..续本文上一页 a desolate marsh, beneath a tree, or in a quiet dwelling, be mindful of the Dharma you have received and do not forget it.

　　You should always exert yourself and practice it vigorously.

　　You donỖt want to reach the time of death and be filled with remorse because you spent your life in vain.

　　I am like a good doctor who understands illnesses and prescribes medicines.

　　Whether you take it or not is not the doctorỖs responsibility.

　　Moreover I am like a virtuous guide who points out a good road.

　　If you who hear of it do not walk down that road, it is not the guideỖs fault.

　　All of you Bhikshus ! If you have doubts about suffering and the other Four Truths, you may quickly ask about them now.

　　Do not habor doubts and fail to clear them up.

　　At that time the World Honor One repeated this three times, yet no one asked him a question.

　　And why was this

　　Because the assembly did not harbor any doubts.

　　At that time, Venerable Aniruddha contemplated the minds of the assembly and said to the Buddha, ỔWorld Honor One, the moon might grow hot and the sun could grow cold, but the Four Truths proclaimed by the Buddha could not be otherwise.

　　The Truth of Suffering taught by the Buddha is actually suffering, and cannot become happiness.

　　Accumulation is truly the cause of suffering, besides which there is no other cause.

　　If one wants to destroy suffering, the cause of suffering must be destroyed, because if the cause is destroyed then the result is destroyed.

　　The path leading to the destruction of suffering is truly the real path, besides which there is no other path.

　　World Honored One, all of these Bhikshus are certain and have no doubts about the Four Truths.Ỗ

　　ỔWhen those in this assembly who have not yet done what should be done see the Buddha cross over to Nirvana they will certainly feel sorrow.

　　Those who have newly entered the Dharma and heard what the Buddha taught, will all cross over.

　　They have seen the Way, like a flash of lightning in the night.

　　But those who have already done what was to be done, who have already crossed over the ocean of suffering, will only have this thought :

　　ỔWhy has the World Honored One crossed over to Nirvana so soon

　　Ỗ

　　Although Aniruddha spoke these words, everyone in the assembly had already understood the meaning of the Four Holy Truths.

　　The World Honored One wanted everyone in that great assembly to be firm and secure,

　　so with a mind of great compassion he spoke again for their sake.

　　All of you Bhikshus ! Do not be grieved or distressed.

　　If I were to live in the world for an eon, my association with you would still come to an end.

　　A meeting without a separation can never be.

　　The Dharma for benefiting oneself and others is complete.

　　If I were to live longer it would be of no further benefit.

　　All of those who could be crossed over, whether in the heavens or among humans, have already crossed over, and

　　all of those who have not yet crossed over have already created the causes and conditions for crossing over.

　　From now on all of my disciples must continuously practice.

　　Then the Thus Come OneỖs Dharma body will always be enduring and indestructible.

　　You should know therefore, that everything in the world is impermanent.

　　Meetings necessarily have separations, so do not harbor grief.

　　Every appearance in the world is like this; be vigorous, seek liberation right away !

　　Destroy the darkness of delusion with the brightness of wisdom.

　　The world is truly dangerous and unstable, it is not reliable.

　　Birth and death have ceases for me, as if a chronic illness has been cured at last.

　　This evil, malign falsely-named object drowns in the ocean of birth, old age, sickness and death. Let this body go !

　　How can one who is wise and not be happy when he gets rid of it, like killing a hateful thief

　　All of you Bhikshus ! You should always single-mindedly and diligently seek the way out of all the moving and unmoving dharmas of the world, for they are all decaying, unfixed appearances.

　　All of you ! Here I stop; there is nothing more to say.

　　Time is passing away, and I want to cross over to Nirvana.

　　These are my very last instructions.

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《佛遗教经 Sutra on the Buddhas Bequeathed Teaching》全文阅读结束。