[76] On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Kusinārā, at Upavattana, in the sal grove of the Mallas, between the twin sal trees, at the time of his final Nibbāna (parinibbāna). There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus!" "Venerable sir," those bhikkhus replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this: "It may be, bhikkhus, that even a single bhikkhu has doubt or perplexity about the Buddha, or the Dhamma, or the Saṅgha, or the path (magga), or the practice (paṭipadā). Ask, bhikkhus! Do not be remorseful afterwards, thinking: 'The Teacher was present before us, yet we were unable to question the Blessed One face to face.'" When this was said, those bhikkhus remained silent.
A second time the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus … A third time the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: "It may be, bhikkhus, that even a single bhikkhu has doubt or perplexity about the Buddha, or the Dhamma, or the Saṅgha, or the path, or the practice. Ask, bhikkhus! Do not be remorseful afterwards, thinking: 'The Teacher was present before us, yet we were unable to question the Blessed One face to face.'" A third time those bhikkhus remained silent.
Then the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: "It may be, bhikkhus, that you do not ask out of reverence for the Teacher. Then, bhikkhus, let one companion inform his companion." When this was said, those bhikkhus remained silent.
Then the Venerable Ānanda said this to the Blessed One: "It is wonderful, venerable sir! It is marvellous, venerable sir! I have such confidence in this Saṅgha of bhikkhus: there is not, in this Saṅgha of bhikkhus, even a single bhikkhu who has doubt or perplexity about the Buddha, or the Dhamma, or the Saṅgha, or the path, or the practice."
"You speak out of confidence, Ānanda; but herein the Tathāgata has knowledge (ñāṇa) of this very matter: there is not, in this Saṅgha of bhikkhus, even a single bhikkhu who has doubt or perplexity about the Buddha, or the Dhamma, or the Saṅgha, or the path, or the practice. For, Ānanda, of these five hundred bhikkhus, even the most backward bhikkhu is a stream-enterer, not subject to downfall, fixed in destiny, with awakening as his destination."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.