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 hold sacred, and revere the Tathāgata with the worthiest homage. Therefore, O Ānanda, be ye constant in the fulfilment of the greater and of the lesser duties, and walk according to the precepts; thus, Ānanda, will ye honor the Master.'

Then the venerable Ānanda went into the vihāra, and stood leaning against the doorpost, weeping at the thought: "Alas! I remain still but a learner, one who has yet to work out his own perfection. And the Master is about to pass away from me—he who is so kind!"

Now, the Blessed One called the brethren, and said: "Where, O brethren, is Ānanda?" And one of the brethren went and called Ānanda. And Ǎnanda came and said to the Blessed One: "Deep darkness reigned for want of wisdom; the world of sentient creatures was groping for want of light; then the Tathāgata lit up the lamp of wisdom, and now it will be extinguished again, ere he has brought it out." And the Blessed One said to the venerable Ānanda, as he sat there by his side:

"Enough, Ānanda! Let not thy self be troubled; do not weep! Have I not already, on former occasions, ,told you that it is in the very nature of all things most near and dear unto us that we must separate from them and leave them? "The foolish man conceives the idea of 'self,' the wise man sees there is no ground on which to build the idea of 'self,' thus he has a right conception of the world and well concludes that all compounds amassed by sorrow will be dissolved again, but the truth will remain.

"Why should I preserve this body of flesh, when the body of the excellent law will endure? I am resolved; having accomplished my purpose and attended to the work set me, I look for rest!

"For a long time, Ānanda, thou hast, been very near to 142