8: The Book of the Eights
VII. Earthquakes — AN 8.70: Earthquakes
- © Translated from the Pali by Bhante Sujato. (More copyright information)
1At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof.
Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Vesālī for alms. Then, after the meal, on his return from alms-round, he addressed Venerable Ānanda,
“Ānanda, get your sitting cloth. Let’s go to the Cāpāla shrine for the day’s meditation.”
“Yes, sir,” replied Ānanda. Taking his sitting cloth he followed behind the Buddha.
2Then the Buddha went up to the Cāpāla shrine, where he sat on the seat spread out. When he was seated he said to Venerable Ānanda:
3“Ānanda, Vesālī is lovely. And the Udena, Gotamaka, Sattamba, Bahuputta, Sārandada, and Cāpāla shrines are all lovely. Whoever has developed and cultivated the four bases of psychic power — made them a vehicle and a basis, kept them up, consolidated them, and properly implemented them — may, if they wish, live on for the eon or what’s left of the eon. The Realized One has developed and cultivated the four bases of psychic power, made them a vehicle and a basis, kept them up, consolidated them, and properly implemented them. If he wished, the Realized One could live on for the eon or what’s left of the eon.”
But Ānanda didn’t get it, even though the Buddha dropped such an obvious hint, such a clear sign. He didn’t beg the Buddha: “Sir, may the Blessed One please remain for the eon! May the Holy One please remain for the eon! That would be for the welfare and happiness of the people, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.” For his mind was as if possessed by Māra.
4For a second time … And for a third time, the Buddha said to him:
“Ānanda, Vesālī is lovely. And the Udena, Gotamaka, Sattamba, Bahuputta, Sārandada, and Cāpāla shrines are all lovely. Whoever has developed and cultivated the four bases of psychic power — made them a vehicle and a basis, kept them up, consolidated them, and properly implemented them — may, if they wish, live on for the eon or what’s left of the eon. The Realized One has developed and cultivated the four bases of psychic power, made them a vehicle and a basis, kept them up, consolidated them, and properly implemented them. If he wished, the Realized One could live on for the eon or what’s left of the eon.”
But Ānanda didn’t get it, even though the Buddha dropped such an obvious hint, such a clear sign. He didn’t beg the Buddha: “Sir, may the Blessed One please remain for the eon! May the Holy One please remain for the eon! That would be for the welfare and happiness of the people, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.” For his mind was as if possessed by Māra.
5Then the Buddha said to Venerable Ānanda: “Go now, Ānanda, at your convenience.”
“Yes, sir,” replied Ānanda. He rose from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before sitting at the root of a tree close by.
And then, not long after Ānanda had left, Māra the Wicked said to the Buddha:
6“Sir, may the Blessed One now become fully extinguished! May the Holy One now become fully extinguished! Now is the time for the Buddha to become fully extinguished.
Sir, you once made this statement: ‘Wicked One, I will not become fully extinguished until I have monk disciples who are competent, educated, assured, learned, have memorized the teachings, and practice in line with the teachings; not until they practice appropriately, living in line with the teaching; not until they’ve learned their tradition, and explain, teach, assert, establish, open, analyze, and make it clear; not until they can legitimately and completely refute the doctrines of others that come up, and teach with a demonstrable basis.’ Today you do have such monk disciples.
7May the Blessed One now become fully extinguished! May the Holy One now become fully extinguished! Now is the time for the Buddha to become fully extinguished.
Sir, you once made this statement: ‘Wicked One, I will not become fully extinguished until I have nun disciples who are competent, educated, assured, learned …’ …
‘Wicked One, I will not become fully extinguished until I have layman disciples who are competent, educated, assured, learned …’ …
‘Wicked One, I will not become fully extinguished until I have laywoman disciples who are competent, educated, assured, learned …’ … Today you do have such laywoman disciples.
