This is as I heard from the Blessed One. At one time the Buddha was staying near the city of Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof. Then in the morning, the Buddha wore his robe covering both his shoulders. Taking his bowl and double-layered robe, the Buddha entered Vesālī for alms. Then, after the meal, when returning from his alms round, the Buddha addressed venerable Ānanda: “Ānanda, take your sitting cloth. Let’s go to the Cāpāla shrine for the day’s meditation.”
“Yes, bhante,” replied venerable Ānanda. Taking his sitting cloth, he followed behind the Buddha. Then the Buddha went up to the Cāpāla shrine, where he sat on the prepared seat. When he was seated he said to venerable Ānanda:
“Ānanda, the city of Vesālī is beautiful. Udena shrine, Gotamaka shrine, Sattamba shrine, Bahuputta shrine, Sārandada shrine, and Cāpāla shrine are also beautiful.
Whoever has developed and cultivated the four bases of psychic power, has made them as a vehicle and cultivated them as a basis; practiced them, has been established in them, and has properly applied them—may, if they wish, live a full lifespan. The Buddha has developed and cultivated the four bases of psychic power, made them as a vehicle, and has cultivated them as a basis; practiced them, has been established in them, and has properly applied them. If he wished, the Buddha could live a full lifespan.”
But the venerable Ānanda didn’t get it. Even though the Buddha hinted boldly, he didn’t beg the Buddha, “Oh, Bhante, may the Blessed One please remain the full lifespan! May the Holy One please remain the full lifespan! That would be for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of sympathy for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.” At that time, venerable Ānanda’s mind was possessed by Māra. For a second time … and for a third time, the Buddha said to Ānanda:
“Ānanda, the city of Vesālī is beautiful. Udena shrine, Gotamaka shrine, Sattamba shrine, Bahuputta shrine, Sārandada shrine, and Cāpāla shrine are also beautiful.
Whoever has developed and cultivated the four bases of psychic power has made them as a vehicle and cultivated them as a basis; practiced them, has been established in them, and has properly applied them—may, if they wish, live a full lifespan. The Buddha has developed and cultivated the four bases of psychic power, made them as a vehicle, and has cultivated them as a basis; practiced them, has been established in them, and has properly applied them. If he wished, the Buddha could live a full lifespan.”
But the venerable Ānanda didn’t get it. Even though the Buddha hinted boldly, he didn’t beg the Buddha, “Oh, Bhante, may the Blessed One please remain the full lifespan! May the Holy One please remain the full lifespan! That would be for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of sympathy for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.” At that time, venerable Ānanda’s mind was possessed by Māra.
Then the Buddha said to the venerable Ānanda, “Go now, Ānanda, at your convenience.” “Yes, Bhante,” replied Ānanda. He rose from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right. Then the venerable Ānanda sat at the root of a nearby tree.
Then, not long after venerable Ānanda had left, Māra, the Evil One, appeared before the Buddha, stood to one side, and said to the Buddha:
“May the Blessed One now attain final passing away! May the Holy One now attain final passing away! Now is the time for the Buddha to attain final passing away. Oh, Blessed One, you once made this statement: ‘Oh, Evil One, I shall not attain final passing away until the monks are competent, educated, assured, learned, have memorized the teachings, and practice in line with the teachings. Not until they practice properly and live in line with the teaching. Not until they’ve learned the Dhamma well, and explain, teach, assert, establish, disclose, analyze, and make the teachings clear. Not until they can teach the Dhamma profoundly and based on facts, completely refute the doctrines of others that come up.’ Today you do have such monks. May the Blessed One now attain final passing away! May the Holy One now attain final passing away! Now is the time for the Buddha to attain final passing away.
Oh, Blessed One, you once made this statement: ‘Evil One, I shall not attain final passing away until I have nuns who are competent, educated, assured, learned …’ … Today you do have such nuns.
‘Evil One, I shall not attain final passing away until I have male lay followers who are competent, educated, assured, learned …’ Today you do have such male lay followers.
‘Evil One, I shall not attain final passing away until I have female lay followers who are competent, educated, assured, learned …’ Today you do have such female lay followers. May the Blessed One now attain final passing away! May the Holy One now attain final passing away! Now is the time for the Buddha to attain final passing away.
Oh, Blessed One, you once made this statement: ‘I shall not attain final passing away until my spiritual path is successful and prosperous, extensive, popular, widespread, and well proclaimed among gods and humans.’ Today your spiritual path is successful and prosperous, extensive, popular, widespread, and well-proclaimed among gods and humans. May the Blessed One now attain final passing away! May the Holy One now attain final passing away! Now is the time for the Buddha to attain final passing away.
When this was said, the Buddha said to Māra, “Relax, Evil One. The final passing away of the Buddha will be soon. Three months from now the Buddha will attain final passing away.”
Then, at the Cāpāla shrine, the Buddha, mindful and aware, gave up the life force. When the Buddha did so, there was a frightening and hair-raising earthquake. Thunder cracked the sky.
Then, understanding this matter, the Buddha spoke these inspiring verses:
“The Buddha, sitting under the Bodhi tree, gave up all large and small formations of existence.
The Blessed One is serene and fully satisfied with the wisdom he attained within. The Blessed One gave up life force like throwing away a suit of iron armor.”
