’Now the venerable [=A]nanda (Buddha’s beloved disciple) went into the cloister-building, and stood leaning against the lintel of the door and weeping at the thought:  “Alas!  I remain still but a learner, one who has yet to work out his own perfection.  And the Master is about to pass away from me—­he who is so kind.”  Then the Blessed One called the brethren and said:  “Where then, brethren, is [=A]nanda?” “The venerable [=A]nanda (they replied) has gone into the cloister-building and stands leaning against the lintel of the door, weeping.” ...  And the Blessed One called a certain brother, and said “Go now, brother, and call [=A]nanda in my name and say, ’Brother [=A]nanda, thy Master calls for thee.’” “Even so, Lord,” said that brother, and he went up to where [=A]nanda was, and said to the venerable [=A]nanda:  “Brother [=A]nanda, thy Master calls for thee.”  “It is well, brother,” said the venerable [=A]nanda, and he went to the place where Buddha was.  And when he was come thither he bowed down before the Blessed One, and took his seat on one side.  Then the Blessed One said to the venerable [=A]nanda, as he sat there by his side:  “Enough, [=A]nanda, let not thyself be troubled; weep not.  Have I not told thee already that we must divide ourselves from all that is nearest and dearest?  How can it be possible that a being born to die should not die?  For a long time, [=A]nanda, hast thou been very near to me by acts of love that is kind and good and never varies, and is beyond all measure. (This Buddha repeats three times.) Thou hast done well.  Be earnest in effort.  Thou, too, shalt soon be free.” ...  When he had thus spoken, the venerable [=A]nanda said to the Blessed One:  “Let not the Blessed One die in this little wattle and daub town, a town in the midst of the jungle, in this branch township.  For, Lord, there are other great cities such as Benares (and others).  Let the Blessed One die in one of them."’

This request is refused by Buddha. [=A]nanda then goes to the town and tells the citizens that Buddha is dying.  ’Now, when they had heard this saying, they, With their young men and maidens and wives were grieved, and sad, and afflicted at heart.  And some of them wept, dishevelling their hair, and stretched forth their arms, and wept, fell prostrate on the ground and rolled to and fro, in anguish at the thought “Too soon will the Blessed One die!  Too soon will the Happy One pass away!  Full soon will the Light of the world vanish away!"’ ...  When Buddha is alone again with his disciples, ’then the Blessed One addressed the brethren and said “It may be, brethren, that there may be doubt or misgiving in the mind of some brother as to the Buddha, the truth, the path or the way.  Inquire, brethren, freely.  Do not have to reproach yourselves afterwards with this thought:  ’Our Teacher was face to face with us, and we could not bring ourselves to inquire of the Blessed One when we were face to face with him.’” And when he had thus spoken