Buddha's First and Last Words


When the Buddha was giving his very first instructions on monastic discipline, to a spontaneous gathering of 1,250 of his enlightened disciples at the Bamboo Grove, his first words were: 

‘Patient endurance is the supreme practice for freeing the heart from unwholesome states.’ (Dhp 183-85).


Heedfulness

AppamŒda, literally, means non-infatuation i.e., ever-present mindfulness, watchfulness or earnestness in doing good. The ethical essence of Buddhism may be summed up by this word-appamŒda. The last words of the Buddha were-appamŒdena sampŒdetha - 

strive on with diligence.

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