Then, with blood running from his cut head, with his
bowl broken, and with his outer robe torn, the venerable
Angulimāla went to the Blessèd One.
The Blessèd One saw him coming in the distance and
told him: “Bear it, brahmin! Bear it, brahmin! You are experiencing
here and now the result of deeds because of which you
might have been tortured in hell for many years, for many hundreds
of years, for many thousands of years.”
18. Then, while the venerable Angulimāla was alone in
retreat experiencing the bliss of deliverance, he uttered this
exclamation:
“Who once did live in negligence
And then is negligent no more,
He illuminates the world
Like the moon freed from a cloud.
Who checks the evil deeds he did
By doing wholesome deeds instead,
He illuminates the world
Like the moon freed from a cloud.
The youthful bhikkhu who devotes
His efforts to the Buddha’s teaching,
He illuminates the world
Like the moon freed from a cloud.
Let my enemies hear discourse on the Dhamma,
Let them be devoted to the Buddha’s teaching,
Let my enemies wait on those good people
Who lead others to accept the Dhamma.
Let my enemies give ear from time to time
And hear the Dhamma of those who preach forbearance,
Of those who speak as well in praise of kindness,
And let them follow up that Dhamma with kind deeds.
For surely then they would not wish to harm me,
Nor would they think of harming other beings,
So those who would protect all, frail or strong,
Let them attain the all‐surpassing peace.
Conduit‐makers guide the water,
Fletchers straighten out the arrow‐shaft,
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So welcome to that choice of mine
And let it stand, it was not ill made;
I have attained the triple knowledge
And done all that the Buddha teaches.”
(Bhikkhu Ñānamoli & Bhikkhu Bodhi trans.,
Wisdom Publications)
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A
PPENDIX 4
E
XCERPTS FROM THE
M
AHA‐
P
ARINIBBĀNA
S
UTTA,
D
16
~ The Buddha’s Last Days ~
2.22.
…
THE
L
ORD SAID TO THE MONKS
: ‘You, monks,
should go to anywhere in Vesālī where you have friends or
acquaintances or supporters, and spend the Rains there. I shall
spend the Rains here in Beluva.’ ‘Very good, Lord,’ replied the
monks, and they did so, but the Lord spent the Rains in Beluva.
2.23. And during the Rains the Lord was attacked by a
severe sickness, with sharp pains as if he were about to die. But
he endured all this mindfully, clearly aware and without
complaining. He thought: ‘It is not fitting that I should attain
final Nibbāna without addressing my followers and taking leave
of the order of monks. I must hold this disease in check by energy
and apply myself to the force of life.’ He did so, and the disease
abated.
2.24. Then the Lord having recovered from his sickness,
as soon as he felt better, went outside and sat on a prepared
seat in front of his dwelling. Then the Venerable Ānanda came
to him, saluted him, sat down to one side and said: ‘Lord, I have
seen the Lord in comfort, and I have seen the Lord’s patient
enduring. And, Lord, my body was like a drunkard’s. I lost my
bearings and things were unclear to me because of the Lord’s
sickness. The only thing that was some comfort to me was the
thought: “The Lord will not attain final Nibbāna until he has
made some statement about the order of monks.”’
2.25. ‘But, Ānanda, what does the order of monks expect
of me? I have taught the Dhamma, Ānanda, making no “inner”
and “outer”: the Tathāgata has no “teacher’s fist” in respect of
doctrines. If there is anyone who thinks: “I shall take charge of
the order,” or “The order should refer to me,” let him make some
statement about the order, but the Tathāgata does not think in
such terms. So why should the Tathāgata make a statement about
the order?
‘Ānanda, I am now old, worn out, venerable, one who
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