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will teach, expound, declare, establish, reveal, explain, clarify, and having thoroughly refuted any arisen opposing doctrine with the Dhamma, will teach the Dhamma with a marvel.' Now, venerable sir, the bhikkhus, disciples of the Blessed One, are accomplished, disciplined, confident, learned, upholders of the Dhamma, practicing in accordance with the Dhamma, practicing properly, living in conformity with the Dhamma, having learned their own teacher's doctrine, teach, expound, declare, establish, reveal, explain, clarify, and having thoroughly refuted any arisen opposing doctrine with the Dhamma, teach the Dhamma with a marvel. May the Blessed One now attain final Nibbāna, may the Fortunate One attain final Nibbāna, the time for the Blessed One's final Nibbāna has now come, venerable sir. "For this word was spoken by the Blessed One, venerable sir: 'I shall not attain final Nibbāna, Evil One, until my bhikkhunīs become disciples who are accomplished, disciplined, confident, learned, upholders of the Dhamma, practicing in accordance with the Dhamma, practicing properly, living in conformity with the Dhamma, having learned their own teacher's doctrine, will teach, expound, declare, establish, reveal, explain, clarify, will establish, will make clear, will explain, will analyze, will make manifest, and having thoroughly refuted any arisen opposing view with the Dhamma, will teach the Dhamma with a wonder.’ But now, indeed, venerable sir, the bhikkhunīs, disciples of the Blessed One, are accomplished, disciplined, confident, learned, upholders of the Dhamma, practicing in accordance with the Dhamma, practicing properly, living in conformity with the Dhamma; having learned their own teacher's doctrine, they teach, they explain, they declare, they establish, they make clear, they analyze, they make manifest, and having thoroughly refuted any arisen opposing view with the Dhamma, they teach the Dhamma with a wonder. Let the Blessed One now attain final Nibbāna, venerable sir, let the Fortunate One attain final Nibbāna, it is now the time for the Blessed One's final Nibbāna, venerable sir. ‘‘This word, venerable sir, was spoken by the Blessed One: ‘I will not yet attain final Nibbāna, Evil One, until my male lay followers become disciples, accomplished, disciplined, confident, learned, upholders of the Dhamma, practicing in accordance with the Dhamma, practicing properly, living in conformity with the Dhamma; having learned their own teacher's doctrine, they will teach, they will explain, they will declare, they will establish, they will make clear, they will analyze, they will make manifest, and having thoroughly refuted any arisen opposing view with the Dhamma, they will teach the Dhamma with a wonder.’ But now, indeed, venerable sir, the male lay followers, disciples of the Blessed One, are accomplished, disciplined, confident, learned, upholders of the Dhamma, practicing in accordance with the Dhamma, practicing properly, living in conformity with the Dhamma; having learned their own teacher's doctrine, they teach, they explain, they declare, they establish, they make clear, they analyze, they make manifest, and having thoroughly refuted any arisen opposing view with the Dhamma, they teach the Dhamma with a wonder. Let the Blessed One now attain final Nibbāna, venerable sir, let the Fortunate One attain final Nibbāna, it is now the time for the Blessed One's final Nibbāna, venerable sir. ‘‘This word, venerable sir, was spoken by the Blessed One: ‘I will not yet attain final Nibbāna, Evil One, Until my female lay followers have not yet become disciples: accomplished, disciplined, confident, learned, upholders of the Dhamma, practicing in accordance with the Dhamma, practicing properly, living in accordance with the Dhamma; having learned their own teacher's doctrine, they will teach, explain, declare, establish, open up, analyze, make clear; having thoroughly refuted any arisen opposing views with the Dhamma, they will teach the Dhamma with its marvel." But now, indeed, venerable sir, the female lay followers are the Blessed One's disciples, accomplished, disciplined, confident, learned, upholders of the Dhamma, practicing in accordance with the Dhamma, practicing properly, living in accordance with the Dhamma; having learned their own teacher's doctrine, they teach, explain, declare, establish, open up, analyze, make clear; having thoroughly refuted any arisen opposing views with the Dhamma, they teach the Dhamma with its marvel. Let the Blessed One now pass away, venerable sir, let the Fortunate One pass away, it is now the time for the Blessed One's passing away, venerable sir. "This word, venerable sir, was spoken by the Blessed One: 'I will not yet pass away, Evil One, until this holy life of mine is not yet prosperous, flourishing, widespread, widely known, popular, and well-proclaimed among gods and humans.' But now, indeed, venerable sir, the Blessed One's holy