Assaji's instructions

51. Then Upatissa asked Venerable Assaji: “What is the teaching of the Buddha?” Assaji replied: “I will tell you the meaning of the Buddha’s teaching very briefly. The Buddha said that there is a cause for everything and he also taught how things decay.” Upatissa was so clever that when he heard this he understood that whatever comes into existence will also decay, and he attained the first stage of enlightenment. Then he thanked Assaji, asked him where he might find the Buddha, and left.