If I do not do it, who will do it for me?

original: 曰我若不爲誰爲我爲. A rhetorical Zen statement emphasizing personal responsibility in the transmission of truth.

The Second Patriarch, the Venerable Ānanda

The Second Patriarch, the Venerable Ānanda One of the Buddha's primary disciples, known for his incredible memory., was a native of the City of Royal Palaces original: 王舎城 (Rājagṛha). His family name was Kshatriya The warrior and ruling caste of ancient India.. His father was King Dronodana, who was the younger paternal cousin of the Buddha. In Sanskrit, his name is Ānanda, which translates as "Celebration" or "Joy." He was born on the night the Tathagata A title for the Buddha meaning "One who has thus come/gone." attained enlightenment, which is how he received his name.

He was widely learned and possessed unobstructed wisdom. The World-Honored One A common title for the Buddha. considered him the foremost in "retaining the teachings" Dharani: The ability to memorize and hold the Buddha's entire spoken teachings without error.. He was often praised for having great merit from past lives, receiving and holding the Treasury of the Dharma as if water were being poured from one vessel to another. The Buddha then appointed him as his personal attendant.

One day, the Venerable Ānanda said to the Buddha, "Today, while entering the city, I saw a strange thing."

The Buddha asked, "What strange thing did you see?"

The Venerable replied, "When I entered the city, I saw a troupe of musicians dancing. When I left the city, I saw that all was impermanence implying they had died or the scene had vanished into tragedy.."

The Buddha said, "Yesterday, when I entered the city, I also saw a strange thing."

The Venerable asked, "I wonder, what strange thing did you see?"

The Buddha replied, "When I entered the city, I saw a troupe of musicians dancing. When I left the city, I also saw musicians dancing." This highlights the Buddha's equanimity—seeing things exactly as they are without projecting the sorrow of change onto them.

One day, Ānanda asked Kāśyapa, "Senior brother, besides the gold-brocade robe, what else did the World-Honored One transmit to you?"

Kāśyapa called out, "Ānanda!"

Ānanda replied, "Yes?"

Kāśyapa said, "Knock down the flagpole at the gate." followed by
King Ajatashatru The King of Magadha. addressed him, saying, "O Noble One, the two masters—the Buddha and Kāśyapa—have both entered Nirvana. Because of my many duties, I was unable to witness their passing. When it is time for you to enter Nirvana, I pray you will let me know." The Venerable promised him he would.
Later, he thought to himself: "My body is fragile and brittle, like a clump of foam. Moreover, I am growing old and frail; how can I last much longer?" Remembering his promise to King Ajatashatru, he went to the royal palace to inform him.

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He arrived and said, "I wish to enter Nirvana and have come to say farewell."

The gatekeeper replied, "The King is sleeping and cannot be disturbed."

The Venerable said, "When the King wakes, please tell him this for me."

At that time, King Ajatashatru saw a jeweled parasol in a dream, adorned with the seven treasures and surrounded by tens of thousands of people looking up in reverence. Suddenly, a violent storm arose, snapping the handle of the parasol. The pearls and jeweled necklaces fell to the ground. He woke up feeling greatly startled. When the gatekeeper reported what had happened, the King cried out in a loud voice, his grief so profound it moved heaven and earth.

The King immediately traveled to the city of Vaishali original: 毗舎離城 and saw the Venerable sitting in the lotus position in the middle of the Ganges River original: 恒河 (Hénghé). The King bowed and spoke in verse:

"I bow to the Honored One of the three realms.
How have you come to this point?
Please rely briefly on the power of your compassionate vow,
And do not yet enter Nirvana."

At that time, the King of Vaishali was also at the riverbank and spoke in verse:

"Why does the Venerable go so quickly
To the place of total extinction?
Please stay for a short while
To receive our offerings."

The Venerable, seeing that both kings had come to plead with him, spoke a verse in return:

"You two kings, dwell well in your realms;
Do not be lost in bitter, grieving attachment.
Nirvana is my state of stillness,
Free from all forms of existence."

The Venerable then thought: "If I move toward one country, the other countries will fight over me. This is not right. I should deliver all sentient beings with equality." He then prepared to enter extinction original: 寂滅 (Jìmiè), a synonym for Nirvana. right there in the middle of the Ganges River.

At that moment, the mountains, rivers, and the great earth shook in six different ways. On the Snowy Mountains The Himalayas., there were five hundred immortals Rishis: Forest-dwelling sages or seekers who have attained spiritual powers. who saw this auspicious sign and flew through the air to reach him. They bowed at the Venerable's feet, knelt, and said, "We hope to realize the Buddha's Dharma through you, Great Elder. We pray you show great compassion and deliver us from suffering."

The Venerable silently accepted their request. He immediately transformed the Ganges River into a floor of solid gold for the assembly of immortals.