Before Buddha entered parinirvana, Buddha reminded the monks and laypeople to practise the Noble Eightfold Path that leads to the end of suffering. Most importantly to observe the precepts. He reminded them not to believe everything they read or listen , even if they were from the Buddha. Buddha advised us to use our knowledge and wisdom to think and investigate. Only if it investigated to be true by our experience and investigation, then we accept the teaching even if it supposedly said by the Buddha.
A monk asked what he should do if he meet the Buddha in his spiritual path. Buddha reminded him not to deviate from the right path even he met his relative. I think Buddha was trying to remind him not to be deluded by form illusions as other beings could manifest in any forms and deluded the practitioner but to remember Buddha's teaching on the Noble Eightfold path which leads to the end of suffering. The Noble Eightfold path in essence covers Precepts, Meditation and Wisdom (戒定慧）.
The Four Noble Truth
1) Suffering exists in everyone's life. ( aging, sickness, death, unpleasant sensation due to 5 aggregates. )
2) The causes of suffering are greed, anger and ignorance.
3) Nirvana, the extinction of suffering is achievable
4) The end of suffering is by following the Noble Eightfold path
The Noble Eightfold Path are as follows.
1. Right View
2. Right Thought
3. Right Speech
4. Right Action
5. Right Livelihood-
6. Right Effort
7. Right Mindfulness
8. Right Concentration
Recently I read the book, The Boy Who Saw Truth which is based on a Victorian boy's diary. The humorous boy had the ability to see people's aura and also spirits. Initially he didn't know what the different aura colour meant but slowly he realised the meaning. In his past life, he was an advanced soul thus he had this ability to communicate with the spirits including his past life teacher who was part of the Elderly Brothers. I find it interesting as it reminds me of Buddha's teaching about craving and desires which are fetters that bind one to earth and to avoid evil so as to incur no debts to be paid off in future incantation as there is karma or Cause and effect. You can read an excerpt of this book below. That is why Buddha taught the Noble Truth and the Noble Eightfold path for 45 years which lead to end of suffering from samsara rebirth.
From The Boy Who Saw Truth
