Last Words of the Buddha
The Blessed One addressed the monks, saying: "It may be, bhikkhus (monks), that one of you is in doubt or perplexity as to the Buddha, the Dhamma (laws), or the Sangha (monk order),
the path or the practice. Then question, bhikkhus! Do not be given to remorse later on with the thought: 'The Master was with us face to face, yet face to face we failed to ask him.'"
But when this was said, the bhikkhus were silent. Then the Blessed One said to them: "It may be, bhikkhus, out of respect for the Master that you ask no questions. Then, bhikkhus, let
friend communicate it to friend," Yet still the bhikkhus were silent. And the Venerable Ananda spoke to the Blessed One, saying: "Marvellous it is, O Lord, most wonderful it is! The
faith I have in the community of bhikkhus, that not even one bhikkhus is in doubt or perplexity as to the Buddha, the Dhamma, or the Sangha, the path or the practice." "Out of faith,
Ananda, you speak thus. But here, Ananda, the Tathagata knows for certain that among this community of bhikkhus there is not even one bhikkhu who is in doubt or perplexity as to the
Buddha, the Dhamma, or the Sangha, the path or the practice. For, Ananda, among these five hundred bhikkhus even the lowest is a stream-enterery, secure from downfall, assured, and
bound for enlightenment." And the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus, saying: Vayadhamma samkara, appamadena sampadetha" Behold now, monks, I exhort you: Impermanent are all compounded
things. Strive your deliverance with mindfulness!" This was the last word of the Tathagata.
Maha-parinibbana Sutta The Great Discourse on the Total Unbinding(excerpt)
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EIGHT KINDS OF MADNESS (ummattaka)
Chiggala Sutta:
Monks, suppose that this great earth were totally covered with water, and a man were to toss a yoke with a single hole there.
A wind from the east would push it west, a wind from the west would push it east. A wind from the north would push it south,
a wind from the south would push it north. And suppose a blind sea-turtle were there. It would come to the surface once every
one hundred years. Now what do you think: would that blind sea-turtle, coming to the surface once every one hundred years,
stick his neck into the yoke with a single hole?
It would be a sheer coincidence, lord, that the blind sea-turtle, coming to the surface once every one hundred years, would
stick his neck into the yoke with a single hole. It's likewise a sheer coincidence that one obtains the human state. It's
likewise a sheer coincidence that a Tathagata, worthy & rightly self-awakened, arises in the world. It's likewise a sheer
coincidence that a doctrine & discipline expounded by a Tathagata appears in the world. Now, this human state has been obtained.
A Tathagata, worthy & rightly self-awakened, has arisen in the world. A doctrine & discipline expounded by a Tathagata appears in
the world. Therefore your duty is the contemplation, 'This is stress... This is the origination of stress... This is the cessation of stress.
Your duty is the contemplation, 'This is the path of practice leading to the cessation of stress.
Chiggala Sutta:
Monks, suppose that this great earth were totally covered with water, and a man were to toss a yoke with a single hole there.
A wind from the east would push it west, a wind from the west would push it east. A wind from the north would push it south,
a wind from the south would push it north. And suppose a blind sea-turtle were there. It would come to the surface once every
one hundred years. Now what do you think: would that blind sea-turtle, coming to the surface once every one hundred years,
stick his neck into the yoke with a single hole?
It would be a sheer coincidence, lord, that the blind sea-turtle, coming to the surface once every one hundred years, would
stick his neck into the yoke with a single hole. It's likewise a sheer coincidence that one obtains the human state. It's
likewise a sheer coincidence that a Tathagata, worthy & rightly self-awakened, arises in the world. It's likewise a sheer
coincidence that a doctrine & discipline expounded by a Tathagata appears in the world. Now, this human state has been obtained.
A Tathagata, worthy & rightly self-awakened, has arisen in the world. A doctrine & discipline expounded by a Tathagata appears in
the world. Therefore your duty is the contemplation, 'This is stress... This is the origination of stress... This is the cessation of stress.
Your duty is the contemplation, 'This is the path of practice leading to the cessation of stress.
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