As his last hour approached, Buddha summoned his disciples, and after a
moment's silent meditation, he addressed himself to Ananda, his relative;
as well as his favorite disciple, thus:
"When I shall have disappeared from this state of existence, and be no
longer with you, do not believe that the Buddha has left you, and ceased to
dwell among you. Do not think therefore, nor believe, that the Buddha has
disappeared, and is no more with you."
From these words, it is evident that the state of Nirvana which Buddha
assured his followers that he had already attained, did not argue loss of
identity, nor translation to another planet.
Nor is there anywhere in the sayings of Buddha, rightly interpreted, any
suggestion of expecting or desiring personal worship. This, the great sage
particularly avoided, as indeed have all illumined ones.
It is evident that Gautama the Buddha had experienced that divine influx of
light and wisdom in which he sought for others the happiness he had gained
for himself, and to this end he was eager to leave to his friends and
disciples such rules of conduct of life as should aid them in attaining the
divine peace that comes from illumination.
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