[93] Then the Blessed One, having dwelt in Ambapālī's Grove as long as he pleased, addressed the Venerable Ānanda: "Come, Ānanda, let us go to Veḷuvagāmaka." "So be it, venerable sir," the Venerable Ānanda replied to the Blessed One. Then the Blessed One, together with a great Saṅgha of bhikkhus, arrived at Veḷuvagāmaka. There, it is said, the Blessed One dwelt at Veḷuvagāmaka. There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: "Come, bhikkhus, enter upon the rains residence all around Vesālī according to your friends, according to your acquaintances, according to your intimates; but I shall enter upon the rains right here at Veḷuvagāmaka." "So be it, venerable sir," those bhikkhus replied to the Blessed One, and they entered upon the rains all around Vesālī according to their friends, according to their acquaintances, according to their intimates; but the Blessed One entered upon the rains right there at Veḷuvagāmaka.
Then, when the Blessed One had entered upon the rains, a severe illness arose in him; violent feelings (vedanā) set in, bordering on death. There the Blessed One, mindful (sati) and clearly comprehending (sampajāno), endured them without being distressed. Then it occurred to the Blessed One: "It would not be fitting for me to attain final Nibbāna without having addressed my attendants and without having taken leave of the Saṅgha of bhikkhus. Let me then, having dispelled this illness by energy (vīriya), dwell having resolved upon the vital formation (jīvitasaṅkhāra)." Then the Blessed One, having dispelled that illness by energy, dwelt having resolved upon the vital formation. Then that illness of the Blessed One subsided.
Then the Blessed One, recovered from illness, not long risen from that sickness, came out from the dwelling and sat down on the seat prepared in the shade of the dwelling. Then the Venerable Ānanda approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the Venerable Ānanda said to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, I have seen the Blessed One's comfort; I have seen, venerable sir, the Blessed One's bearing up. And yet, venerable sir, because of the Blessed One's sickness my body became as though drugged; even the directions were not clear to me, and even the teachings did not spring to mind for me. Yet, venerable sir, I had this much of consolation: 'The Blessed One will not attain final Nibbāna until the Blessed One has made some pronouncement concerning the Saṅgha of bhikkhus.'"
"But what, Ānanda, does the Saṅgha of bhikkhus expect of me? The Dhamma has been taught by me, Ānanda, without making an inner and an outer; the Tathāgata, Ānanda, has no teacher's closed fist (ācariyamuṭṭhi) with regard to teachings. Surely, Ānanda, one to whom it should occur, 'I shall lead the Saṅgha of bhikkhus,' or 'the Saṅgha of bhikkhus depends upon me' — he, surely, Ānanda, might make some pronouncement concerning the Saṅgha of bhikkhus. But to the Tathāgata, Ānanda, it does not occur thus: 'I shall lead the Saṅgha of bhikkhus,' or 'the Saṅgha of bhikkhus depends upon me.' So why, Ānanda, should the Tathāgata make any pronouncement concerning the Saṅgha of bhikkhus? I am now, Ānanda, old, aged, elderly, one who has traversed the span and arrived at the last stage of life; my age now runs to eighty years. Just as, Ānanda, a worn-out cart keeps going patched up with bamboo, even so, Ānanda, the body of the Tathāgata keeps going, one would think, as if patched up with bamboo.
"At whatever time, Ānanda, the Tathāgata, through non-attention to all signs and through the cessation (nirodha) of certain feelings, enters and dwells in the signless concentration of mind (animitta cetosamādhi), at that time, Ānanda, the body of the Tathāgata is more at ease. Therefore, Ānanda, dwell with yourselves as an island, with yourselves as refuge, with no other refuge; with the Dhamma as an island, with the Dhamma as refuge, with no other refuge. And how, Ānanda, does a bhikkhu dwell with himself as an island, with himself as refuge, with no other refuge; with the Dhamma as an island, with the Dhamma as refuge, with no other refuge? Here, Ānanda, a bhikkhu dwells contemplating the body in the body, ardent (ātāpī), clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and grief regarding the world; … in feelings …; … in the mind (citta) …; he dwells contemplating dhammas in dhammas, ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and grief regarding the world. Thus indeed, Ānanda, a bhikkhu dwells with himself as an island, with himself as refuge, with no other refuge; with the Dhamma as an island, with the Dhamma as refuge, with no other refuge. Whosoever, Ānanda, whether now or after my passing, shall dwell with themselves as an island, with themselves as refuge, with no other refuge; with the Dhamma as an island, with the Dhamma as refuge, with no other refuge — those bhikkhus of mine, Ānanda, shall be the topmost (tamatagge), whosoever desire the training."
The Village Chapter in the Mahāparinibbāna [Sutta] is concluded.
The second recitation section.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.