The Last Message of the Buddha

　　佛陀的遺言

　　”When I am gone, my Teaching shall be your Master and Guide.”

　　當我入滅後，我的教義將成爲你們的導師，繼續指引你們。

　　Three months before His passing away the Buddha addressed His disciples and said: ”I have delivered sermons to you during these forty-five years. You must learn them well and treasure them. You must practise them and teach them to others. This will be of great use for the welfare of the living and for the welfare of those who come after you”.

　　佛陀進入般涅槃的前叁個月，他對弟子們說： 「四十五年以來，我傳授了你們很多教法，你們要好好的學習和珍惜。你們要實踐這些教法，並用它來教化他人。這些教法能爲衆生帶來利益，也爲追隨你們的人帶來利益。」

　　”My years are now full ripe; the life span left is short. I will soon have to leave you. You must be earnest. O monks, be mindful and of pure virtue! Whoever untiringly pursues the Teaching, will go beyond the cycle of birth and death and will man an end of Suffering.”

　　「我已老邁，時日無多，我很快就要離開你們，你們必須精進。僧衆啊！保持正念和建立清淨的功德！要不懈怠的追隨教法。這樣就能超越輪回離苦得樂。」

　　When Ananda asked the Buddha what would become of the Order after He pass away, the Buddha replied, ”What does the Order expect of me, Ananda

　　 I have preached the Truth without any distinction; for in regard to the Truth, there is no clenched hand in the Teachings of the Buddha°‚. It may be, Ananda, that to some among you, the thought will come ”The Master”s words will soon end; soon we will no longer have a master.” But do not think like this, Ananda. When I am gone, my Teaching and the disciplinary code shall be your Master.”

　　阿難達(Ananda)問佛陀：「佛陀入滅之後，誰來領導僧團。」

　　佛陀答道：「僧團還需要我做什麼呢？阿難達啊！我已經將真理毫無保留的傳授了給你們。說到真理──佛法並不是由誰來掌握的……。阿難達啊！也許你們之中有人認爲：『導師的話已到尾聲了，我們不再有導師了。』阿難達啊！請不要這樣想，當我離去時，我的教法和戒律就是你們的導師。」

　　The Buddha further explained: ”If there is anyone who thinks, ”It is I who will lead the brotherhood”, or ”The Order is dependent on me, it is I who should give instructions”, the Buddha does not think that He should lead the order or that the Order is dependent on Him. I have reached the end of my days. Just as a worn-out cart can only be made to move with much additional care, so my body can be kept going only with much additional care. Therefore, Ananda, be a lamp and refuge unto yourselves. Look for no other refuge. Let the Truth be your lamp and your refuge. Seek no refuge elsewhere.”

　　佛陀繼續解釋道：「或許你們之中有人認爲他能夠領導僧團，或僧團須要仰仗他。這樣，他就以爲他應該出來領導僧團。但是我並不認爲他可以領導僧團，僧團也不須要仰仗他。我的時日無多，如推動一輛破車，需要更大的力氣。即使我的身體繼續生存，也必須額外的照顧。因此，阿難達啊！你想做一盞燈照亮自己和庇護自己，還是向外求庇護呢？讓真理做爲你的燈和庇護所。此外再也沒有庇護所了。」《大般涅槃經》

　　At the age of eighty, on His birthday, He passed away without showing any worldly supernatural powers. He showed the real nature of component things even in His own life.

　　在他八十歲那年，在生日那天，佛陀入滅了。他沒有顯示任何超自然的能力，他所顯示的是諸法因緣和合的真正本質。

　　When the Buddha passed away into Nibbana, one of His disciples remarked, ”All must depart---all beings that have life must shed their compounded forms. Yes, even a Master such as He, a peerless being, powerful in Wisdom and Enlightenment, even He must pass away.”

　　當佛陀入滅時，其中一位弟子說到：「一切生命都會消失──凡是有生命的衆生，都有因緣離散的一天。是的，即使如導師一般，擁有大神通的智者、覺者，也免不了要死。」

　　The parting words of the Buddha:

　　”Appamadena Sampadetha Vaya Dhamma Sankhara”.

　　”Work diligently. Component things are impermanent.”

　　佛陀臨終時說到：「精進、精進，因緣所生法，皆是無常。」《大般涅槃經》