Ananda
(excerpt)
translated from the Pali by
Hellmuth Hecker & Sister Khema
Alternate translation: Olendzki

[Ananda:]

1024. 82,000 Teachings from the Buddha I have received; 2,000 more from his disciples; Now, 84,000 are familiar to me. 1025. Who nothing has heard and nothing understood, He ages only oxen-like: His stomach only grows and grows, But his insight deepens not. 1026. Who has much heard and learned, But does despise him who is poor in learning, Is like one blind who holds a lamp. So must I think of such a one. 1027. Thou follow him who has heard much, Then what is heard shall not decline. This is the tap-root of the holy life; Hence a Dhamma-guardian thou should'st be! 1028. Knowing what comes first and last, Knowing well the meaning, too, Skilful in grammar and in other items, The well-grasped meaning he examines. 1029. Keen in his patient application, He strives to weigh the meaning well. At the right time he makes his effort, And inwardly collects his mind. ... 1034. All the quarters are bedimmed And the Dhamma is not clear to me, Indeed my noble friend has gone And all about seems dark. 1035. The friend has passed away, The Master, too, has gone. There is no friendship now that equals this: The mindfulness directed bodywards. 1036. The old ones now have passed away, The new ones do no please me much, Today alone I meditate Like a bird gone to its nest. ... 1039. Through a full 25 years As long as I have been in higher training I have never had a thought of lust: See, how powerfully the Dhamma works. ... 1046. Then was there terror, and the hair stood up, when he, The all-accomplished one, the Buddha, passed away. ... 1049. The virtuous, wise man, The hero strong and ever resolute, The guardian of the word so true, Ananda found extinction now.