Final Teachings of Buddha to Dying Disciples: A Lesson in Confidence and Detachment | Linked Discourse 55.3

Final Teachings of Buddha to Dying Disciples: A Lesson in Confidence and Detachment | Linked Discourse 55.3

At one time the Buddha was staying near Rajagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.

Now at that time the lay follower Dighavu was sick, suffering, gravely ill. 

Then, he addressed his father, the householder Jotika, “Please, householder, go to the Buddha, and in my name bow with your head to his feet. 

Say to him: ‘Sir, the lay follower Dighavu is sick, suffering, gravely ill. He bows with his head to your feet.’ 

And then say: ‘Sir, please visit him at his home out of sympathy.’”

“Yes, dear,” replied Jotika. 

He did as Dighavu asked and went to meet Buddha. 

The Buddha consented with silence after Jotika speak to him.

Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to the home of the lay follower Dighavu, sat down on the seat spread out, and said to him:

 “I hope you’re keeping well, Dighavu; I hope you’re all right. I hope that your pain is fading, not growing, that its fading is evident, not its growing.”

Dighavu replied:

“Sir, I’m not keeping well, I’m not getting by. The pain is terrible and growing, not fading; its growing is evident, not its fading.”

Buddha then said:

“So, Dighavu, you should trained and gained: 

‘I will have unshakable confidence in the Buddha:

‘In this way, the Blessed One, Who has broken the bonds, A fully transformed awakened Buddha, Who fully understood behaviors and living according to the knowledge, Who has become good, Knower of the worlds, Supreme guide for those who wish to train, Teacher of gods and humans, Awakened, Blessed.’

‘I will have unshakable confidence in the Buddha's teaching, dhamma:

‘The teaching is clearly explained by the Buddha, can be experienced right now, independent of time, inviting to come and verified personally, leading to insight, so wise people can personally know it for themselves.

‘I will have unshakable confidence in the Sangha, a Community of Buddha's Disciples:

‘The Sangha, a community of the Buddha’s disciples has practicing the path well, 

The Sangha, a community of the Buddha’s disciples has practicing the path straightforwardly, 

The Sangha, a community of the Buddha’s disciples has practicing the path step by step, 

The Sangha, a community of the Buddha’s disciples has practicing the path in their daily life, 

That is, the four true pairs, Consist of the eight true persons,

This is one of the Sangha, a community of the Buddha’s disciples.

That is worthy of gifts, Worthy of hospitality, Worthy of offering dedicated to the gods, worthy of greeting with joined palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.’  

And I will have the ethical conduct that is loved by the noble ones, unbroken, impeccable, spotless, and unblemished, liberating, praised by wise people, untarnished, and leading to samadhi.

That’s how you should trained and gained."

“Sir, these four qualities of stream-entry that were taught by the Buddha are found in me, and I understood them from my direct experience. 

For I have unshakable confidence in the Buddha:

‘In this way, the Blessed One, Who has broken the bonds, A fully transformed awakened Buddha, Who fully understood behaviors and living according to the knowledge, Who has become good, Knower of the worlds, Supreme guide for those who wish to train, Teacher of gods and humans, Awakened, Blessed.’

I have unshakable confidence in the Buddha's teaching, dhamma:

‘The teaching is clearly explained by the Buddha, can be experienced right now, independent of time, inviting to come and verified personally, leading to insight, so wise people can personally know it for themselves.

I have unshakable confidence in the Sangha, a Community of Buddha's Disciples:

‘The Sangha, a community of the Buddha’s disciples has practicing the path well, 

The Sangha, a community of the Buddha’s disciples has practicing the path straightforwardly, 

The Sangha, a community of the Buddha’s disciples has practicing the path step by step, 

The Sangha, a community of the Buddha’s disciples has practicing the path in their daily life, 

That is, the four true pairs, Consist of the eight true persons,

This is one of the Sangha, a community of the Buddha’s disciples.

That is worthy of gifts, Worthy of hospitality, Worthy of offering dedicated to the gods, worthy of greeting with joined palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.’  

  And I have the ethical conduct that is loved by the noble ones, unbroken, impeccable, spotless, and unblemished, liberating, praised by wise people, untarnished, and leading to samadhi.

“In that case, Dighavu, grounded on these four qualities of stream-entry you should further develop these six things that play a part in realization. 

You should live seeing the impermanence of all process construction activities, perceiving suffering in impermanence, perceiving not-self in suffering, perceiving letting go, perceiving desire detachment, and perceiving cessation. That’s how you should trained and gained.”

“These six things that play a part in realization that were taught by the Buddha are found in me, and I understood them from my direct experience.

For I live seeing the impermanence of all process construction activities, perceiving suffering in impermanence, perceiving not-self in suffering, perceiving letting go, perceiving desire detachment, and perceiving cessation. 

But still, sir, I think, ‘I hope Jotika doesn’t suffer distress when I’ve gone.’” 

Jotika said, “Dear Dighavu, don’t focus on that. Come on, dear Dighavu, you should closely focus on what the Buddha is saying.”

When the Buddha had given this advice he got up from his seat and left. Not long after the Buddha left, Dighavu passed away. Then several monks went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

“Sir, the lay follower named Dighavu, who was advised in brief by the Buddha, has passed away. Where has he been reborn in his next life?”

“Monks, the lay follower Dighavu was astute. He practiced in line with the teachings, and did not trouble me about the teachings. With the ending of the five lower fetters, he’s been born spontaneously, and will become extinguished there, not liable to return from that world.”

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