“Worthy Ānanda, is there even a single mendicant who was appointed by the worthy Gotama, saying: ‘This one will be your refuge when I have passed away,’ to whom you would now turn?” “No, there is not.”

“But is there even a single mendicant who has been elected to such a position by the Saṅgha and appointed by several senior mendicants?” “No, there is not.”

“But since you lack a refuge, worthy Ānanda, what’s the reason for your harmony?” “We don’t lack a refuge, brahmin, we have a refuge. The teaching is our refuge.”