Vol. 11 · pages 566–570

547 HIS END VII § 1. The Appointment of a Successor 1. The Exalted One was at one time sojourning among the Sakyans in the mango grove of the Sakyan family named the archers. 2. Now at that time Nataputta the Nigantha had just died at Pava. And at his death the Niganthas became disunited and divided into two parties, in mutual strife and conflict, quarrelling and wounding each other with wordy weapons. 3. Now Chunda, the novice, having passed the rainy season at Pava, came to see the venerable Ananda and said: “Nataputta, sir, the Nigantha had just died at Pava. And he being dead the Niganthas have become disunited and divided and are quarrelling and wounding one another. This is because they are without a protector.” 4. Then said the venerable Ananda, “ Friend Chunda, this is a worthy subject to bring before the Exalted One. Let us go to him, and tell him about it.” 5. “Very good, sir,” replied Chunda. 6. So the venerable Ananda and Chunda, the novice, sought out the Exalted One and saluting him, told him about the Niganthas and pleaded the necessity of appointing a successor. 7. The Blessed Lord on hearing what Chunda had said, replied: “But consider Chunda, where a teacher hath arisen in the world, Arahat, supremely enlightened: where a doctrine hath been well set forth, well imparted, effectual for guidance, conducive to peace; but where his disciples have not become proficient in good Norm, nor has it been made a thing of saving grace to them, well proclaimed among men when their teacher passes away. 8. “Now for such a teacher to die, Chunda, is a great affliction for his disciples and a great danger to his Dhamma. 9. “But consider, Chunda, where a teacher has appeared in the world who is all-enlightened; where the Norm has been well set forth, well imparted, effec-

548 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES VII tual for guidance, conducive to peace, and where the disciples have become proficient in the good Norm, and where the full scope of the higher life has become manifest to them when that teacher passes away. 10. “Now for such a teacher, Chunda, to die is not an affliction for his disciples. Why then have a successor ? ” 11. When Ananda raised the same question on another occasion the Blessed Lord said: “What think you Ananda ? Do you observe even a couple of almsmen at variance about what I have taught ? ” 12. “No. But those who are about the Lord might after his death, stir up quarrel in the confraternity respecting the regimen or of the code and such quarrels would make for general grief.” 13. “Of little concern, Ananda, are quarrels respecting rigours of regimen or of the code ; it is possible quarrels in the confraternity about the path which really matter,” said the Blessed Lord. 14. “These disputes about the path cannot be settled by a dictator. What then a successor can do unless he acts as a dictator. 15. “The controversies regarding the path cannot be settled by a dictator. 16. “The decision of a controversy should be reached by the fraternity. The whole conjoint body should assemble and thrash out the matter till there is agreement and then to settle it conformably with such agreement. 17. “Majority agreements is the way to settle the disputes and not the appointment of a successor.” §2. The Last Convert 1. Now at that time Subhadda the Wanderer was staying at Kusinara. And Subhadda the Wanderer heard the rumour, “ This very day, it is said, in the last watch of the night will be the final passing away of Gotama the recluse.” Then this thought came to Subhadda the Wanderer. 2. “Thus have I heard it said by other wanderers

549 HIS END VII who are old and far gone in years, both teachers and disciples; ‘Rarely, rarely do Tathagatas arise in the world, they, who are Arahats, fully Enlightened Ones, And here tonight, in the last watch, will be the final passing away of Gotama, the recluse. Now a doubt has arisen in my mind and I am assured of Gotama, the recluse. Gotama, the recluse, can show me a teaching, so that I may dispel this doubting state of mine.” 3. Then Subhadda the Wanderer went towards the branch road to the Sala grove of the Mallas, where the venerable Ananda was, and coming there he told the venerable Ananda what he had thought and he exclaimed: “O Master Ananda ! If only I could get a sight of Gotama the recluse !” 4. At these words the venerable Ananda said to Subhadda the Wanderer: “ Enough, friend Subhadda! Trouble not the Master! The Exalted One is wearied.” 5. Then a second and yet a third time did Subhadda the Wanderer make the same request, and got the same reply. 6. Now the Exalted One overheard this talk between the venerable Ananda and Subhadda the Wanderer. And He called to the venerable Ananda, saying, “ Enough, Ananda ! prevent not Subhadda. Let Subhadda be permitted to see the Tathagata. Whatsoever Subhadda shall ask of me, he will ask it all from a desire to know, not from a desire to trouble me. And whatever I shall say in answer, that will be quickly understood.” 7. So then the venerable Ananda said to Subhadda the Wanderer, “ Go you in, friend Subhadda. The Exalted One gives you leave.” 8. So Subhadda the Wanderer went in to the Exalted One, and coming to Him greeted Him pleasantly, and after the exchange of friendly compliments he sat down at one side. So seated, Subhadda the Wanderer thus addressed the Exalted One: 9. “Master Gotama, all those recluses and Brahmins who have followings and companies of listeners, who are teachers of companies, well known,

