The very last words of the Buddha were 'appamadena sampadetha': with mindfulness strive on! This talk is a reflection on those two last words, drawing out the qualities of mindfulness, as taught by the Buddha, and the quality of effort that will enable us to cultivate and develop it. This are teachings just as relevant to the contemporary beginner first learning the mindfulness of breathing meditation as to the seasoned renunciants attending the Buddha's death 2500 years ago.