8Sir, may the Blessed One now become fully extinguished! May the Holy One become fully extinguished! Now is the time for the Buddha to become fully extinguished. Sir, you once made this statement:
‘Wicked One, I will not become fully extinguished until my spiritual path is successful and prosperous, extensive, popular, widespread, and well proclaimed wherever there are gods and humans.’ Today your spiritual path is successful and prosperous, extensive, popular, widespread, and well proclaimed wherever there are gods and humans.
9Sir, may the Blessed One now become fully extinguished! May the Holy One become fully extinguished! Now is the time for the Buddha to become fully extinguished.”
“Relax, Wicked One. The final extinguishment of the Realized One will be soon. Three months from now the Realized One will finally be extinguished.”
10So at the Cāpāla tree shrine the Buddha, mindful and aware, surrendered the life force. When he did so there was a great earthquake, awe-inspiring and hair-raising, and thunder cracked the sky.
Then, knowing the meaning of this, on that occasion the Buddha was inspired to exclaim:
11“Weighing up the incomparable against an extension of life,
the sage surrendered the life force.
Happy inside, serene,
he burst out of this self-made chain like a suit of armor.”
12Then Venerable Ānanda thought: “That was a really big earthquake! That was really a very big earthquake; awe-inspiring and hair-raising, and thunder cracked the sky! What’s the cause, what’s the reason for a great earthquake?”
13Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him: “Sir, that was a really big earthquake! That was really a very big earthquake; awe-inspiring and hair-raising, and thunder cracked the sky! What’s the cause, what’s the reason for a great earthquake?”
14“Ānanda, there are these eight causes and reasons for a great earthquake. What eight?
This great earth is grounded on water, the water is grounded on air, and the air stands in space. At a time when a great wind blows, it stirs the water, and the water stirs the earth. This is the first cause and reason for a great earthquake.
15Furthermore, there is an ascetic or brahmin with psychic power who has achieved mastery of the mind, or a god who is mighty and powerful. They’ve developed a limited perception of earth and a limitless perception of water. They make the earth shake and rock and tremble. This is the second cause and reason for a great earthquake.
16Furthermore, when the being intent on awakening passes away from the host of Joyful Gods, he’s conceived in his mother’s belly, mindful and aware. Then the earth shakes and rocks and trembles. This is the third cause and reason for a great earthquake.
17Furthermore, when the being intent on awakening comes out of his mother’s belly mindful and aware, the earth shakes and rocks and trembles. This is the fourth cause and reason for a great earthquake.
18Furthermore, when the Realized One realizes the supreme perfect awakening, the earth shakes and rocks and trembles. This is the fifth cause and reason for a great earthquake.
19Furthermore, when the Realized One rolls forth the supreme Wheel of Dhamma, the earth shakes and rocks and trembles. This is the sixth cause and reason for a great earthquake.
20Furthermore, when the Realized One, mindful and aware, surrenders the life force, the earth shakes and rocks and trembles. This is the seventh cause and reason for a great earthquake.
21Furthermore, when the Realized One becomes fully extinguished through the natural principle of extinguishment, without anything left over, the earth shakes and rocks and trembles. This is the eighth cause and reason for a great earthquake.
These are the eight causes and reasons for a great earthquake.”
1Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ.
Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya vesāliṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi. Vesāliyaṁ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ āmantesi:
"gaṇhāhi, ānanda, nisīdanaṁ. Yena cāpālaṁ cetiyaṁ tenupasaṅkamissāma divāvihārāyā"ti.
"Evaṁ, bhante"ti kho āyasmā ānando bhagavato paṭissutvā nisīdanaṁ ādāya bhagavantaṁ piṭṭhito piṭṭhito anubandhi.
