Mahāparinibbāna Sutta 2.25

2.25.1

“Kiṃ panānanda, bhikkhusaṅgho mayi paccāsīsati?

“But what could the mendicant Saṅgha expect from me, Ānanda?

2.25.2

Desito, ānanda, mayā dhammo anantaraṃ abāhiraṃ karitvā.

I’ve taught the Dhamma without making any distinction between secret and public teachings.

2.25.3

Natthānanda, tathāgatassa dhammesu ācariyamuṭṭhi.

The Realized One doesn’t have the closed fist of a tutor when it comes to the teachings.

2.25.4

Yassa nūna, ānanda, evamassa:

If there’s anyone who thinks:

2.25.5

‘ahaṃ bhikkhusaṅghaṃ pariharissāmī’ti vā ‘mamuddesiko bhikkhusaṅgho’ti vā, so nūna, ānanda, bhikkhusaṅghaṃ ārabbha kiñcideva udāhareyya.

‘I shall lead the mendicant Saṅgha,’ or ‘the Saṅgha of mendicants is meant for me,’ let them bring something up regarding the Saṅgha.

2.25.6

Tathāgatassa kho, ānanda, na evaṃ hoti:

But the Realized One doesn’t think like this,

2.25.7

‘ahaṃ bhikkhusaṅghaṃ pariharissāmī’ti vā ‘mamuddesiko bhikkhusaṅgho’ti vā.

2.25.8

Sakiṃ, ānanda, tathāgato bhikkhusaṅghaṃ ārabbha kiñcideva udāharissati.

so why should he bring something up regarding the Saṅgha?

2.25.9

Ahaṃ kho panānanda, etarahi jiṇṇo vuddho mahallako addhagato vayo anuppatto.

I’m now old, elderly and senior. I’m advanced in years and have reached the final stage of life.

2.25.10

Āsītiko me vayo vattati.

I’m currently eighty years old.

2.25.11

Seyyathāpi, ānanda, jajjarasakaṭaṃ veṭhamissakena yāpeti;

Just as a decrepit old cart is kept going by a rope,

2.25.12

evameva kho, ānanda, veṭhamissakena maññe tathāgatassa kāyo yāpeti.

in the same way, the Realized One’s body is kept going as if by a rope.

2.25.13

Yasmiṃ, ānanda, samaye tathāgato sabbanimittānaṃ amanasikārā ekaccānaṃ vedanānaṃ nirodhā animittaṃ cetosamādhiṃ upasampajja viharati, phāsutaro, ānanda, tasmiṃ samaye tathāgatassa kāyo hoti.

Sometimes the Realized One, not focusing on any signs, and with the cessation of certain feelings, enters and remains in the signless immersion of the heart. Only then does the Realized One’s body become more comfortable.