sn.47.14 Saṁyutta Nikāya (Linked Discourses)

Ukkacela

On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling among the Vajjians at Ukkacela on the bank of the river Ganges, together with a great Bhikkhu Saṅgha, not long after Sāriputta and Moggallana had attained final Nibbāna. Now on that occasion the Blessed One was sitting in the open air in the midst of the Bhikkhu Saṅgha.

Then the Blessed One, having surveyed the silent Bhikkhu Saṅgha, addressed the bhikkhus thus:

“Bhikkhus, this assembly appears to me empty now that Sāriputta and Moggallana have attained final Nibbāna. This assembly was not empty for me earlier, and I had no concern for whatever quarter Sāriputta and Moggallana were dwelling in.

“The Arahants, the Perfectly Enlightened Ones, who arose in the past also had just such a supreme pair of disciples as I had in Sāriputta and Moggallana. The Arahants, the Perfectly Enlightened Ones, who will arise in the future will also have just such a supreme pair of disciples as I had in Sāriputta and Moggallana.

“It is wonderful, bhikkhus, on the part of the disciples, it is amazing on the part of the disciples, that they will act in accordance with the Teacher’s instructions and comply with his admonitions, that they will be dear and agreeable to the four assemblies, that they will be revered and esteemed by them. It is wonderful, bhikkhus, on the part of the Tathagata, it is amazing on the part of the Tathagata, that when such a pair of disciples has attained final Nibbāna, there is no sorrow or lamentation in the Tathagata.

“How, bhikkhus, is it to be obtained here: ‘May what is born, come to be, conditioned, and subject to disintegration not disintegrate! ’? That is impossible. It is just as if the largest branches would break off a great tree standing possessed of heartwood: so too, bhikkhus, in the great Bhikkhu Saṅgha standing possessed of heartwood, Sāriputta and Moggallana have attained final Nibbāna. How, bhikkhus, is it to be obtained here: ‘May what is born, come to be, conditioned, and subject to disintegration not disintegrate!’? That is impossible.

“Therefore, bhikkhus, dwell with yourselves as your own island, with yourselves as your own refuge, with no other refuge; dwell with the Dhamma as your island, with the Dhamma as your refuge, with no other refuge … as in §9 … Those bhikkhus, either now or after I am gone, who dwell with themselves as their own island, with themselves as their own refuge, with no other refuge; with the Dhamma as their island, with the Dhamma as their refuge, with no other refuge—it is these bhikkhus who will be for me topmost of those keen on the training.”

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh

At Ukkacelā

Sāriputta and Moggallāna were to me.

The Buddhas of the past or the future have pairs of chief disciples who are no better than
At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Vajjīs near Ukkacelā on the bank of the Ganges river, together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants. It was not long after Sāriputta and Moggallāna had become fully extinguished.
Now, at that time the Buddha was sitting in the open, surrounded by the Saṅgha of mendicants.
Then the Buddha looked around the Saṅgha of mendicants, who were silent. He addressed them:
“Mendicants, this assembly seems empty to me now that Sāriputta and Moggallāna have become fully extinguished.
When Sāriputta and Moggallāna were alive, my assembly was never empty; I had no concern for any region where they stayed.
It’s an incredible and amazing quality of such disciples
that they fulfill the Teacher’s instructions and follow his advice. And they’re liked and approved, respected and admired by the four assemblies.
And it’s an incredible and amazing quality of the Realized One
that when such a pair of disciples becomes fully extinguished he does not sorrow or lament.
How could it possibly be so that what is born, created, conditioned, and liable to wear out should not wear out?
That is not possible.
Suppose there was a large tree standing with heartwood, and the largest branches fell off.
In the same way, in the great Saṅgha that stands with heartwood, Sāriputta and Moggallāna have become fully extinguished.
How could it possibly be so that what is born, created, conditioned, and liable to wear out should not wear out?
That is not possible.
So mendicants, live as your own island, your own refuge, with no other refuge. Let the teaching be your island and your refuge, with no other refuge.
And how does a mendicant do this?
It’s when a mendicant meditates by observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of desire and aversion for the world.
They meditate observing an aspect of feelings …
mind …
principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of desire and aversion for the world.
That’s how a mendicant lives as their own island, their own refuge, with no other refuge. That’s how the teaching is their island and their refuge, with no other refuge.
Whether now or after I have passed, any who shall live as their own island, their own refuge, with no other refuge; with the teaching as their island and their refuge, with no other refuge—those mendicants of mine who want to train shall be among the best of the best.”