After the conversion of Subhadda, the Buddha spoke
again to Venerable Ananda: "It may be, Ananda, that
some of you will say,without the Buddha, the Sublime
Teacher, there is no Teacher for us.
No, Ananda, you should not think in this way. Whatever
Doctrine and Discipline taught and made known by me
will be your Teacher when I am gone."
Then the Buddha, addressing the other monks said, "If
any amongst you has any doubts as to the Buddha, the
Teaching or the Order of monks, ask me now so that
afterwards, you may have cause to regret that you
did not ask me while I am still with you."
But at these words, none of the monks said anything.
None had any questions, and all of them were silent.
For the second and third time the Buddha addressed the
monks in this way. And for the second and third
time, all the monks were silent.
The Buddha said, "Perhaps it may be out of respect for
the Teacher, that you do not question me. Let a
friend, O disciples, tell it to another friend." Still
the disciples remained silent.
Then Venerable Ananda spoke to the Buddha, "It is
wonderful. It is marvellous, Lord! I do believe that
in all this great company of monks there is not a
single one who has doubts or questions about the
Buddha, the Teaching or the Order of monks, or the
Path and the
method of training and conduct."
"With you, Ananda," said the Buddha, "this may be a
matter of faith and belief. But, Ananda, I know that
not one single monk gathered here has any doubt or
question about these things. Of all the 500 monks
here,
Ananda, he who is the most backward is a Sotapanna,
not subject to fall back to a lower state of
existence, but is certain and destined for
Enlightenment."
Then the Buddha addressed all the monks once more, and
these were the very last words He spoke:
"Behold, O monks, this is my last advice to you. All
component things in the world are changeable. They are
not lasting. Work hard to gain your own salvation."
Then the Buddha lapsed into the Jhana stages or
meditative absorption. Going from level to level, one
after the other, ever deeper and deeper. Then He came
out of the meditative absorption for the last time.
Then He passed into Jhana a little way; and from this
Jhana He passed into Nibbana leaving nothing whatever
behind that can cause rebirth again in this or any
other world.
The passing away of the Buddha occurred in 543 B.C. on
a full-moon day in the month of May, known in the
Indian calendar as Vesak.