanda,
so vo mamaccayena Satthà.
that is your Teacher after my passing away.
* * *
Yathà kho pan' ânanda etarahi bhikkhå aÿÿamaÿÿaü àvusovàdena samudàcaranti:
At present, ânanda, the monks address each other with the word `friend',
na kho mamaccayena evaü samudàcaritabbaü.
(but) after my passing away they are not to address (one another) thus.
Theratarena ânanda bhikkhunà navakataro bhikkhu
* The elder monk, ânanda, should address the younger monk
nàmena và gottena và àvusovàdena và samudàcaritabbo.
by his name or by his clan (name) or by the word `friend'.
Navakatarena bhikkhunà therataro bhikkhu
(But) the younger monk should address the elder monk
Bhante ti và àyasmà ti và samudàcaritabbo.
as reverend Sir or venerable Sir.
* * *
âkaïkhamàno ânanda Saïgho mamaccayena,
Desiring (to do so), ânanda, the Community after my passing away,
khuddànukhuddakàni sikkhàpadàni samåhanatu.
can abolish the minor and subsidiary training rules. 01
* * *
Channassa ânanda bhikkhuno mamaccayena brahmadaõóo dàtabbo.û ti
The highest penalty, ânanda, after my passing away, is to be handed out to the monk Channa.û
ßKatamo pana Bhante brahmadaõóo?û ti
ßBut what is the highest penalty, reverend Sir?û
ßChanno ânanda bhikkhu yaü iccheyya taü vadeyya
ßThe monk Channa, ânanda, may say whatever he wishes
so bhikkhåhi neva vattabbo na ovaditabbo na anusàsitabbo.û ti
but he is not to be spoken to or advised or instructed by the monks.û 02
* * *
Atha kho Bhagavà bhikkhå àmantesi:
Then the Gracious One addressed the monks, (saying):
ßSiyà kho pana bhikkhave ekabhikkhussa pi kaïkhà và vimati và
ßIt may be, monks, that for one of the monks there is doubt or confusion
Buddhe và Dhamme và Saïghe và Magge và pañipadàya và.
about the Buddha, or about the Teaching, or about the Community, or about the Path, or about the practice.
Pucchatha bhikkhave mà pacchà vippañisàrino ahuvattha:
Ask, monks, do not be regretful later (thinking):
`Sammukhãbhåto no Satthà ahosi
`The Teacher was face to face with us
na mayaü sikkhimhà Bhagavantaü sammukhà pañipucchitun.'û-ti
and we didn't ask the Gracious One directly about the training.'û
Evaü vutte te bhikkhå tuõhã ahesuü.
After this was said those monks were silent.
Dutiyam-pi kho Bhagavà bhikkhå àmantesi:
For a second time the Gracious One addressed the monks, (saying):
ßSiyà kho pana bhikkhave ekabhikkhussa pi kaïkhà và vimati và
ßIt may be, monks, that for one of the monks there is doubt or confusion
Buddhe và Dhamme và Saïghe và Magge và pañipadàya và.
about the Buddha, or about the Teaching, or about the Community, or about the Path, or about the practice.
Pucchatha bhikkhave mà pacchà vippañisàrino ahuvattha:
Ask, monks, do not be regretful later (thinking):
`Sammukhãbhåto no Satthà ahosi
`The Teacher was face to face with us
na mayaü sikkhimhà Bhagavantaü sammukhà pañipucchitun.'û-ti
and we didn't ask the Gracious One directly about the training.'û
Dutiyam-pi kho te bhikkhå tuõhã ahesuü.
For a second time those monks were silent.
Tatiyam-pi kho Bhagavà bhikkhå àmantesi:
For a third time the Gracious One addressed the monks, (saying):
ßSiyà kho pana bhikkhave ekabhikkhussa pi kaïkhà và vimati và
ßIt may be, monks, that for one of the monks there is doubt or confusion
Buddhe và Dhamme và Saïghe và Magge và pañipadàya và.
about the Buddha, or about the Teaching, or about the Community, or about the Path, or about the practice.
Pucchatha bhikkhave mà pacchà vippañisàrino ahuvattha:
Ask, monks, do not be regretful later (thinking):
`Sammukhãbhåto no Satthà ahosi
`The Teacher was face to face with us
na mayaü sikkhimhà Bhagavantaü sammukhà pañipucchitun.'û-ti
and we didn't ask the Gracious One directly about the training.'û
Tatiyam-pi kho te bhikkhå tuõhã ahesuü.
For a third time those monks were silent.
Atha kho Bhagavà bhikkhå àmantesi:
Then the Gracious One addressed the monks, (saying):
ßSiyà kho pana bhikkhave Satthu gàravena pi na puccheyyàtha,
ßIt may be, monks, that out of respect for the Teacher you do not ask,
sahàyako pi bhikkhave sahàyakassa àrocetå.û ti
then one friend, monks, can inform another friend (about his doubts).û
Evaü vutte te bhikkhå tuõhã ahesuü.
After this was said those monks were silent.
Atha kho àyasmà ânando Bhagavantaü etad-avoca:
Then venerable ânanda said this to the Gracious One:
ßAcchariyaü Bhante abbhutaü Bhante,
ßIt is wonderful, reverend Sir, it is marvellous, reverend Sir,
evaü pasanno ahaü Bhante imasmiü bhikkhusaïghe
I am confident, reverend Sir, that in this Community of monks
natthi ekabhikkhussa pi kaïkhà và vimati và
there is not one of the monks in this Community of monks who has doubt or confusion
Buddhe và Dhamme và Saïghe và Magge và pañipadàya và.û ti
about the Buddha, or about the Teaching, or about the Community, or about the Path, or about the practice.û
ßPasàdà kho tvaü ânanda vadesi,
ßOut of confidence, ânanda, you speak,
ÿàõam-eva hettha ânanda Tathàgatassa
but the Realised One, ânanda, has knowledge that
natthi imasmiü Bhikkhusaïghe ekabhikkhussa pi kaïkhà và vimati và
there is not one of the monks in this Community of monks who has doubt or confusion
Buddhe và Dhamme và Saïghe và Magge và pañipadàya và.
about the Buddha, or about the Teaching, or about the Community, or about the Path, or about the practice.
Imesaü hi ânanda paÿcannaü bhikkhusatànaü,
For amongst these five hundred monks, ânanda,
yo pacchimako bhikkhu so sotàpanno avinipàtadhammo,
he who is the last monk, is a Stream-Enterer, no longer subject to falling (into the lower realms),
niyato sambodhiparàyano.û ti
and has a fixed destiny ending in Final Awakening.û 03
* * *
Atha kho Bhagavà bhikkhå àmantesi:
Then the Gracious One addressed the monks, (saying):
ßHanda dàni bhikkhave àmantayàmi vo vayadhammà saïkhàrà,
ßCome now, monks, for I tell you (all) conditioned things are subject to decay,
appamàdena sampàdethà!û ti
strive on with heedfulness!û
Ayaü Tathàgatassa pacchimà vàcà.
These were the last words of the Realised One. 04