The Word of the Buddha The True Goal

¶ 17So this spiritual life is not for the sake of acquisitions, respect, and popularity, nor for the sake of accomplishment of ethical conduct, nor for the sake of accomplishment of collectedness, nor for the sake of knowledge and vision. Rather, bhikkhus, it is this unshakeable liberation of mind that is the purpose of the spiritual life, its heartwood, and its end.”

¶ 471“It may be, Ānanda, that you might think: ‘The Teacher’s instruction is a thing of the past; we have no Teacher.’ But it should not be seen in this way, Ānanda. The Dhamma and Vinaya that I have taught and laid down for you will be your Teacher after I am gone.

¶ 193Therefore, Ānanda, dwell with yourselves as your own island, with yourselves as your own refuge, with no other refuge; dwell with the Dhamma as your island, with the Dhamma as your refuge, with no other refuge. And how, Ānanda, does a bhikkhu dwell as an island unto himself, with himself as his refuge, with no other refuge, with the Dhamma as his island, with the Dhamma as his refuge, with no other refuge? Here, Ānanda, a bhikkhu dwells observing the body in and of itself, with continuous effort, clearly aware and with excellent recollection, having removed craving and distress with regard to the world; he dwells observing felt experience in and of itself... the mind in and of itself... the mental qualities in and of themselves, with continuous effort, clearly aware and with excellent recollection, having removed craving and distress with regard to the world. This is how, Ānanda, a bhikkhu dwells as an island unto himself, with himself as his refuge, with no other refuge, with the Dhamma as his island, with the Dhamma as his refuge, with no other refuge.

¶ 1Once, the Blessed One was dwelling at Kosambi, in the Rosewood Grove. Then, taking a few rosewood leaves in his hand, the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: “What do you think, bhikkhus, which is more numerous — the few rosewood leaves that I have taken in my hand, or those in the Rosewood Grove above?”

¶ 2“Very few, venerable sir, are the rosewood leaves that the Blessed One has taken in his hand; indeed, those in the Rosewood Grove above are far more numerous.”