Aṅguttara Nikāya 8.70

Numbered Discourses 8.70

7. Bhūmicālavagga

7. Earthquakes

Bhūmicālasutta

Earthquakes

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof.

Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya vesāliṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi. Vesāliyaṁ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ āmantesi: “gaṇhāhi, ānanda, nisīdanaṁ. Yena cāpālaṁ cetiyaṁ¹ tenupasaṅkamissāma divāvihārāyā”ti.

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 almsround, he addressed Venerable Ānanda, “Ānanda, get your sitting cloth. Let’s go to the Cāpāla shrine for the day’s meditation.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho āyasmā ānando bhagavato paṭissutvā nisīdanaṁ ādāya bhagavantaṁ piṭṭhito piṭṭhito anubandhi.

“Yes, sir,” replied Ānanda. Taking his sitting cloth he followed behind the Buddha.

Atha kho bhagavā yena cāpālaṁ cetiyaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. Nisajja kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ āmantesi:

Then 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:

“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.

“Ānanda, Vesālī is lovely. And the Udena, Gotamaka, Seven Maidens, Many Sons, Sārandada, and Cāpāla Tree-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 for the proper lifespan or what’s left of it. 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 for the proper lifespan or what’s left of it.”

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.

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, out of compassion for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.” For his mind was as if possessed by Māra.

Dutiyampi kho bhagavā …pe…

For a second time …

tatiyampi kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ āmantesi:

And for a third time, the Buddha said to him:

“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.

“Ānanda, Vesālī is lovely. And the Udena, Gotamaka, Seven Maidens, Many Sons, Sārandada, and Cāpāla Tree-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 for the proper lifespan or what’s left of it. 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 for the proper lifespan or what’s left of it.”

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.

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, out of compassion for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.” For his mind was as if possessed by Māra.

Atha kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ āmantesi: “gaccha tvaṁ, ānanda, yassadāni kālaṁ maññasī”ti.

Then the Buddha said to Venerable Ānanda, “Go now, Ānanda, at your convenience.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho āyasmā ānando bhagavato paṭissutvā uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā bhagavato avidūre aññatarasmiṁ rukkhamūle nisīdi.

“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.

Atha kho māro pāpimā acirapakkante āyasmante ānande bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

And then, not long after Ānanda had left, Māra the Wicked said to the Buddha:

“Parinibbātu dāni, bhante, bhagavā, parinibbātu sugato. Parinibbānakālo dāni, bhante, bhagavato.

“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.

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.

Sir, you once made this statement: ‘Wicked One, I shall 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, clarify, analyze, and reveal; 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.

Parinibbātu dāni, bhante, bhagavā, parinibbātu sugato. Parinibbānakālo dāni, bhante, bhagavato.

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.

Bhāsitā kho panesā, bhante, bhagavatā vācā: ‘na tāvāhaṁ, pāpima, parinibbāyissāmi yāva me bhikkhuniyo na sāvikā bhavissanti …pe…

Sir, you once made this statement: ‘Wicked One, I shall not become fully extinguished until I have nun disciples who are competent, educated, assured, learned …’ …

yāva me upāsakā na sāvakā bhavissanti …pe…

‘Wicked One, I shall not become fully extinguished until I have layman disciples who are competent, educated, assured, learned …’ …

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.

‘Wicked One, I shall not become fully extinguished until I have laywoman disciples who are competent, educated, assured, learned …’ … Today you do have such laywoman disciples.

Parinibbātu dāni, bhante, bhagavā, parinibbātu sugato. Parinibbānakālo dāni, bhante, bhagavato. Bhāsitā kho panesā, bhante, bhagavatā vācā:

Sir, 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:

‘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.

‘Wicked One, I shall 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.

Parinibbātu dāni, bhante, bhagavā, parinibbātu sugato. Parinibbānakālo dāni, bhante, bhagavato”ti.

Sir, 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.”

“Appossukko tvaṁ, pāpima, hohi. Naciraṁ tathāgatassa parinibbānaṁ bhavissati. Ito tiṇṇaṁ māsānaṁ accayena tathāgato parinibbāyissatī”ti.

“Relax, Wicked One. The final Nibbana of the Realized One will be soon. Three months from now the Realized One will finally be extinguished.”

Atha 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:

So 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, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:

“Tulamatulañca sambhavaṁ, Bhavasaṅkhāramavassaji muni; Ajjhattarato samāhito, Abhindi kavacamivattasambhavan”ti.

“Comparing the incomparable with the creation of prolonged life, the sage surrendered the life force. Happy inside, serene, he shattered self-creation like a suit of armor.”

Atha 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?

Then 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?”

Atha 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?

Then 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?”

“Aṭṭhime, ānanda, hetū, aṭṭha paccayā mahato bhūmicālassa pātubhāvāya. Katame aṭṭha?

“Ānanda, there are these eight causes and reasons for a great earthquake. What eight?

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.

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.

Puna 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.

Furthermore, 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.

Puna 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.

Furthermore, 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.

Puna caparaṁ, ānanda, yadā bodhisatto sato sampajāno mātukucchismā nikkhamati, tadāyaṁ pathavī kampati saṅkampati sampakampati sampavedhati. Ayaṁ, ānanda, catuttho hetu, catuttho paccayo mahato bhūmicālassa pātubhāvāya.

Furthermore, 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.

Puna caparaṁ, ānanda, yadā tathāgato anuttaraṁ sammāsambodhiṁ abhisambujjhati, tadāyaṁ pathavī kampati saṅkampati sampakampati sampavedhati. Ayaṁ, ānanda, pañcamo hetu, pañcamo paccayo mahato bhūmicālassa pātubhāvāya.

Furthermore, 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.

Puna caparaṁ, ānanda, yadā tathāgato anuttaraṁ dhammacakkaṁ pavatteti, tadāyaṁ pathavī kampati saṅkampati sampakampati sampavedhati. Ayaṁ, ānanda, chaṭṭho hetu, chaṭṭho paccayo mahato bhūmicālassa pātubhāvāya.

Furthermore, 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.

Puna caparaṁ, ānanda, yadā tathāgato sato sampajāno āyusaṅkhāraṁ ossajjati, tadāyaṁ pathavī kampati saṅkampati sampakampati sampavedhati. Ayaṁ, ānanda, sattamo hetu, sattamo paccayo mahato bhūmicālassa pātubhāvāya.

Furthermore, 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.

Puna caparaṁ, ānanda, yadā tathāgato anupādisesāya nibbānadhātuyā parinibbāyati, tadāyaṁ pathavī kampati saṅkampati sampakampati sampavedhati. Ayaṁ, ānanda, aṭṭhamo hetu, aṭṭhamo paccayo mahato bhūmicālassa pātubhāvāya.

Furthermore, when the Realized One becomes fully extinguished in the element of Nibbana with nothing left over, the earth shakes and rocks and trembles. This is the eighth cause and reason for a great earthquake.

Ime kho, ānanda, aṭṭha hetū, aṭṭha paccayā mahato bhūmicālassa pātubhāvāyā”ti.

These are the eight causes and reasons for a great earthquake.”

Dasamaṁ.

Bhūmicālavaggo dutiyo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Icchā alañca saṅkhittaṁ, gayā abhibhunā saha; Vimokkho dve ca vohārā, parisā bhūmicālenāti.