English
not long after Venerable Ānanda had departed, said this to the Blessed One: "Now, venerable sir, let the Blessed One attain final Nibbāna, let the Fortunate One attain final Nibbāna. Now is the time, venerable sir, for the Blessed One's final Nibbāna. Indeed, venerable sir, this word was spoken by the Blessed One: 'I will not attain final Nibbāna yet, Evil One, until my monks become disciples who are accomplished, disciplined, confident, who have attained security from bondage, learned, upholders of the Dhamma, practicing in accordance with the Dhamma, practicing properly, living in accordance with the Dhamma, who, having learned their own teacher's doctrine, will teach, expound, declare, establish, reveal, explain, clarify it, and having thoroughly refuted any opposing views that arise with the Dhamma, will teach the Dhamma with a miracle.' Now, venerable sir, the monks are disciples of the Blessed One, accomplished, disciplined, confident, who have attained security from bondage, learned, upholders of the Dhamma, practicing in accordance with the Dhamma, practicing properly, living in accordance with the Dhamma, who, having learned their own teacher's doctrine, teach, expound, declare, establish, reveal, explain, clarify it, and having thoroughly refuted any opposing views that arise with the Dhamma, teach the Dhamma with a miracle. "Now, venerable sir, let the Blessed One attain final Nibbāna, let the Fortunate One attain final Nibbāna. Now is the time, venerable sir, for the Blessed One's final Nibbāna. Indeed, venerable sir, this word was spoken by the Blessed One: 'I will not attain final Nibbāna yet, Evil One, until my nuns become disciples... ...until my laymen become disciples... ...until my laywomen become disciples, who are accomplished, disciplined, confident, who have attained security from bondage, learned, upholders of the Dhamma, practicing in accordance with the Dhamma..." rightly practicing, properly practicing, living in accordance with the Dhamma, having learned their own teacher's doctrine, they will teach, they will explain, they will declare, they will establish, they will reveal, they will analyze, they will make clear, and having thoroughly refuted any arisen opposing views with the Dhamma, they will teach the Dhamma with a wonder-working power.' Now, venerable sir, the female lay followers, disciples of the Blessed One, are skilled, disciplined, confident, attained to security from bondage, learned, upholders of the Dhamma, practicing in accordance with the Dhamma, properly practicing, living in accordance with the Dhamma, having learned their own teacher's doctrine, they teach, they explain, they declare, they establish, they reveal, they analyze, they make clear, and having thoroughly refuted any arisen opposing views with the Dhamma, they teach the Dhamma with a wonder-working power. Let the Blessed One now attain final Nibbāna, venerable sir! Let the Fortunate One attain final Nibbāna! The time for the Blessed One's final Nibbāna has come, venerable sir! For this word, venerable sir, was spoken by the Blessed One: 'I will not attain final Nibbāna, Evil One, until this holy life of mine is prosperous, flourishing, widespread, populous, and widely known among devas and humans.' Now, venerable sir, the Blessed One's holy life is prosperous, flourishing, widespread, populous, and widely known among devas and humans. Let the Blessed One now attain final Nibbāna, venerable sir! Let the Fortunate One attain final Nibbāna! The time for the Blessed One's final Nibbāna has come, venerable sir!" "Be at ease, Evil One. The Tathāgata's final Nibbāna will not be long. In three months from now, the Tathāgata will attain final Nibbāna." Then the Blessed One, mindful and clearly comprehending, renounced his life-formation at the Cāpāla Shrine. And when the Blessed One had renounced his life-formation, a great earthquake occurred, terrifying and hair-raising, and the divine drums burst forth. Then the Blessed One, understanding this matter, on that occasion uttered this inspired utterance: "Having weighed the equal and the unequal, the becoming, The sage let go of the aggregates; Inwardly delighted, composed, he broke the armor of becoming. Then it occurred to Venerable Ananda: "Indeed, this is a great earthquake; Indeed, this is a very great earthquake, terrifying and hair-raising, and the divine drums burst forth. What, now, is the cause, what is the reason for the appearance of this great earthquake?" Then Venerable Ananda approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, Venerable Ananda said to the Blessed One: "Indeed, venerable sir, this is a great earthquake; Indeed, venerable sir, this is a very great earthquake, terrifying and hair-raising, and the divine drums burst forth. What, now, venerable sir, is the cause, what is the reason for the appearance of this great earthquake?" "There are, Ananda, these eight causes, eight reasons for the appearance 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; the great winds blowing make the water tremble; the trembling water makes the earth tremble. This, Ananda, is the first cause, the first reason for the appearance of a great earthquake. "Furthermore, Ananda, a recluse or brahmin, who is powerful, master of mind, or a deity of great power and great might. For him, a limited perception of earth has been developed, and an immeasurable perception of water. He makes this earth tremble, shake, rock, and vibrate. This, Ananda, is the second cause, the second reason for the appearance of a great earthquake. "Furthermore, Ananda, when the Bodhisatta, departing from the Tusita realm, mindfully and clearly comprehending, enters his mother's womb, then this earth trembles, shakes, rocks, and vibrates. This, Ananda, is the third cause; the third reason for the appearance of a great earthquake. "Furthermore, Ananda, when the Bodhisatta, mindfully consciously he emerges from his mother’s womb, then this earth quakes, trembles, shakes, and vibrates. This, Ananda, is the fourth reason, the fourth cause for the appearance of a great earthquake. Furthermore, Ananda, when the Tathagata fully awakens to unsurpassed perfect enlightenment, then this earth quakes, trembles, shakes, and vibrates. This, Ananda, is the fifth reason, the fifth cause for the appearance of a great earthquake. Furthermore, Ananda, when the Tathagata sets in motion the unsurpassed Wheel of Dhamma, then this earth quakes, trembles, shakes, and vibrates. This, Ananda, is the sixth reason, the sixth cause for the appearance of a great earthquake. Furthermore, Ananda, when the Tathagata, mindful and clearly comprehending, relinquishes the life-formation, then this earth quakes, trembles, shakes, and vibrates. This, Ananda, is the seventh reason, the seventh cause for the appearance of a great earthquake. Furthermore, Ananda, when the Tathagata attains final Nibbana in the Nibbana-element with no fuel remaining, then this earth quakes, trembles, shakes, and vibrates. This, Ananda, is the eighth reason, the eighth cause for the appearance of a great earthquake. These, Ananda, are the eight reasons, the eight causes for the appearance of a great earthquake. The Tenth. The Second Chapter on Earthquakes. Its summary – Desire, and enough, and condensed, together with Gaya, with the conqueror; Deliverance, and two discourses, the assembly, and with the earthquake.