“Ananda! when I am gone address not one another in the way in which the brethren have heretofore addressed each other—­with the epithet, that is, of ‘Avuso’ (Friend).  A younger brother may be addressed by an elder with his name, or his family name, or the title ‘Friend,’ But an elder should be addressed by a younger brother as ‘Lord’ or as ’Venerable Sir.’

“When I am gone, Ananda, let the order, if it should so wish, abolish all the lesser and minor precepts.

“When I am gone, Ananda, let the higher penalty be imposed on brother Khanna.”

“But what, Lord, is the higher penalty?”

“Let Khanna say whatever he may like, Ananda; the brethren should neither speak to him, nor exhort him, nor admonish him.”

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, or the truth, or the path, or the way.  Inquire, brethren, freely.  Do not have to reproach yourselves afterward with the 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 the brethren were silent.

And again the second and the third time 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, or the truth, or the path, or the way.  Inquire, brethren, freely.  Do not have to reproach yourselves afterward with the 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 even the third time the brethren were silent.

Then the Blessed One addressed the brethren, and said:  “It may be, brethren, that you put no questions out of reverence for the teacher.  Let one friend communicate to another.”

And when he had thus spoken the brethren were silent.

And the venerable Ananda said to the Blessed One:  “How wonderful a thing is it, Lord, and how marvellous!  Verily, I believe that in this whole assembly of the brethren there is not one brother who has any doubt or misgiving as to the Buddha, or the truth, or the path, or the way!”

“It is out of the fulness of faith that thou hast spoken, Ananda!  But, Ananda, the Tathagata knows for certain that in this whole assembly of the brethren there is not one brother who has any doubt or misgiving as to the Buddha, or the truth, or the path, or the way!  For even the most backward, Ananda, of all these five hundred brethren has become converted, and is no longer liable to be born in a state of suffering, and is assured of final salvation.”

Then the Blessed One addressed the brethren, and said:  “Behold now, brethren, I exhort you, saying, ’Decay is inherent in all component things!  Work out your salvation with diligence!’”