550 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES VII renowned founders of sects, esteemed as holy men by the multitude, men like Purana Kassapa, Makkhali of the Cow-pen, Ajita of hairshirt, Kacchayana of the Pakudha tree, Sanjaya, son of Belatthi, and Nigantha of the Natha clan,—have all these, as they say, realised by their own knowledge the truth of things, or have they not one and all so realised, or have some realised and others not realised it, by their own knowledge ?” 10. “Let be, Subhadda ! Trouble not yourself about such things, as to whether one and all or some have realised or not. I will show you the Norm, Subhadda. Do you listen carefully. Apply your mind. I will speak.” 11. “Even so, Lord,” said Subhadda the Wanderer and gave heed to the Exalted One. Then the Exalted One said this: 12. “In whatsoever Norm-discipline, Subhadda, the Ariyan Eightfold Path is not found, therein also no recluse is found. And in whatsoever Norm-discipline, Subhadda, the Ariyan Eightfold Path is found, therein also is found a recluse. 13. “Now in this Norm-discipline (of mine), Subhadda, the Ariyan Eightfold Path is found. Herein also is found a recluse of these four degrees. Void of recluses are the other sects of disputants. But if, Subhadda, in this one, brethren were to live the perfect life, the world would not be void of arahats. 14. “My age was nine and twenty years when I went forth to seek the Good. 15. “Now fifty years and more are gone, Subhadda, since I left the world to range the Norm of Righteousness.” 16. And when he had thus spoken, Subhadda the Wanderer said to the Exalted One: “Most excellent are these words of thy mouth, most excellent. 17. “Just as if a man were to set up that which is thrown down, or were to reveal that which is hidden away, or were to point out the right road to him who has gone astray or were to bring a lamp into darkness, so that those who have eyes can see. 18. “Just even so, has the truth been made

551 HIS END VII known to me by the Exalted One. And I, even I betake myself to the Exalted One as my refuge, to the truth and to the Order.” 19. “Whosoever, Subhadda, has formerly been a follower of another doctrine and thereafter wishes to enter the Order remains on probation for the space of four months.” 20. “If that is the rule I too will remain on probation.” 21. But the Exalted One said, “I acknowledge the difference in persons.” So saying he called the venerable Ananda and told Ananda, “As it is, Ananda, receive Subhadda into the Order.” 22. “ Even so, Lord!” said the venerable Ananda, in assent to the Exalted One. 23. And Subhadda the Wanderer said to the venerable Ananda: “ Great is your gain, friend Ananda, great is your good fortune, friend Ananda, in that you all have been sprinkled with the sprinkling of discipleship in this brotherhood at the hands of the Master himself.” 24. “ The same is true of you, Subhadda,” replied Ananda. 25. So Subhadda the Wanderer was received into the Order under the orders of the Exalted One. He was the last disciple whom the Exalted One himself converted. § 3. Last Words 1. Then said the Exalted One to the venerable Ananda: 2. “It may be, Ananda, that you will say: ‘ Gone is the word of the Master: we have no longer any Master now!’ But you must not so regard it, Ananda; for the Norm and discipline taught and enjoyed by me, they shall be your teachers when I am gone. 3. “Now, Ananda, whereas the brethren have the habit of calling one another ‘friend,’—when I am gone this habit must not be followed. By an elder