His End - Page 570

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HIS END

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known to me by the Exalted One. And I, even I betake myself to the Exalted One as my refuge, to the truth and to the Order.”

19. “Whosoever, Subhadda, has formerly been a follower of another doctrine and thereafter wishes to enter the Order remains on probation for the space of four months.”

20. “If that is the rule I too will remain on probation.”

21. But the Exalted One said, “I acknowledge the difference in persons.” So saying he called the venerable Ananda and told Ananda, “As it is, Ananda, receive Subhadda into the Order.”

22. “ Even so, Lord!” said the venerable Ananda, in assent to the Exalted One.

23. And Subhadda the Wanderer said to the venerable Ananda: “ Great is your gain, friend Ananda, great is your good fortune, friend Ananda, in that you all have been sprinkled with the sprinkling of discipleship in this brotherhood at the hands of the Master himself.”

24. “ The same is true of you, Subhadda,” replied Ananda.

25. So Subhadda the Wanderer was received into the Order under the orders of the Exalted One. He was the last disciple whom the Exalted One himself converted.

§ 3. Last Words

1. Then said the Exalted One to the venerable Ananda:

2. “It may be, Ananda, that you will say: ‘ Gone is the word of the Master: we have no longer any Master now!’ But you must not so regard it, Ananda; for the Norm and discipline taught and enjoyed by me, they shall be your teachers when I am gone.

3. “Now, Ananda, whereas the brethren have the habit of calling one another ‘friend,’—when I am gone this habit must not be followed. By an elder

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