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twenty-four hours. His sacrifice was immense. Such self -- sacrifice is so rare that in fact there is no other record in the whole history of humanity. To sacrifice even one's enlightenment....
In fact, many times anand had said to Buddha, 'Please don't insist on my enlightenment, because when you order something I have to do it -- and this is one thing that I cannot do for the simple reason that if I become enlightened you will send me away. You will tell me "Now go to the masses, help others to become awakened, spread my message." So let me remain ignorant, but let me be with you. Enlightenment can happen later on -- what is the hurry? I am fully contented just to be with you.
Many times he had seen that whenever a disciple became enlightened he was sent away because now he was ready to carry the message, to become the vehicle. Sariputra was sent away, Modgalayayan was sent away, Manjusri was sent away, and so many other disciples. The moment they would become enlightened, Buddha would say, "Now, you are ready -- go to the farthest corner of the world to help people who are fast asleep. Wake them up!"
Every night before anand would go to sleep he would pray, and he would pray in such a way that Buddha could hear it, because they were sleeping in the same room. He would pray to Buddha: "My lord, help me to remain unenlightened, because I don't want to go away from you."
And when just before Buddha died he declared "Today is my last day," Anand started crying and weeping. Buddha said, "Don't cry and weep, Anand. Only my death can make you enlightened, otherwise you will never become enlightened. When I am gone there will be nothing left for you t cling to. I am grateful you have served me so long."
And it happened that way, within twenty-four hours Anand became enlightened. The moment Buddha died, Anand closed his eyes and didn't open his eyes until he became enlightened. People asked him, "Why are you not opening your eyes?" He said, "I have seen the most beautiful man of the world -- now what is there left for me to see? Now I can afford enlightenment. My only attachment was with Buddha -- that too is broken." He said, "It may
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