English
6. The Chapter of the Born Blind 1. The Discourse on Renouncing the Life-Continuum 51. Thus have I heard: On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling in Vesālī, in the Great Wood, in the Gabled Hall. Then the Blessed One, in the morning, having dressed, and taking his bowl and robe, entered Vesālī for alms. Having wandered for alms in Vesālī, after his meal, having returned from his alms round, he addressed the Venerable Ānanda: "Take the sitting mat, Ānanda. Let us go to the Cāpāla Shrine for our midday rest." "Yes, Bhante," the Venerable Ānanda replied to the Blessed One, and taking the sitting mat, he followed behind the Blessed One. Then the Blessed One went to the Cāpāla Shrine; having gone there, 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 Bahuputta Shrine; delightful is the Sārandada Shrine; delightful is the Cāpāla Shrine. Whoever, Ānanda, has developed, made much of, made a vehicle of, made a basis of, established, practiced, and thoroughly mastered the four bases of spiritual power, he, if he wishes, might remain for an eon, or for the remainder of an eon. The Tathāgata, Ānanda, has developed, made much of, made a vehicle of, made a basis of, established, practiced, and thoroughly mastered the four bases of spiritual power. If he wishes, Ānanda, the Tathāgata might remain for an eon, or for the remainder of an eon." Even though, the Blessed One was giving such a clear sign, such a clear intimation, the Venerable Ānanda was unable to penetrate it; he did not entreat the Blessed One: "May the Blessed One remain for an eon! May the Fortunate One remain for an eon, for the welfare of many people, for the happiness of many people, out of compassion for the world, for the good, for the benefit, for the happiness of devas and humans!" — as if his mind were possessed by Māra. A second time too... A third time too... 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 Bahuputta shrine; delightful is the Sārandada shrine; delightful is the Cāpāla shrine. Whoever, Ānanda, has developed, made much of, made a vehicle of, made a basis of, established, practiced, and thoroughly mastered the four bases of spiritual power, he, if he wishes, could remain for an eon, or for the remainder of an eon. The Tathāgata, Ānanda, has developed, made much of, made a vehicle of, made a basis of, established, practiced, and thoroughly mastered the four bases of spiritual power. If he wishes, Ānanda, the Tathāgata could remain for an eon, or for the remainder of an eon." Yet, the Venerable Ānanda, though the Blessed One was giving such a clear sign, such a clear indication, was unable to penetrate it; he did not entreat the Blessed One: "May the Blessed One remain for an eon, Lord! May the Fortunate One remain for an eon, for the welfare of many people, for the happiness of many people, out of compassion for the world, for the good, the benefit, the happiness of gods and humans!" — for his mind was possessed by Māra. Then the Blessed One addressed the Venerable Ānanda: "Go now, Ānanda, do as you think fit." "Yes, Lord," replied the Venerable Ānanda, and rising from his seat, he paid homage to the Blessed One, circumambulated him respectfully, and sat down not far away at the foot of a certain tree. Then Māra the Evil One, not long after the Venerable Ānanda had departed, approached the Blessed One. Having approached, he stood to one side. Standing to one side, Māra the Evil One said this to the Blessed One: "May the Blessed One now attain final Nibbāna, Lord! May the Fortunate One attain final Nibbāna! It is now time for the Blessed One's final Nibbāna, Lord! For this word was spoken by the Blessed One, Lord: 'I will not attain final Nibbāna, Evil One, until my bhikkhus are disciples who are accomplished, trained, confident, skilled..." 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, They will explain, They will declare, They will establish, They will open up, They will analyze, They will make clear, Having thoroughly refuted any arisen opposing view Righteously, They will teach the Dhamma with wonders. But now, venerable sir, The monks, disciples of the Blessed One, Are accomplished, Well-trained, 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, They explain, They declare, They establish, They open up, They analyze, They make clear, Having thoroughly refuted any arisen opposing view Righteously, They teach the Dhamma with wonders. Let the Blessed One now attain final Nibbana, venerable sir; Let the Fortunate One attain final Nibbana; It is now time for the Blessed One to attain final Nibbana, venerable sir. Indeed, venerable sir, this word was spoken by the Blessed One: 'I will not yet attain final Nibbana, Evil One, Until my bhikkhunis become disciples Accomplished, Well-trained, 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, They will explain, They will declare, They will establish, They will open up, They will analyze, They will make clear, Having thoroughly refuted any arisen opposing view Righteously, They will teach the Dhamma with wonders.' But now, venerable sir, The bhikkhunis, disciples of the Blessed One, Are accomplished, Well-trained, 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, They explain, They declare, They establish, They open up, They analyze... they make clear, they make manifest, having thoroughly suppressed with the Dhamma any arisen opposing views, they teach the Dhamma with convincing power. 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 indeed 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 accordance with the Dhamma, having learned their own teacher's doctrine, will explain, will teach, will declare, will establish, will open up, will analyze, will make clear, having thoroughly suppressed with the Dhamma any arisen opposing views, will teach the Dhamma with convincing power.’ But now, venerable sir, the Blessed One's male lay followers are 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, explain, teach, declare, establish, open up, analyze, make clear, having thoroughly suppressed with the Dhamma any arisen opposing views, teach the Dhamma with convincing power. 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 indeed spoken by the Blessed One: ‘I will not yet attain final Nibbāna, Evil One, until my female lay followers 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, will explain, will teach, will declare, will establish, will open up, will analyze, will make clear, having thoroughly suppressed with the Dhamma any arisen opposing views, will teach the Dhamma with convincing power.’ But now, venerable sir, the Blessed One's female lay followers are... Disciples, accomplished, disciplined, confident, learned, holders 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 explain, they teach, they declare, they establish, they open up, they analyze, they make clear, and having well-refuted any arisen opposing doctrines with the Dhamma, they teach the Dhamma with miracles. May the Blessed One now attain final Nibbāna, venerable sir; May the Fortunate One attain final Nibbāna; The time for the Blessed One's final Nibbāna has now come, venerable sir. "This word, venerable sir, was spoken by the Blessed One: 'I will not attain final Nibbāna yet, Evil One, until this holy life of mine is prosperous, flourishing, widespread, populous, and well-proclaimed among gods and humans.'" "Now, venerable sir, the Blessed One's holy life is prosperous, flourishing, widespread, populous, and well-proclaimed among gods and humans. May the Blessed One now attain final Nibbāna, venerable sir; May the Fortunate One attain final Nibbāna; The time for the Blessed One's final Nibbāna has now come, venerable sir." When this was said, the Blessed One said to Māra, the Evil One: "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, at the Cāpāla Shrine, renounced the life-formation.