DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45392#0132
Buddha & the Gospel of Buddhism
and reverences the Tathagata. And therefore, Ananda,
be ye constant in the fulfilment of the greater and the
lesser duties, and be ye correct in life, walking according
to the precepts; and thus, Ananda, should it be taught.”
Then the Buddha addressed Ananda, and said to him
that he saw a great host of the gods assembled together
to behold the Tathagata upon the night of his final
passing away: and a host of spirits of the air and of the
earth, “ of worldly mind, who dishevel their hair and
weep, who stretch forth their arms and weep, who fall
prostrate on the ground, and roll to and fro in anguish
at the thought ‘Too soon will the Exalted One pass
away! Too soon will the Exalted One die! Too soon
will the Eye in the world pass away!’” “But,”
the Master continued, “the spirits who are free from
passion bear it calm and self-possessed, mindful of
the saying—‘ Impermanent, indeed, are all component
things.’ ”
And the Master made mention of four places that should
be visited by the clansmen with feelings of reverence—
the place where the Tathagata was born, the place where
he attained Supreme Enlightenment, the place where the
kingdom of righteousness was established, and the place
where the Tathagata utterly'passed away: “and they,
Ananda, who shall die while they, with believing heart,
are journeying on such a pilgrimage, shall be reborn after
death, when the body shall dissolve, in the happy realms
of heaven.”
When Ananda enquired what should be done with the
remains of the Tathagata, he answered: “Hinder not
yourselves, Ananda, by honouring the remains of Him-
who-has-thus-attained. Be zealous, I beseech you, Ananda,
on your own behalf! Devote yourselves to your own good!
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and reverences the Tathagata. And therefore, Ananda,
be ye constant in the fulfilment of the greater and the
lesser duties, and be ye correct in life, walking according
to the precepts; and thus, Ananda, should it be taught.”
Then the Buddha addressed Ananda, and said to him
that he saw a great host of the gods assembled together
to behold the Tathagata upon the night of his final
passing away: and a host of spirits of the air and of the
earth, “ of worldly mind, who dishevel their hair and
weep, who stretch forth their arms and weep, who fall
prostrate on the ground, and roll to and fro in anguish
at the thought ‘Too soon will the Exalted One pass
away! Too soon will the Exalted One die! Too soon
will the Eye in the world pass away!’” “But,”
the Master continued, “the spirits who are free from
passion bear it calm and self-possessed, mindful of
the saying—‘ Impermanent, indeed, are all component
things.’ ”
And the Master made mention of four places that should
be visited by the clansmen with feelings of reverence—
the place where the Tathagata was born, the place where
he attained Supreme Enlightenment, the place where the
kingdom of righteousness was established, and the place
where the Tathagata utterly'passed away: “and they,
Ananda, who shall die while they, with believing heart,
are journeying on such a pilgrimage, shall be reborn after
death, when the body shall dissolve, in the happy realms
of heaven.”
When Ananda enquired what should be done with the
remains of the Tathagata, he answered: “Hinder not
yourselves, Ananda, by honouring the remains of Him-
who-has-thus-attained. Be zealous, I beseech you, Ananda,
on your own behalf! Devote yourselves to your own good!
82