9.
The Discourse on the Sick
375.
Thus have I heard -
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Vesālī in the village of Veḷuva.
There the Blessed One addressed the monks thus:
"Come, monks, enter the rains retreat all around Vesālī according to your friends, according to your acquaintances, according to your close companions.
I shall enter the rains retreat right here at the village of Veḷuva."
"Yes, venerable sir," those monks replied to the Blessed One and entered the rains retreat all around Vesālī according to their friends, according to their acquaintances, according to their close companions.
But the Blessed One entered the rains retreat right there at the village of Veḷuva.
Then a severe illness arose in the Blessed One who had entered the rains retreat, and painful feelings occurred, bordering on death. There the Blessed One endured them, mindful and fully aware, without being distressed. Then this occurred to the Blessed One: "It is not proper for me that I should attain final nibbāna without addressing my attendants, without taking leave of the Community of monks. What if I were to suppress this illness by energy and dwell having determined the life-activities." Then the Blessed One, having suppressed that illness by energy, dwelt having determined the life-activities.
Then the Blessed One, having recovered from the illness, not long after recovering from the sickness, having come out from the dwelling, sat down on the prepared seat in the shade of the dwelling. Then the Venerable Ānanda approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the Venerable Ānanda said this to the Blessed One - "I have seen the Blessed One's comfort, venerable sir; I have seen the Blessed One's endurance, venerable sir; I have seen the Blessed One's recovery, venerable sir. But my body has become as if weak and stiff, venerable sir, the directions are not clear to me, the teachings do not occur to me because of the Blessed One's sickness. But there was some measure of comfort to me, venerable sir: 'The Blessed One will not attain final nibbāna until the Blessed One has declared something concerning the Community of monks.'"
"But, Ānanda, what does the Community of monks expect from me? The Teaching has been expounded by me, Ānanda, making no distinction between inner and outer. There is not, Ānanda, a closed fist of a teacher in the Truth-finder regarding the teachings. If anyone, Ānanda, should think thus - 'I will lead the Community of monks' or 'The Community of monks is under my direction' - he indeed, Ānanda, might declare something concerning the Community of monks. But the Truth-finder, Ānanda, does not think thus - 'I will lead the Community of monks' or 'The Community of monks is under my direction.' Why then, Ānanda, should the Truth-finder declare anything concerning the Community of monks? Now indeed, Ānanda, I am old, aged, elderly, one who has traversed the span of life, advanced in years. My age is now eighty years. Just as, Ānanda, an old cart is kept going by being held together with straps; so too, Ānanda, methinks the Truth-finder's body is kept going by being held together with straps.
"At the time, Ānanda, when the Truth-finder, through inattention to all signs and through the cessation of certain feelings, enters and dwells in the signless concentration of mind, at that time, Ānanda, the Truth-finder's body is more comfortable. Therefore, Ānanda, dwell having yourselves as an island, having yourselves as a refuge, with no other refuge, having the Teaching as an island, having the Teaching as a refuge, with no other refuge.
"And how, Ānanda, does a monk dwell having himself as an island, having himself as a refuge, with no other refuge, having the Teaching as an island, having the Teaching as a refuge, with no other refuge? Here, Ānanda, a monk dwells observing the body in the body, ardent, fully aware, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure regarding the world; in feelings... etc. In mind... etc. He dwells observing mental phenomena in mental phenomena, ardent, fully aware, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure regarding the world. Thus indeed, Ānanda, a monk dwells having himself as an island, having himself as a refuge, with no other refuge, having the Teaching as an island, having the Teaching as a refuge, with no other refuge. Whoever, Ānanda, either now or after my passing, will dwell having themselves as an island, having themselves as a refuge, with no other refuge, having the Teaching as an island, having the Teaching as a refuge, with no other refuge; these monks, Ānanda, will be at the very topmost, whoever are eager to train." The ninth.