About this passageSāriputta, one of the Buddha's two chief disciples and Ānanda's teacher and friend, has died of illness in a village far from Sāvatthī. His attendant Cunda carries the bowl and robe back and, with Ānanda, brings the news. What Ānanda says about his own state is unusually direct for the discourses. The reply neither corrects his grief nor promises the loss will be undone.
"Sir, this novice Cunda says that Venerable Sāriputta has become fully quenched. This is his bowl and robe. Since I heard this, my body feels like it's drugged. I'm disorientated, and the teachings don't spring to mind."
"Well, Ānanda, when Sāriputta was fully quenched, did he take away your entire spectrum of ethical conduct, of immersion, of wisdom, of freedom, or of the knowledge and vision of freedom?"
"No, sir, he did not. But Venerable Sāriputta was my adviser and counselor. He educated, encouraged, fired up, and inspired me. He never tired of teaching the Dhamma, and he supported his spiritual companions. I remember the nectar of the teaching, the riches of the teaching, the support of the teaching given by Venerable Sāriputta."
"Ānanda, did I not prepare for this when I explained that we must be parted and separated from all we hold dear and beloved? How could it possibly be so that what is born, created, conditioned, and liable to wear out should not wear out? That is not possible.
Suppose there was a large tree standing with heartwood, and the largest branch broke off. In the same way, in the great Saṅgha that stands with heartwood, Sāriputta has become fully quenched.
So Ānanda, live as your own island, your own refuge, with no other refuge. Let the teaching be your island and your refuge, with no other refuge."
In plainer words
Sāriputta had died. His friend Ānanda came to the Buddha carrying the bowl and robe and said: since I heard, my body feels drugged, I cannot think straight, and none of the teaching comes to mind. The Buddha asked him: when Sāriputta died, did he take your integrity with him? Your understanding? Your freedom? No, Ānanda said — but he was my adviser and my friend, and he never once got tired of teaching me. And the Buddha said: did I not tell you that we are parted from everything we love? Anything made of parts comes apart. The biggest branch broke off the tree. Stand on your own ground now.
A restatement in modern English, written for this collection. The passage above is the text; this is one way of putting it.