The Discourse about the Great Emancipation

The Sixth Chapter for Recitation
“Out of confidence, Ānanda, you speak, but the Realised One, Ānanda,
has knowledge that there is not one of the monks in this Community of
monks who has doubt or confusion about the Buddha, or about the
Teaching, or about the Community, or about the Path, or about the
practice. For amongst these five hundred monks, Ānanda, he who is
the last monk, is a Stream-Enterer, no longer subject to falling (into
the lower realms), and has a fixed destiny ending in Final
Awakening.” 177 * * *
Then the Gracious One addressed the monks, (saying): “Come now,
monks, for I tell you (all) conditioned things are subject to decay,
strive on with heedfulness!” These were the last words of the Realised
One. 178
[41: The Final Emancipation]
Then the Gracious One attained the first absorption, and after
emerging from the first absorption he attained the second absorption,
and after emerging from the second absorption he attained the third
absorption, and after emerging from the third absorption he attained
177 According to the Commentary the last monk the Buddha was referring to
was Ānanda himself, and this was said to encourage his efforts.
178 Commentary: Saṅgītikārakānaṁ vacanaṁ; the words of those who held the
(First) Council.
174