The
Last Convert
At
that time, a wandering ascetic named Subhadda, who was at Kusinârâ,
heard the news of the Blessed One’s approaching death; and in
order to clear up certain doubts that troubled his mind, he
hurried to the Sâla Grove to speak to the Buddha. The
Venerable Ânanda, however, did not wish the Buddha to
be disturbed in his last moments, and though Subhadda made several
appeals, access to the Master was refused. The Blessed One overheard
the conversation. He knew at once that Subhadda was making his
investigations with a genuine desire for knowledge; and knowing
that Subhadda was capable of quickly grasping the answers, he
desired that Subhadda be allowed to see him.
Subhadda’s
uncertainty was whether the leaders of the other schools of
thought such as Pûrana Kassapa, Nigantha Nâtaputta,
and others had attained a true understanding. The Blessed One
then spoke:
"In
whatsoever Doctrine and Discipline (dhamma-vinaya),
Subhadda, the Noble Eightfold Path is not found, neither in
it is there found a man of true saintliness of the first, or
of the second, or of the third, or of the fourth degree. And
in whatsoever Doctrine and Discipline, Subhadda, the Noble Eightfold
Path is found, in it is found the man of true saintliness of
the first, and the second, and the third, and the fourth degree.n58
Now, in this Doctrine and Discipline, Subhadda, is found the
Noble Eightfold Path, and in it too are found the men of true
saintliness of all the four degrees. Void are the systems of
other teachers, void of true saints. And in this one, Subhadda,
may the brethren live the life that is right, so that the world
be not bereft of arahats."
Hearing
the words of the Blessed One, Subhadda gained confidence, and
took refuge in the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha. Furthermore,
he desired to be admitted into the Order, and the Buddha requested
the Venerable Ânanda to receive him. Subhadda thus became
the last convert and the last disciple of the Blessed One, and
before long by his strenuous effort he attained the final stage
of arahatship.
