So I have heard. Evaṁ me sutaṁ—At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof. ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ. Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Vesālī for alms. Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya vesāliṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi. Then, after the meal, on his return from almsround, he addressed Venerable Ānanda: Vesāliyaṁ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ āmantesi: “Ānanda, get your sitting cloth. “gaṇhāhi, ānanda, nisīdanaṁ. Let’s go to the Cāpāla Shrine for the day’s meditation.” Yena cāpālaṁ cetiyaṁ tenupasaṅkamissāma divāvihārāyā”ti.

“Yes, sir,” replied Ānanda. Taking his sitting cloth he followed behind the Buddha. “Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho āyasmā ānando bhagavato paṭissutvā nisīdanaṁ ādāya bhagavantaṁ piṭṭhito piṭṭhito anubandhi. Then the Buddha went up to the Cāpāla Shrine, where he sat on the seat spread out. Atha kho bhagavā yena cāpālaṁ cetiyaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. When he was seated he said to Venerable Ānanda: Nisajja kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ āmantesi:

“Ānanda, Vesālī is lovely. And the Udena, Gotamaka, Seven Maidens, Many Sons, Sārandada, and Cāpāla Shrines are all lovely. “Ramaṇīyā, ānanda, vesālī; ramaṇīyaṁ udenaṁ cetiyaṁ; ramaṇīyaṁ gotamakaṁ cetiyaṁ; ramaṇīyaṁ sattambaṁ cetiyaṁ; ramaṇīyaṁ bahuputtaṁ cetiyaṁ; ramaṇīyaṁ sārandadaṁ cetiyaṁ; ramaṇīyaṁ cāpālaṁ cetiyaṁ. 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. Yassa kassaci, ānanda, cattāro iddhipādā bhāvitā bahulīkatā yānīkatā vatthukatā anuṭṭhitā paricitā susamāraddhā, so ākaṅkhamāno (…) kappaṁ vā tiṭṭheyya kappāvasesaṁ vā. 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.” Tathāgatassa kho, ānanda, cattāro iddhipādā bhāvitā bahulīkatā yānīkatā vatthukatā anuṭṭhitā paricitā susamāraddhā. Ākaṅkhamāno, ānanda, tathāgato kappaṁ vā tiṭṭheyya kappāvasesaṁ vā”ti.

But Ānanda didn’t get it, even though the Buddha dropped such an obvious hint, such a clear sign. Evampi kho āyasmā ānando bhagavatā oḷārike nimitte kayiramāne, oḷārike obhāse kayiramāne, nāsakkhi paṭivijjhituṁ; He didn’t beg the Buddha, na bhagavantaṁ yāci: “Sir, may the Blessed One please remain for the proper lifespan! May the Holy One please remain for the proper 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.” For his mind was as if possessed by Māra. “tiṭṭhatu, bhante, bhagavā kappaṁ; tiṭṭhatu sugato kappaṁ bahujanahitāya bahujanasukhāya lokānukampāya atthāya hitāya sukhāya devamanussānan”ti, yathā taṁ mārena pariyuṭṭhitacitto. For a second time … Dutiyampi kho …pe… and for a third time, the Buddha said to Ānanda: tatiyampi kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ āmantesi:

“Ānanda, Vesālī is lovely. And the Udena, Gotamaka, Seven Maidens, Many Sons, Sārandada, and Cāpāla Shrines are all lovely. “Ramaṇīyā, ānanda, vesālī; ramaṇīyaṁ udenaṁ cetiyaṁ; ramaṇīyaṁ gotamakaṁ cetiyaṁ; ramaṇīyaṁ sattambaṁ cetiyaṁ; ramaṇīyaṁ bahuputtaṁ cetiyaṁ; ramaṇīyaṁ sārandadaṁ cetiyaṁ; ramaṇīyaṁ cāpālaṁ cetiyaṁ. 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. Yassa kassaci, ānanda, cattāro iddhipādā bhāvitā bahulīkatā yānīkatā vatthukatā anuṭṭhitā paricitā susamāraddhā, so ākaṅkhamāno kappaṁ vā tiṭṭheyya kappāvasesaṁ vā. 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.” Tathāgatassa kho, ānanda, cattāro iddhipādā bhāvitā bahulīkatā yānīkatā vatthukatā anuṭṭhitā paricitā susamāraddhā. Ākaṅkhamāno, ānanda, tathāgato kappaṁ vā tiṭṭheyya kappāvasesaṁ vā”ti.