2Atha kho bhagavā yena cāpālaṁ cetiyaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. Nisajja kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ āmantesi:
3"Ramaṇīyā, ānanda, vesālī, ramaṇīyaṁ udenaṁ cetiyaṁ, ramaṇīyaṁ gotamakaṁ cetiyaṁ, ramaṇīyaṁ sattambaṁ cetiyaṁ, ramaṇīyaṁ bahuputtakaṁ cetiyaṁ; ramaṇīyaṁ sārandadaṁ cetiyaṁ, ramaṇīyaṁ cāpālaṁ cetiyaṁ. Yassa kassaci, ānanda, cattāro iddhipādā bhāvitā bahulīkatā yānīkatā vatthukatā anuṭṭhitā paricitā susamāraddhā, ākaṅkhamāno so, ānanda, kappaṁ vā tiṭṭheyya kappāvasesaṁ vā. Tathāgatassa kho, ānanda, cattāro iddhipādā bhāvitā bahulīkatā yānīkatā vatthukatā anuṭṭhitā paricitā susamāraddhā. Ākaṅkhamāno, ānanda, tathāgato kappaṁ vā tiṭṭheyya kappāvasesaṁ vā"ti.
Evampi kho āyasmā ānando bhagavatā oḷārike nimitte kayiramāne oḷārike obhāse kayiramāne nāsakkhi paṭivijjhituṁ; na bhagavantaṁ yāci: "tiṭṭhatu, bhante, bhagavā kappaṁ, tiṭṭhatu sugato kappaṁ bahujanahitāya bahujanasukhāya lokānukampāya atthāya hitāya sukhāya devamanussānan"ti, yathā taṁ mārena pariyuṭṭhitacitto.
4Dutiyampi kho bhagavā … pe … tatiyampi kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ āmantesi:
"ramaṇīyā, ānanda, vesālī, ramaṇīyaṁ udenaṁ cetiyaṁ, ramaṇīyaṁ gotamakaṁ cetiyaṁ, ramaṇīyaṁ sattambaṁ cetiyaṁ, ramaṇīyaṁ bahuputtakaṁ cetiyaṁ, ramaṇīyaṁ sārandadaṁ cetiyaṁ, ramaṇīyaṁ cāpālaṁ cetiyaṁ. Yassa kassaci, ānanda, cattāro iddhipādā bhāvitā bahulīkatā yānīkatā vatthukatā anuṭṭhitā paricitā susamāraddhā, ākaṅkhamāno so, ānanda, kappaṁ vā tiṭṭheyya kappāvasesaṁ vā. Tathāgatassa kho, ānanda, cattāro iddhipādā bhāvitā … pe … ākaṅkhamāno, ānanda, tathāgato kappaṁ vā tiṭṭheyya kappāvasesaṁ vā"ti.
Evampi kho āyasmā ānando bhagavatā oḷārike nimitte kayiramāne oḷārike obhāse kayiramāne nāsakkhi paṭivijjhituṁ; na bhagavantaṁ yāci: "tiṭṭhatu, bhante, bhagavā kappaṁ, tiṭṭhatu sugato kappaṁ bahujanahitāya bahujanasukhāya lokānukampāya atthāya hitāya sukhāya devamanussānan"ti, yathā taṁ mārena pariyuṭṭhitacitto.
5Atha kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ āmantesi: "gaccha tvaṁ, ānanda, yassadāni kālaṁ maññasī"ti.
"Evaṁ, bhante"ti kho āyasmā ānando bhagavato paṭissutvā uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā bhagavato avidūre aññatarasmiṁ rukkhamūle nisīdi.
Atha kho māro pāpimā acirapakkante āyasmante ānande bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
6"Parinibbātu dāni, bhante, bhagavā, parinibbātu sugato. Parinibbānakālo dāni, bhante, bhagavato.
Bhāsitā kho panesā, bhante, bhagavatā vācā: ‘Na tāvāhaṁ, pāpima, parinibbāyissāmi yāva me bhikkhū na sāvakā bhavissanti viyattā vinītā visāradā pattayogakkhemā bahussutā dhammadharā dhammānudhammappaṭipannā sāmīcippaṭipannā anudhammacārino, sakaṁ ācariyakaṁ uggahetvā ācikkhissanti desessanti paññapessanti paṭṭhapessanti vivarissanti vibhajissanti uttānīkarissanti uppannaṁ parappavādaṁ sahadhammena suniggahitaṁ niggahetvā sappāṭihāriyaṁ dhammaṁ desessantī’ti. Etarahi, bhante, bhikkhū bhagavato sāvakā viyattā vinītā visāradā pattayogakkhemā bahussutā dhammadharā dhammānudhammappaṭipannā sāmīcippaṭipannā anudhammacārino, sakaṁ ācariyakaṁ uggahetvā ācikkhanti desenti paññapenti paṭṭhapenti vivaranti vibhajanti uttānīkaronti uppannaṁ parappavādaṁ sahadhammena suniggahitaṁ niggahetvā sappāṭihāriyaṁ dhammaṁ desenti.
