Nalanda Vagga

Satipathana Samyutta Mahavagga Samyutta,
Samyutta Nikaya, Suttanta Pitaka

4. Ukkacela Sutta
Discourse given at Ukkacela

      380. At one time, not long after the passing away of Sariputta and Moggallana, the Bhagava was residing with a large company of bhikkhus on the bank of the river Ganga at Ukkacela in the country of the Vajjis. At that time the Bhagava was sitting in the open air surrounded by a large assemblage of bhikkhus.

     Then the Bhagava, after looking at the silent company of bhikkhus, addressed them thus: Bhikkhus, this assemblage of mine appears to be empty after the passing away of Sariputta and Moggallana. But actually, my assemblage has never been empty regardless of where Sariputta and Moggallana were staying.

      Bhikkhus, all those Homage-Worthy, Perfectly Self Enlightened Bhagavas of by gone days had a couple of (Chief) disciples like my two (Chief) disciples, Sariputta and Moggallana. And all those Homage-Worthy, Perfectly Self-Enlightened Bhagavas of times to come will have a couple of (Chief) disciples like my two (Chief) disciples, Saripuuta and Moggallana.

      Bhikkhus, it is wonderful, it is marvellous that the (Chief) disciples (of the Buddhas to come) would also follow the teachings of the Buddha. and follow the guidance of the Buddha. They would become dear to the four kinds of audience, (bhikkhus, bhikkhunis, laymen, lay-women) would be respectfully adored by them and would be regarded with esteem by them. Bhikkhus, it is marvellous, it is wonderful that the Tathagata does not suffer from grief, does not lament over the passing away of such a pair of disciples. Bhikkhus, how can the wish be realized that anything which has the nature of arising, of appearing, of being conditioned or compounded, and of decay and dissolution, should not disintegrate and disappear. There can be no such possibility. Therefore, bhikkhus, let yourselves be your own firm support, and let yourselves, and not anyone or anything else be your refuge; let the Dhamma be your own firm support, and let the Dhamma. and not anything else, be your refuge. Bhikkhus, how does the bhikkhu abide making himself his own firm support, and making himself and not anyone or anything else, his own refuge; making the Dhamma, his own firm support, and making the Dhamma, and not anything else, his refuge? In this Teaching, bhikkhus, the bhikkhu keeps his mind steadfastly on the body, with diligence, comprehension and mindfulness, thus keeping away covetousness and distress in the five khandhas ...p... on sensation ...p... on mind ...p... keeps his mind steadfastly on mind-objects, with diligence, comprehension and mindfulness, thus keeping away covetousness and distress in the five khandhas. In this manner, bhikkhus, the bhikkhu abides making himself his own firm support, and making himself and not anyone or anything else, his own refuge; making the Dhamma, his own support, and making the Dhamma, not anything else, his refuge.

      Bhikkhus, those bhikkhus who, either now or after my passing away make themselves their own firm support, and make themselves, and not anyone or anything else, their refuge; who make the Dhamma their firm support and make the dhamma and not anything else, their refuge, all such bhikkhus, among all the bhikkhus who cherish the right practice, shall reach the highest, noblest state.

End of the Ukkacela Sutta,

the fourth in this Vagga.