life is prosperous, flourishing, widespread, widely known, popular, and well-proclaimed among gods and humans. Let the Blessed One now pass away, venerable sir, let the Fortunate One pass away, it is now the time for the Blessed One's passing away, venerable sir." When this was said, the Blessed One spoke to Māra the Evil One: "Be at ease, Evil One, the Tathāgata's passing away will not be long. In three months from now, the Tathāgata will pass away." Renunciation of the Life-Principle 169. Then the Blessed One, mindful and clearly comprehending, renounced the life-principle at the Cāpāla Shrine. And when the Blessed One had renounced the life-principle, A great earthquake occurred, terrifying, hair-raising, and divine drums burst forth. Then the Blessed One, knowing this matter, at that time, uttered this inspired utterance: "The sage abandoned the equal and the unequal, all becoming, the formations of existence. Delighting within, well-concentrated, he broke through the armor of self-becoming." The Cause of the Great Earthquake 170. Then it occurred to Venerable Ananda: "It is wonderful, indeed, sirs! It is amazing, indeed, sirs! Great, indeed, is this earthquake! Very great, indeed, is this earthquake, terrifying, hair-raising! And divine drums burst forth. What, now, is the cause? What is the reason for the manifestation of this great earthquake?" Then Venerable Ananda approached the Blessed One. Having approached, and having saluted the Blessed One, he sat down to one side. Seated to one side, Venerable Ananda said to the Blessed One: "It is wonderful, venerable sir! It is amazing, venerable sir! Great, indeed, venerable sir, is this earthquake! Very great, indeed, venerable sir, is this earthquake, terrifying, hair-raising! And divine drums burst forth. What, now, venerable sir, is the cause? What is the reason for the manifestation of this great earthquake?" 171. "There are these eight causes, Ananda, eight reasons for the manifestation of a great earthquake. Which eight? This great earth, Ananda, is established on water. The water is established on wind. The wind is established in space. There comes a time, Ananda, when great winds blow. As the great winds blow, they agitate the water. The agitated water agitates the earth. This is the first cause, the first reason for the manifestation of a great earthquake. "Furthermore, Ananda, a recluse or a brahmin who is endowed with psychic power, who has mastery of mind, or a deity of great power and might, has developed a limited perception of earth and an immeasurable perception of water. He then agitates, shakes, thoroughly shakes, and thoroughly trembles this earth. This is the second cause, the second a cause for the manifestation of a great earthquake. "Furthermore, Ananda, when the Bodhisatta, having departed from the Tusita realm, mindful and clearly comprehending, enters his mother's womb, then this earth quakes, trembles, shakes, and violently shakes. This is the third reason, the third cause for the manifestation of a great earthquake. "Furthermore, Ananda, when the Bodhisatta, mindful and clearly comprehending, emerges from his mother's womb, then this earth quakes, trembles, shakes, and violently shakes. This is the fourth reason, the fourth cause for the manifestation of a great earthquake. "Furthermore, Ananda, when the Tathagata fully awakens to unsurpassed perfect enlightenment, then this earth quakes, trembles, shakes, and violently shakes. This is the fifth reason, the fifth cause for the manifestation of a great earthquake. "Furthermore, Ananda, when the Tathagata sets in motion the unsurpassed Wheel of Dhamma, then this earth quakes, trembles, shakes, and violently shakes. This is the sixth reason, the sixth cause for the manifestation of a great earthquake. "Furthermore, Ananda, when the Tathagata, mindful and clearly comprehending, relinquishes the life-principle, then this earth quakes, trembles, shakes, and violently shakes. This is the seventh reason, the seventh cause for the manifestation of a great earthquake. "Furthermore, Ananda, when the Tathagata attains final Nibbana with no fuel remaining, then this earth quakes, trembles, shakes, and violently shakes. This is the eighth reason, the eighth cause for the manifestation of a great earthquake. These, Ananda, are the eight reasons, the eight causes for the manifestation of a great earthquake." Eight assemblies 172. "These, Ananda, are eight assemblies. Which eight? The assembly of khattiyas, the assembly of brahmins, the assembly of householders, the assembly of recluses, the assembly of the Four Great Kings, the assembly of the Tavatimsa gods... Assembly, assembly of Māra, assembly of Brahmā. I know, Ananda, that I have approached hundreds of assemblies of khattiyas. There too, I have sat down before, and conversed before, and engaged in discussion before. There, whatever their complexion, such is my complexion. Whatever their voice, such is my voice. With a talk on Dhamma, I instruct,