7Parinibbātu dāni, bhante, bhagavā, parinibbātu sugato. Parinibbānakālo dāni, bhante, bhagavato.
Bhāsitā kho panesā, bhante, bhagavatā vācā: ‘Na tāvāhaṁ, pāpima, parinibbāyissāmi yāva me bhikkhuniyo na sāvikā bhavissanti … pe … yāva me upāsakā na sāvakā bhavissanti … pe … yāva me upāsikā na sāvikā bhavissanti viyattā vinītā visāradā pattayogakkhemā bahussutā dhammadharā dhammānudhammappaṭipannā sāmīcippaṭipannā anudhammacāriniyo, sakaṁ ācariyakaṁ uggahetvā ācikkhissanti desessanti paññapessanti paṭṭhapessanti vivarissanti vibhajissanti uttānīkarissanti, uppannaṁ parappavādaṁ sahadhammena suniggahitaṁ niggahetvā sappāṭihāriyaṁ dhammaṁ desessantī’ti. Etarahi, bhante, upāsikā bhagavato sāvikā viyattā vinītā visāradā pattayogakkhemā bahussutā dhammadharā dhammānudhammappaṭipannā sāmīcippaṭipannā anudhammacāriniyo, sakaṁ ācariyakaṁ uggahetvā ācikkhanti desenti paññapenti paṭṭhapenti vivaranti vibhajanti uttānīkaronti, uppannaṁ parappavādaṁ sahadhammena suniggahitaṁ niggahetvā sappāṭihāriyaṁ dhammaṁ desenti.
8Parinibbātu dāni, bhante, bhagavā, parinibbātu sugato. Parinibbānakālo dāni, bhante, bhagavato. Bhāsitā kho panesā, bhante, bhagavatā vācā:
‘na tāvāhaṁ, pāpima, parinibbāyissāmi yāva me idaṁ brahmacariyaṁ na iddhañceva bhavissati phītañca vitthārikaṁ bāhujaññaṁ puthubhūtaṁ, yāva devamanussehi suppakāsitan’ti. Etarahi, bhante, bhagavato brahmacariyaṁ iddhañceva phītañca vitthārikaṁ bāhujaññaṁ puthubhūtaṁ, yāva devamanussehi suppakāsitaṁ.
9Parinibbātu dāni, bhante, bhagavā, parinibbātu sugato. Parinibbānakālo dāni, bhante, bhagavato"ti.
"Appossukko tvaṁ, pāpima, hohi. Naciraṁ tathāgatassa parinibbānaṁ bhavissati. Ito tiṇṇaṁ māsānaṁ accayena tathāgato parinibbāyissatī"ti.
10Atha kho bhagavā cāpāle cetiye sato sampajāno āyusaṅkhāraṁ ossaji. Ossaṭṭhe ca bhagavatā āyusaṅkhāre mahābhūmicālo ahosi bhiṁsanako salomahaṁso, devadundubhiyo ca phaliṁsu.
Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:
11"Tulamatulañca sambhavaṁ,
Bhavasaṅkhāramavassaji muni;
Ajjhattarato samāhito,
Abhindi kavacamivattasambhavan"ti.
12Atha kho āyasmato ānandassa etadahosi: "mahā vatāyaṁ bhūmicālo; sumahā vatāyaṁ bhūmicālo bhiṁsanako salomahaṁso, devadundubhiyo ca phaliṁsu. Ko nu kho hetu, ko paccayo mahato bhūmicālassa pātubhāvāyā"ti?
