10.
The Discourse on Earthquakes
70.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Vesālī in the Great Wood in the Pinnacled Hall.
Then the Blessed One, having dressed in the earlier period of the day, taking his bowl and robe, entered Vesālī for almsfood.
Having walked for almsfood in Vesālī, after the meal, having returned from his alms round, he addressed the Venerable Ānanda -
"Take the sitting cloth, Ānanda.
Let us approach the Cāpāla shrine for the day's abiding."
"Yes, venerable sir," the Venerable Ānanda replied to the Blessed One, and taking the sitting cloth, he followed closely behind the Blessed One.
Then the Blessed One approached the Cāpāla shrine; having approached, he sat down on the prepared seat. Having sat down, the Blessed One addressed the Venerable Ānanda - "Delightful, Ānanda, is Vesālī, delightful is the Udena shrine, delightful is the Gotamaka shrine, delightful is the Sattamba shrine, delightful is the Bahuputtaka shrine; delightful is the Sārandada shrine, delightful is the Cāpāla shrine. For anyone, Ānanda, who has developed, cultivated, mastered, made a basis of, practised, accumulated, and thoroughly undertaken the four bases for spiritual power, if he wishes, Ānanda, he could remain for a cosmic cycle or the remainder of a cosmic cycle. The Truth-finder, Ānanda, has developed, cultivated, mastered, made a basis of, practised, accumulated, and thoroughly undertaken the four bases for spiritual power. If he wishes, Ānanda, the Truth-finder could remain for a cosmic cycle or the remainder of a cosmic cycle." Yet even when such a gross sign was being made by the Blessed One, such a gross indication was being made, the Venerable Ānanda was not able to penetrate it; he did not request the Blessed One - "Let the Blessed One remain for a cosmic cycle, venerable sir, let the Fortunate One remain for a cosmic cycle, for the welfare of many people, for the happiness of many people, out of compassion for the world, for the good, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans," as his mind was possessed by Māra.
For the second time the Blessed One... etc. For the third time the Blessed One addressed the Venerable Ānanda - "Delightful, Ānanda, is Vesālī, delightful is the Udena shrine, delightful is the Gotamaka shrine, delightful is the Sattamba shrine, delightful is the Bahuputtaka shrine, delightful is the Sārandada shrine, delightful is the Cāpāla shrine. For anyone, Ānanda, who has developed, cultivated, mastered, made a basis of, practised, accumulated, and thoroughly undertaken the four bases for spiritual power, if he wishes, Ānanda, he could remain for a cosmic cycle or the remainder of a cosmic cycle. The Truth-finder, Ānanda, has developed the four bases for spiritual power... etc. if he wishes, Ānanda, the Truth-finder could remain for a cosmic cycle or the remainder of a cosmic cycle." Yet even when such a gross sign was being made by the Blessed One, such a gross indication was being made, the Venerable Ānanda was not able to penetrate it; he did not request the Blessed One - "Let the Blessed One remain for a cosmic cycle, venerable sir, let the Fortunate One remain for a cosmic cycle, for the welfare of many people, for the happiness of many people, out of compassion for the world, for the good, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans," as his mind was possessed by Māra.
Then the Blessed One addressed the Venerable Ānanda - "Go now, Ānanda, do as you think fit." "Yes, venerable sir," the Venerable Ānanda replied to the Blessed One, and rising from his seat, having paid respect to the Blessed One and circumambulated him keeping him on his right, he sat down at the foot of a certain tree not far from the Blessed One. Then Māra the Evil One, soon after the Venerable Ānanda had departed, said this to the Blessed One -
"Let the Blessed One now attain final Nibbāna, venerable sir, let the Fortunate One attain final Nibbāna. Now is the time, venerable sir, for the Blessed One's final Nibbāna. For this speech was spoken by the Blessed One, venerable sir - 'I will not attain final Nibbāna, Evil One, until my monks become disciples who are learned, disciplined, confident, who have attained security from bondage, very learned, bearers of the Teaching, practicing in accordance with the Teaching, practicing properly, living in conformity with the Teaching, and having learnt their teacher's own doctrine, will tell, teach, make known, establish, open up, analyse, and make clear, and having thoroughly refuted with reason the arisen doctrines of others, will expound the Teaching with the wondrous effect of liberation.' Now, venerable sir, the Blessed One's monks are disciples who are learned, disciplined, confident, who have attained security from bondage, very learned, bearers of the Teaching, practicing in accordance with the Teaching, practicing properly, living in conformity with the Teaching, and having learnt their teacher's own doctrine, they tell, teach, make known, establish, open up, analyse, and make clear, and having thoroughly refuted with reason the arisen doctrines of others, they expound the Teaching with the wondrous effect of liberation.
