At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Vajjis near Ukkacelā on the bank of the Ganges river, together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants. It was not long after Sāriputta and Moggallāna had become fully quenched. Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vajjīsu viharati ukkacelāyaṁ gaṅgāya nadiyā tīre mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ aciraparinibbutesu sāriputtamoggallānesu. Now, at that time the Buddha was sitting in the open, surrounded by the Saṅgha of mendicants. Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā bhikkhusaṅghaparivuto ajjhokāse nisinno hoti.

Then the Buddha looked around the Saṅgha of mendicants, who were silent. He addressed them: Atha kho bhagavā tuṇhībhūtaṁ bhikkhusaṅghaṁ anuviloketvā bhikkhū āmantesi:

“Mendicants, this assembly seems empty to me now that Sāriputta and Moggallāna have become fully quenched. “api myāyaṁ, bhikkhave, parisā suññā viya khāyati parinibbutesu sāriputtamoggallānesu. When Sāriputta and Moggallāna were alive, my assembly was never empty; I had no concern for any region where they stayed. Asuññā me, bhikkhave, parisā hoti, anapekkhā tassaṁ disāyaṁ hoti, yassaṁ disāyaṁ sāriputtamoggallānā viharanti. The Buddhas of the past or the future have pairs of chief disciples who are no better than Ye hi te, bhikkhave, ahesuṁ atītamaddhānaṁ arahanto sammāsambuddhā, tesampi bhagavantānaṁ etapparamaṁyeva sāvakayugaṁ ahosi—Sāriputta and Moggallāna were to me. seyyathāpi mayhaṁ sāriputtamoggallānā. Yepi te, bhikkhave, bhavissanti anāgatamaddhānaṁ arahanto sammāsambuddhā, tesampi bhagavantānaṁ etapparamaṁyeva sāvakayugaṁ bhavissati—seyyathāpi mayhaṁ sāriputtamoggallānā.

It’s an incredible and amazing quality of such disciples Acchariyaṁ, bhikkhave, sāvakānaṁ, abbhutaṁ, bhikkhave, sāvakānaṁ. that they fulfill the Teacher’s instructions and follow his advice. And they’re liked and approved, respected and admired by the four assemblies. Satthu ca nāma sāsanakarā bhavissanti ovādappaṭikarā, catunnañca parisānaṁ piyā bhavissanti manāpā garubhāvanīyā ca.

And it’s an incredible and amazing quality of the Realized One Acchariyaṁ, bhikkhave, tathāgatassa, abbhutaṁ, bhikkhave, tathāgatassa. that when such a pair of disciples becomes fully quenched he does not sorrow or lament. Evarūpepi nāma sāvakayuge parinibbute natthi tathāgatassa soko vā paridevo vā. How could it possibly be so that what is born, created, conditioned, and liable to wear out should not wear out? Taṁ kutettha, bhikkhave, labbhā. Yaṁ taṁ jātaṁ bhūtaṁ saṅkhataṁ palokadhammaṁ, taṁ vata mā palujjīti—That is not possible. netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.

Suppose there was a large tree standing with heartwood, and the largest branches broke off. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato ye mahantatarā khandhā te palujjeyyuṁ; In the same way, in the great Saṅgha that stands with heartwood, Sāriputta and Moggallāna have become fully quenched. evameva kho, bhikkhave, mahato bhikkhusaṅghassa tiṭṭhato sāravato sāriputtamoggallānā parinibbutā.

How could it possibly be so that what is born, created, conditioned, and liable to wear out should not wear out? Taṁ kutettha, bhikkhave, labbhā. Yaṁ taṁ jātaṁ bhūtaṁ saṅkhataṁ palokadhammaṁ, taṁ vata mā palujjīti—That is not possible. netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.

So mendicants, live as your own island, your own refuge, with no other refuge. Let the teaching be your island and your refuge, with no other refuge. Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, attadīpā viharatha attasaraṇā anaññasaraṇā, dhammadīpā dhammasaraṇā anaññasaraṇā.

And how does a mendicant do this? Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu attadīpo viharati attasaraṇo anaññasaraṇo, dhammadīpo dhammasaraṇo anaññasaraṇo? It’s when a mendicant meditates by observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāye kāyānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ; They meditate observing an aspect of feelings … vedanāsu …pe… mind … citte …pe… principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ.

That’s how a mendicant lives as their own island, their own refuge, with no other refuge. That’s how the teaching is their island and their refuge, with no other refuge. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu attadīpo viharati attasaraṇo anaññasaraṇo, dhammadīpo dhammasaraṇo anaññasaraṇo.

Whether now or after I have passed, any who shall live as their own island, their own refuge, with no other refuge; with the teaching as their island and their refuge, with no other refuge—those mendicants of mine who want to train shall be among the best of the best.” Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, etarahi vā mamaccaye vā attadīpā viharissanti attasaraṇā anaññasaraṇā, dhammadīpā dhammasaraṇā anaññasaraṇā; tamatagge mete, bhikkhave, bhikkhū bhavissanti ye keci sikkhākāmā”ti.

Catutthaṁ.