Tripiṭaka Buddhavagga
Buddha Chapter
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“Sakkā pana, bhante nāgasena, buddho nidassetuṁ idha vā idha vā”ti?
“Is it then possible, venerable sir, to point to the Buddha as being either here or there?”
“Parinibbuto, mahārāja, bhagavā anupādisesāya nibbānadhātuyā, na sakkā bhagavā nidassetuṁ ‘idha vā idha vā’”ti.
“The Blessed One has passed away, your majesty, in the element of nibbāna without residue remaining, so it is not possible to point to the Blessed One as being either here or there.”
“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, mahato aggikkhandhassa jalamānassa yā acci atthaṅgatā, sakkā sā acci dassetuṁ ‘idha vā idha vā’”ti?
“What do you think, your majesty, when the flame of a great burning mass of fire has been extinguished, is it possible to point to that flame and say it remains here or there?”
“Na hi, bhante, niruddhā sā acci appaññattiṁ gatā”ti.
“Certainly not, venerable sir, for that flame has ceased and gone beyond description.”
“Evameva kho, mahārāja, bhagavā anupādisesāya nibbānadhātuyā parinibbuto atthaṅgato, na sakkā bhagavā nidassetuṁ ‘idha vā idha vā’ti, dhammakāyena pana kho, mahārāja, sakkā bhagavā nidassetuṁ.
“In the same way, your majesty, the Blessed One has passed away in the element of nibbāna without residue remaining, so it is not possible to point to the Blessed One as being either here or there. However, your majesty, it is possible to point out the Blessed One through the body of Dhamma,