The Last Convert to Buddhism (sutra)

Sister Vajira, Francis Story (trans.), "Last Days of the Buddha" (Maha-Parinibbana Sutra, Part V, Section 51-68, DN 16) via Access to Insight; Pat Macpherson, Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

The Buddha's posture depicts not sleep but reclining into final nirvana in the lion's pose.

.

This is the story of [6.] Subhadda Thera, the last human convert to become a disciple of the Buddha under the Buddha (as there must have been devas to do so as he passed through the jhanas and their corresponding worlds with their own time lines).

Who can we control but ourselves?

51. Now at that time a wandering ascetic named Subhadda was dwelling at Kusinara [modern Kusinagar, India, where the Buddha chose to pass into final nirvana]. He heard it said, "Today in the third watch of the night the final nirvana of the ascetic Gautama [the Buddha] will take place."

52. And the thought arose in him, "I have heard it said by seasoned and venerable wandering ascetics, teachers of teachers, that the arising of fully awakened ones (wayfarers and fully enlightened ones, tathagatas and arhats), is rare in the world. Yet this very day, in the last watch of the night, the final nirvana of the ascetic Gautama will take place. Now there is in me a doubt, but to this extent I have confidence (faith) in the ascetic Gautama, that he could so teach me the Dharma as to remove that doubt."

53. Then the wandering ascetic Subhadda went to the sal tree grove, the recreation park of the Mallas, and approached Venerable Ananda, and told him his thought. He said to Ven. Ananda, "Friend Ananda, it would be good if I could be allowed into the presence of the ascetic Gautama."

54. But Ven. Ananda answered, "Enough, friend Subhadda! Do not trouble the Tathagata. The Blessed One is weary."

55-56. Yet a second and a third time the wandering ascetic Subhadda made his request, and a second and a third time Ven. Ananda refused him.

57. The Blessed One heard the talk between them and called to Ven. Ananda: "Stop, Ananda! Do not refuse Subhadda. Ananda, allow Subhadda into the presence of the Tathagata. For whatever he will ask me, he will ask for the sake of understanding, and not as an offense. And the answer I give him, that he will readily comprehend."

58. Thereupon Ven. Ananda said to the wandering ascetic, "Go then, friend Subhadda. The Blessed One requests it."

59. Then the wandering ascetic Subhadda approached the Blessed One to salute him courteously. And having exchanged pleasant and civil greetings, the wandering ascetic Subhadda seated himself at one side and addressed the Blessed One: "Venerable Gautama, there are wandering ascetics and Brahmins who are heads of great companies of disciples, who have large retinues, who are leaders of schools, popular, renowned, and held in high esteem by the multitude, such teachers as

• Purana Kassapa
• Makkhali Gosala
• Ajita Kesakambali
• Pakudha Kaccayana
• Sañjaya Belatthaputta
• Nigantha Nataputta [Jainism's Mahavira].

Have all of these attained realization [enlightenment, awakening], as each of them would have it believed, or has none of them, or is it that some have attained realization and others not?"

60. "Enough, Subhadda, let it be as it may -- whether all of them have attained realization, as each of them would have it believed, or whether none of them has, or whether some have attained realization and others not. I will teach you the Dharma, Subhadda. Listen, heed it well, and I will speak."

"So be it, venerable sir."

The Lion's Roar

When a lion roars, all other creatures go silent.

61. The Blessed One spoke: "In whatsoever Dharma and Vinaya (Doctrine and Discipline), Subhadda, there is not found the Noble Eightfold Path, neither is there found an emancipated ascetic of the first, second, third, or fourth degree of awakening (stages of enlightenment). But in whatsoever Dharma and Discipline there is found the Noble Eightfold Path, there is found an emancipated ascetic of the first, second, third, and fourth degrees of awakening.

• [Note 54: The four degrees or stages of awakening are stream-entering, once-returning, non-returning, and full enlightenment or arhatship.]

Now in this Dharma and Discipline, Subhadda, is found the Noble Eightfold Path. And in it alone are also found emancipated ascetics of the first, second, third, and fourth degrees of awakening. Devoid of emancipated ascetics are the [spiritual-philosophical] systems of other teachers. But if, Subhadda, the monastics live righteously, the world will not be destitute of fully enlightened beings (arhats).

62. "In age but 29 was I, Subhadda,

When I renounced the world to seek the Good;

Fifty-one years have passed since then, Subhadda,

And in all that time a wandering ascetic have I been

In the domain of virtue and of truth,

And except therein, there is no emancipated person

(of the first degree).

"And there is none of the second degree,

nor of the third degree,

nor of the fourth degree of awakening.

Devoid of emancipated ascetics are

the systems of other teachers.

But if, Subhadda, the monastics live rightly,

the world will not be destitute

of enlightened beings (arhats)."

63. When this was said, the wandering ascetic Subhadda spoke to the Blessed One, saying: "Excellent, O venerable sir! Most excellent, O venerable sir! It, venerable sir, is as if one were to set upright what had been overturned, or to reveal what had been hidden, or to show the path to one who had gone astray, or to light a lamp in the darkness so that those with eyes might see — even so has the Blessed One set forth the Dharma in many ways.

And so, O venerable sir, I take my guidance in the Blessed One, the Dharma, and the Sangha [the Community of Enlightened Individuals]. May I receive from the Blessed One initial admission to the Monastic Order and also the higher ordination."

64. "Whoever, Subhadda, having been formerly a follower of another dharma, wishes to receive admission and higher ordination in this Dharma and Discipline, remains on probation for a period of four months. At the end of those four months, if the monastics are satisfied with him, they grant him admission and higher ordination as a monastic. Yet, in this matter I recognize differences in capabilities."

65. "If, O venerable sir, whoever, having been formerly a follower of another dharma, wishes to receive admission and higher ordination in this Dharma and Discipline, remains on probation for a period of four months, and at the end of those four months, if the monastics are satisfied with him, they grant him admission and higher ordination as a monastic — then I will remain on probation for a period of four years. And at the end of those four years, if the monastics are satisfied with me, let them grant me admission and higher ordination as a monastic."

66. But the Blessed One called Ven. Ananda and said to him: "Ananda, let Subhadda be given admission into the Monastic Order." Ven. Ananda replied, "So be it, venerable sir."

67. Then the wandering ascetic Subhadda said to Ven. Ananda: "It is a gain to you, friend Ananda, a blessing, that in the presence of the Teacher himself you have received the sprinkling of ordination as a disciple."

68. So it came about that the wandering ascetic Subhadda, in the presence of the Blessed One, received admission and higher ordination. And from the time of his ordination Ven. Subhadda remained alone, secluded [in meditation], heedful, ardent, and resolute. And before long he attained to the goal for which a worthy person goes forth rightly from home to the home-free life, the ultimate goal of the supreme life.

And having by himself realized it with higher knowledge, he dwelt therein. He knew, "Destroyed is rebirth; the higher life is fulfilled; nothing more is left to be done, and beyond this birth nothing more remains." And Ven. Subhadda became yet another among the fully enlightened (arhats), and he was the last disciple converted by the Blessed One himself. More