The Last Message of the Buddha

佛陀的遗言

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

当我入灭后，我的教义将成为你们的导师，继续指引你们。

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'.

佛陀进入般涅槃的前三个月，他对弟子们说： 「四十五年以来，我传授了你们很多教法，你们要好好的学习和珍惜。你们要实践这些教法，并用它来教化他人。这些教法能为众生带来利益，也为追随你们的人带来利益。」

'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.'

「我已老迈，时日无多，我很快就要离开你们，你们必须精进。僧众啊！保持正念和建立清净的功德！要不懈怠的追随教法。这样就能超越轮回离苦得乐。」

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.'

阿难达(Ananda)问佛陀：「佛陀入灭之后，谁来领导僧团。」

佛陀答道：「僧团还需要我做什么呢？阿难达啊！我已经将真理毫无保留的传授了给你们。说到真理──佛法并不是由谁来掌握的……。阿难达啊！也许你们之中有人认为：『导师的话已到尾声了，我们不再有导师了。』阿难达啊！请不要这样想，当我离去时，我的教法和戒律就是你们的导师。」

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.'

佛陀继续解释道：「或许你们之中有人认为他能够领导僧团，或僧团须要仰仗他。这样，他就以为他应该出来领导僧团。但是我并不认为他可以领导僧团，僧团也不须要仰仗他。我的时日无多，如推动一辆破车，需要更大的力气。即使我的身体继续生存，也必须额外的照顾。因此，阿难达啊！你想做一盏灯照亮自己和庇护自己，还是向外求庇护呢？让真理做为你的灯和庇护所。此外再也没有庇护所了。」《大般涅槃经》

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.

在他八十岁那年，在生日那天，佛陀入灭了。他没有显示任何超自然的能力，他所显示的是诸法因缘和合的真正本质。

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.'

当佛陀入灭时，其中一位弟子说到：「一切生命都会消失──凡是有生命的众生，都有因缘离散的一天。是的，即使如导师一般，拥有大神通的智者、觉者，也免不了要死。」

The parting words of the Buddha:

'Appamadena Sampadetha Vaya Dhamma Sankhara'.

'Work diligently. Component things are impermanent.'

佛陀临终时说到：「精进、精进，因缘所生法，皆是无常。」《大般涅槃经》