13Atha kho āyasmā ānando yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "mahā vatāyaṁ, bhante, bhūmicālo; sumahā vatāyaṁ, bhante, bhūmicālo bhiṁsanako salomahaṁso, devadundubhiyo ca phaliṁsu. Ko nu kho, bhante, hetu, ko paccayo mahato bhūmicālassa pātubhāvāyā"ti?
14"Aṭṭhime, ānanda, hetū, aṭṭha paccayā mahato bhūmicālassa pātubhāvāya. Katame aṭṭha?
Ayaṁ, ānanda, mahāpathavī udake patiṭṭhitā; udakaṁ vāte patiṭṭhitaṁ; vāto ākāsaṭṭho hoti. So, ānanda, samayo yaṁ mahāvātā vāyanti; mahāvātā vāyantā udakaṁ kampenti; udakaṁ kampitaṁ pathaviṁ kampeti. Ayaṁ, ānanda, paṭhamo hetu, paṭhamo paccayo mahato bhūmicālassa pātubhāvāya. (1)
15Puna caparaṁ, ānanda, samaṇo vā brāhmaṇo vā iddhimā cetovasippatto devatā vā mahiddhikā mahānubhāvā. Tassa parittā pathavīsaññā bhāvitā hoti, appamāṇā āposaññā. So imaṁ pathaviṁ kampeti saṅkampeti sampakampeti sampavedheti. Ayaṁ, ānanda, dutiyo hetu, dutiyo paccayo mahato bhūmicālassa pātubhāvāya. (2)
16Puna caparaṁ, ānanda, yadā bodhisatto tusitā kāyā cavitvā sato sampajāno mātukucchiṁ okkamati, tadāyaṁ pathavī kampati saṅkampati sampakampati sampavedhati. Ayaṁ, ānanda, tatiyo hetu, tatiyo paccayo mahato bhūmicālassa pātubhāvāya. (3)
17Puna caparaṁ, ānanda, yadā bodhisatto sato sampajāno mātukucchismā nikkhamati, tadāyaṁ pathavī kampati saṅkampati sampakampati sampavedhati. Ayaṁ, ānanda, catuttho hetu, catuttho paccayo mahato bhūmicālassa pātubhāvāya. (4)
18Puna caparaṁ, ānanda, yadā tathāgato anuttaraṁ sammāsambodhiṁ abhisambujjhati, tadāyaṁ pathavī kampati saṅkampati sampakampati sampavedhati. Ayaṁ, ānanda, pañcamo hetu, pañcamo paccayo mahato bhūmicālassa pātubhāvāya. (5)
19Puna caparaṁ, ānanda, yadā tathāgato anuttaraṁ dhammacakkaṁ pavatteti, tadāyaṁ pathavī kampati saṅkampati sampakampati sampavedhati. Ayaṁ, ānanda, chaṭṭho hetu, chaṭṭho paccayo mahato bhūmicālassa pātubhāvāya. (6)
20Puna caparaṁ, ānanda, yadā tathāgato sato sampajāno āyusaṅkhāraṁ ossajjati, tadāyaṁ pathavī kampati saṅkampati sampakampati sampavedhati. Ayaṁ, ānanda, sattamo hetu, sattamo paccayo mahato bhūmicālassa pātubhāvāya. (7)
21Puna caparaṁ, ānanda, yadā tathāgato anupādisesāya nibbānadhātuyā parinibbāyati, tadāyaṁ pathavī kampati saṅkampati sampakampati sampavedhati. Ayaṁ, ānanda, aṭṭhamo hetu, aṭṭhamo paccayo mahato bhūmicālassa pātubhāvāya.
Ime kho, ānanda, aṭṭha hetū, aṭṭha paccayā mahato bhūmicālassa pātubhāvāyā"ti. (8)
Dasamaṁ.
Bhūmicālavaggo dutiyo.
22Icchā alañca saṅkhittaṁ,
gayā abhibhunā saha;
Vimokkho dve ca vohārā,
parisā bhūmicālenāti.