"There may be some doubt or misgiving in the mind of a brother as to the Buddha, or the truth, or the path. Do not have to reproach yourselves afterwards with the thought, We did not inquire of the Blessed One when we were face to face with him.' Therefore inquire now, O brethren, inquire freely."15
And the brethren remained silent.16
Then the venerable Ānanda said to the Blessed- One: "Verily, I believe that in this whole assembly of the brethren there is not one brother who has any doubt or misgiving as to the Buddha, or the truth, or the path!"17
Said the Blessed One: "It is out of the fullness of faith that thou hast spoken, Ānanda! But, Ānanda, the Tathāgata knows for certain that in this whole assembly of the brethren there is not one brother who has any doubt or misgiving as to the Buddha, or the truth, or the path! For even the most backward, Ānanda, of all these brethren has become converted, and is assured of final salvation."18
Then the Blessed One addressed the brethren and said: "If ye now know the Dharma, the cause of all suffering, and the path of salvation, O disciples, will ye then say: We respect the Master, and out of reverence foi; the Master do we thus speak?'"19
The brethren replied: "That we shall not, O Lord." 20
And the Holy One continued:21
"Of those beings who live in ignorance, shut up and confined, as it were, in an egg, I have first broken the egg-shell of ignorance and alone in the universe obtained the most exalted, universal Buddhahood. Thus, O disciples, I am the eldest, the noblest of beings.22
"But what ye speak, O disciples, is it not even that which ye have yourselves known, yourselves seen, yourselves realised?"23
Ānanda and the brethren said: "It is, O Lord."24
Once more the Blessed One began to speak: "Behold
