Gilana Sutta: Sick (Citta the Householder's Last Hours, SN 41.10)

How should a sick or dying Buddhist handle relatives and friends who attempt death-bed conversions? The conversation between devas and Citta the householder, one who possessed virtue and strength of character,sets an example to be followed.


On that occasion Citta the householder was diseased, in pain, severely ill. Then a large number of garden devas, forest devas, ... assembled and said to him: "Make a wish, householder: 'In the future, may I become a king, a wheel-turning monarch!'"

When this was said, Citta the householder said ..........."Even that is inconstant; even that is impermanent; one must abandon even that when one passes on".........It occurs to them (the devas): 'This Citta the householder is virtuous, of admirable character. If he should wish: "In the future, may I become a king, a wheel-turning monarch!" — then, as he is virtuous, this wish of his would succeed because of the purity of his virtue.'....And I said to them: 'Even that is inconstant; even that is impermanent; one must abandon even that when one passes on.'

"Then, master, instruct us, too."

"Then you should train yourselves: 'We will be endowed with verified confidence in the Buddha: "Indeed, the Blessed One is worthy & rightly self-awakened, consummate in knowledge & conduct, well-gone, an expert with regard to the cosmos, unexcelled as a trainer for those people fit to be tamed, the Teacher of divine & human beings, awakened, blessed."


'We will be endowed with verified confidence in the Dhamma......" 
'We will be possessed of verified confidence in the Sangha........"

Then, having enjoined his friends & colleagues, his relatives & kinsmen, to place confidence in the Buddha, Dhamma, & Sangha; having exhorted them to undertake generosity, Citta the householder passed away.