256. From the day the Lord said that in four months he would pass into final Nirvana thousands of people came to wait upon him. Those who had not yet attained the fruits of Stream-Winning could not restrain their tears and those who had not attained enlightenment felt a deep sorrow and walked around in small groups saying: “What will we do?” But the monk named Dhammārāma kept separate from the other and when asked what was the matter with him he gave no reply. He had thought to himself: “The Lord has said that in four months he will attain final Nirvana and I am still not free from desire. So, while the Lord lives I will strive to attain enlightenment.” Accordingly, Dhammārāma kept to himself, recollecting, pondering and calling to mind the Lord’s Dhamma. The monks went to the Tathāgata and said: “Reverend sir, Dhammārāma has no affection for you. Since you announced the time of your final Nirvana he has nothing to do with us.” The Lord had Dhammārāma called to him and asked: “Is it true what they say, that you have nothing to do with the other monks?”
“Yes, reverend sir, it is true.”
“Why do you do this?”
“I do it thinking that in four months you will attain final Nirvana and I am still not free from desire. Thus, while I live I will strive to attain enlightenment.’ That is why I keep to myself, recollecting, pondering and calling to mind the Lord’s Dhamma.”
“Excellent, monk, excellent,” said the Lord.
Then the Lord addressed the other monks, saying: “Every monk should show his affection for me the way Dhammārāma does. They who honor me with garlands, perfume and so on honor me not. But they who practice the Dhamma in all its parts, they honor me in the best way.”
Dhp-a.94* (Dhp-a 364)