2555 BE 

Our Thai New Year and Water Festival known as "Songkran" gives us the opportunity to deeply reflect on how it originally came into being. Beyond today's popular and religious celebrations we must remember that the Buddha Era (BE) started with His passing away from this world. In doing so, Buddha left His Greater Legacy to Humanity in His Last Words known as "The Last Teaching Of The Buddha".

"Make yourself a light. Rely upon yourself: do not depend upon anyone else. Make my teachings your light. Rely upon them: do not depend upon any other teaching."

"The point of the teachings is to control your own mind. Keep your mind from greed, and you will keep your behavior right, your mind pure and your words faithful. By always thinking about the transiency of your life, you will be able to resist greed and anger, and will be able to avoid all evils."

"My disciples, my end is approaching, our parting is near, but do not lament. Life is ever changing; none can escape the dissolution of the body. This I am now to show by my own death, my body falling apart like a dilapidated cart."

"My disciples, my last moment has come, but do not forget that death is only the end of the physical body. The body was born from parents and was nourished by food; just as inevitable are sickness and death."

"But the true Buddha is not a human body; - it is Enlightenment. A human body must die, but the Wisdom of Enlightenment will exist forever in the truth of the Dharma, and in the practice of the Dharma. He who sees merely my body does not truly see me. Only he who accepts my teaching truly sees me."

"After my death, the Dharma shall be your teacher. Follow the Dharma and you will be true to me."

During my last forty-five years of life, I have withheld nothing from my teachings. There is no secret teaching, no hidden meaning; everything has been taught openly and clearly. My dear disciples, this is the end. In a moment, I shall be passing into Nirvana. This is my instruction."



Excerpts from: Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai