SN47.9 — Gilānasutta
Thus have I heard: At one time the Blessed One was dwelling at Vesālī, in the village of Veḷuvagāma.
There, the Blessed One addressed the disciples: Come let each of you spend the rains retreat around Vesālī as you find suitable, as you see fit, as you are comfortable. I myself will spend the rains retreat right here in Veḷuvagāma.
Yes, venerable sir, those disciples replied to the Blessed One and spent the rains retreat around Vesālī as they found suitable, as they saw fit, as they were comfortable. The Blessed One, however, spent the rains retreat right there in Veḷuvagāma.
Then, during the retreat, a severe illness arose in the Blessed One, with sharp and deadly pains. But the Blessed One endured it, mindful and fully aware, without any distress.
Then it occurred to the Blessed One: It would not be fitting for me to pass away without addressing my attendants and taking a last look at the community of disciples. Perhaps I should completely suppress this illness by willpower, and maintain the life force and live on.
And the Blessed One completely suppressed the illness by willpower, maintained the life force, and lived on. Then, that illness of the Blessed One subsided.
After recovering from that illness, the Blessed One, not long after his recovery, emerged from his dwelling and sat down in the shade of the dwelling on a prepared seat.
Then the Venerable Ānanda approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the Venerable Ānanda said to the Blessed One:
I have seen the Blessed One comfortable; I have seen the Blessed One enduring; I have seen the Blessed One recovering. And yet, venerable sir, my body felt as if it were drugged, I lost my bearings, and the teachings were not clear to me, all because of the Blessed Ones illness. And yet, venerable sir, I had some little comfort in the thought: The Blessed One will not pass away until he has given some last instructions concerning the community of disciples.
What then, Ānanda, does the community of disciples expect from me? Ānanda, I have taught the Dhamma without making an inner and outer distinction. There is no teachers fist in regard to the teachings. If it should occur to anyone: I will lead the community of disciples or The community of disciples is dependent on me, he should make some last instructions concerning the community of disciples. But, Ānanda, that does not apply to the Tathāgata.
Now I am old, Ānanda, aged, burdened with years, advanced in life, and come to the last stage: my age is now eighty years. Just as an old cart is made to go by being held together with straps, so, Ānanda, the Tathāgatas body is kept going by being strapped up. It is only when the Tathāgata withdraws his attention from all signs and, by the cessation of certain feelings, enters into the signless concentration of mind, that his body is more comfortable.
Therefore, Ānanda, be islands unto yourselves, refuges unto yourselves, seeking no external refuge; with the Dhamma as your island, the Dhamma as your refuge, seeking no other refuge.
And how, Ānanda, does a disciple live as an island unto himself, a refuge unto himself, seeking no external refuge; with the Dhamma as his island, the Dhamma as his refuge, seeking no other refuge?
Here, Ānanda, a disciple dwells contemplating the body in the body, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world; he dwells contemplating feelings in feelings... mind in mind... phenomena in phenomena, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world.
This is how, Ānanda, a disciple lives as an island unto himself, a refuge unto himself, seeking no external refuge; with the Dhamma as his island, the Dhamma as his refuge, seeking no other refuge.
Those disciples, Ānanda, either now or after I am gone, who will be islands unto themselves, refuges unto themselves, seeking no external refuge; with the Dhamma as their island, the Dhamma as their refuge, seeking no other refuge, those, Ānanda, will be the foremost among my disciples, those who are eager to train.