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114
THE BOOK OF THE GREAT DECEASE.
CH.
7. Then the Blessed One addressed the brethren, and said: 'It may be, brethren, that you put no questions out of reverence for the teacher. Let one friend communicate to another.'
And when he had thus spoken the brethren were silent.
8. And the venerable Ânanda said to the Blessed One : ‘How wonderful a thing is it, Lord, and how marvellous! Verily, I believe that in this whole assembly of the brethren there is not one brother who has any doubt or misgiving as to the Buddha, or the truth, or the path, or the way!'
9. “It is out of the fulness of faith that thou hast spoken, Ananda ! But, Ananda, the Tathagata knows for certain that in this whole assembly of the brethren there is not one brother who has any doubt or misgiving as to the Buddha, or the truth, or the path, or the way! For even the most backward, Ânanda, of all these five hundred brethren has become converted, and is no longer liable to be born in a state of suffering, and is assured of final salvation 1.'
10. Then the Blessed One addressed the brethren, and said : “Behold now, brethren, I exhort you, saying, “Decay is inherent in all component things! Work out your salvation with diligence !"!
This was the last word of the Tathagata!
11. Then the Blessed One entered into the first
1 Compare above, Chap. II, § 7. By the most backward,' according to Buddhaghosa, the Blessed One referred to Ananda, and he said this to encourage him.
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| SR No. | 007674 |
| Book Title | Dhammapada |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Max Muller |
| Publisher | Oxford |
| Publication Year | 1881 |
| Total Pages | 2540 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 45 MB |