"Let the Blessed One now attain final Nibbāna, venerable sir, let the Fortunate One attain final Nibbāna. Now is the time, venerable sir, for the Blessed One's final Nibbāna. For this speech was spoken by the Blessed One, venerable sir - 'I will not attain final Nibbāna, Evil One, until my nuns become disciples... etc. until my male lay followers become disciples... etc. until my female lay followers become disciples who are learned, disciplined, confident, who have attained security from bondage, very learned, bearers of the Teaching, practicing in accordance with the Teaching, practicing properly, living in conformity with the Teaching, and having learnt their teacher's own doctrine, will tell, teach, make known, establish, open up, analyse, and make clear, and having thoroughly refuted with reason the arisen doctrines of others, will expound the Teaching with the wondrous effect of liberation.' Now, venerable sir, the Blessed One's female lay followers are disciples who are learned, disciplined, confident, who have attained security from bondage, very learned, bearers of the Teaching, practicing in accordance with the Teaching, practicing properly, living in conformity with the Teaching, and having learnt their teacher's own doctrine, they tell, teach, make known, establish, open up, analyse, and make clear, and having thoroughly refuted with reason the arisen doctrines of others, they expound the Teaching with the wondrous effect of liberation.
"Let the Blessed One now attain final Nibbāna, venerable sir, let the Fortunate One attain final Nibbāna. Now is the time, venerable sir, for the Blessed One's final Nibbāna. For this speech was spoken by the Blessed One, venerable sir - 'I will not attain final Nibbāna, Evil One, until this holy life of mine becomes successful and prosperous, widespread, known to many, become widespread, until it is well proclaimed among gods and humans.' Now, venerable sir, the Blessed One's holy life is successful and prosperous, widespread, known to many, become widespread, well proclaimed among gods and humans.
"Let the Blessed One now attain final Nibbāna, venerable sir, let the Fortunate One attain final Nibbāna. Now is the time, venerable sir, for the Blessed One's final Nibbāna." "Be at ease, Evil One. It will not be long before the Truth-finder's final Nibbāna takes place. After the elapse of three months from now, the Truth-finder will attain final Nibbāna."
Then the Blessed One, at the Cāpāla shrine, mindful and fully aware, relinquished the life principle. And when the life principle was relinquished by the Blessed One, there was a great earthquake, terrifying and hair-raising, and the divine drums resounded. Then the Blessed One, having understood this matter, at that time uttered this inspired utterance -
Delighting internally, concentrated, he broke through self-existence like armour."
Then this occurred to the Venerable Ānanda: "This is indeed a great earthquake; this is indeed a very great earthquake, terrifying and hair-raising; and the divine drums resounded. What is the cause, what is the condition for the manifestation of a great earthquake?"
Then the Venerable Ānanda approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the Venerable Ānanda said this to the Blessed One - "This is indeed a great earthquake, Venerable Sir; this is indeed a very great earthquake, Venerable Sir, terrifying and hair-raising, and the divine drums resounded. What, Venerable Sir, is the cause, what is the condition for the manifestation of a great earthquake?"
"Ānanda, there are these eight causes, eight conditions for the manifestation of a great earthquake. What are the eight? This great earth, Ānanda, is established upon water; the water is established upon wind; the wind rests upon space. There comes a time, Ānanda, when great winds blow; the great winds blowing cause the water to tremble; the water trembling causes the earth to tremble. This, Ānanda, is the first cause, the first condition for the manifestation of a great earthquake.
"Furthermore, Ānanda, there is an ascetic or a brahmin possessing supernormal power, having attained mastery of mind, or a deity of great supernormal power, of great might. He has developed a limited perception of earth and an immeasurable perception of water. He causes this earth to tremble, quake, shake, and shudder violently. This, Ānanda, is the second cause, the second condition for the manifestation of a great earthquake.
"Furthermore, Ānanda, when a Bodhisatta, having passed away from the Tusita realm, mindful and fully aware, descends into his mother's womb, then this earth trembles, quakes, shakes, and shudders violently. This, Ānanda, is the third cause; the third condition for the manifestation of a great earthquake.
"Furthermore, Ānanda, when a Bodhisatta, mindful and fully aware, emerges from his mother's womb, then this earth trembles, quakes, shakes, and shudders violently. This, Ānanda, is the fourth cause, the fourth condition for the manifestation of a great earthquake.
"Furthermore, Ānanda, when a Truth-finder fully awakens to the unsurpassed perfect enlightenment, then this earth trembles, quakes, shakes, and shudders violently. This, Ānanda, is the fifth cause, the fifth condition for the manifestation of a great earthquake.
"Furthermore, Ānanda, when a Truth-finder sets in motion the unsurpassed wheel of the Teaching, then this earth trembles, quakes, shakes, and shudders violently. This, Ānanda, is the sixth cause, the sixth condition for the manifestation of a great earthquake.
"Furthermore, Ānanda, when a Truth-finder, mindful and fully aware, relinquishes the life principle, then this earth trembles, quakes, shakes, and shudders violently. This, Ānanda, is the seventh cause, the seventh condition for the manifestation of a great earthquake.
"Furthermore, Ānanda, when a Truth-finder attains final Nibbāna through the Nibbāna element without residue of clinging, then this earth trembles, quakes, shakes, and shudders violently. This, Ānanda, is the eighth cause, the eighth condition for the manifestation of a great earthquake. These, Ānanda, are the eight causes, the eight conditions for the manifestation of a great earthquake." The tenth.