But Ānanda didn’t get it, even though the Buddha dropped such an obvious hint, such a clear sign. Evampi kho āyasmā ānando bhagavatā oḷārike nimitte kayiramāne, oḷārike obhāse kayiramāne, nāsakkhi paṭivijjhituṁ; He didn’t beg the Buddha, na bhagavantaṁ yāci: “Sir, may the Blessed One please remain for the proper lifespan! May the Holy One please remain for the proper 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.” For his mind was as if possessed by Māra. “tiṭṭhatu, bhante, bhagavā kappaṁ; tiṭṭhatu sugato kappaṁ bahujanahitāya bahujanasukhāya lokānukampāya atthāya hitāya sukhāya devamanussānan”ti, yathā taṁ mārena pariyuṭṭhitacitto.

Then the Buddha said to Venerable Ānanda, Atha kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ āmantesi: “Go now, Ānanda, at your convenience.” “gaccha tvaṁ, ānanda, yassadāni kālaṁ maññasī”ti. “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. “Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho āyasmā ānando bhagavato paṭissutvā uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā avidūre aññatarasmiṁ rukkhamūle nisīdi.

And then, not long after Ānanda had left, Māra the Wicked went up to the Buddha, stood to one side, and said to him: Atha kho māro pāpimā, acirapakkante āyasmante ānande, yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho māro pāpimā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“May the Blessed One now be fully extinguished! May the Holy One now be fully extinguished! Now is the time for the full extinguishment of the Buddha. “Parinibbātu dāni, bhante, bhagavā; parinibbātu sugato; parinibbānakālo dāni, bhante, bhagavato. Sir, you once made this statement: Bhāsitā kho panesā, bhante, bhagavatā vācā: ‘Wicked One, I shall not be fully extinguished until I have monk disciples who are competent, educated, assured, learned, have memorized the teachings, and practice in line with the teaching. Not until they practice properly, living in line with the teaching. Not until they’ve learned their own tradition, and explain, teach, assert, establish, disclose, 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.’ ‘na tāvāhaṁ, pāpima, parinibbāyissāmi yāva me bhikkhū na sāvakā bhavissanti viyattā vinītā visāradā bahussutā dhammadharā dhammānudhammappaṭipannā sāmīcippaṭipannā anudhammacārino, sakaṁ ācariyakaṁ uggahetvā ācikkhissanti desessanti paññapessanti paṭṭhapessanti vivarissanti vibhajissanti uttānīkarissanti uppannaṁ parappavādaṁ sahadhammena suniggahitaṁ niggahetvā sappāṭihāriyaṁ dhammaṁ desessantī’ti. Today you do have such monk disciples. Etarahi kho pana, bhante, bhikkhū bhagavato sāvakā viyattā vinītā visāradā bahussutā dhammadharā dhammānudhammappaṭipannā sāmīcippaṭipannā anudhammacārino sakaṁ ācariyakaṁ uggahetvā ācikkhanti desenti paññapenti paṭṭhapenti vivaranti vibhajanti uttānīkaronti uppannaṁ parappavādaṁ sahadhammena suniggahitaṁ niggahetvā sappāṭihāriyaṁ dhammaṁ desenti. May the Blessed One now be fully extinguished! May the Holy One now be fully extinguished! Now is the time for the full extinguishment of the Buddha. Parinibbātu dāni, bhante, bhagavā; parinibbātu sugato; parinibbānakālo dāni, bhante, bhagavato.

Sir, you once made this statement: Bhāsitā kho panesā, bhante, bhagavatā vācā: ‘Wicked One, I shall not be fully extinguished until I have nun disciples who are competent, educated, assured, learned …’ … ‘na tāvāhaṁ, pāpima, parinibbāyissāmi yāva me bhikkhuniyo na sāvikā bhavissanti viyattā vinītā visāradā bahussutā dhammadharā dhammānudhammappaṭipannā sāmīcippaṭipannā anudhammacāriniyo sakaṁ ācariyakaṁ uggahetvā ācikkhissanti desessanti paññapessanti paṭṭhapessanti vivarissanti vibhajissanti uttānīkarissanti uppannaṁ parappavādaṁ sahadhammena suniggahitaṁ niggahetvā sappāṭihāriyaṁ dhammaṁ desessantī’ti. Today you do have such nun disciples. Etarahi kho pana, bhante, bhikkhuniyo bhagavato sāvikā viyattā vinītā visāradā bahussutā dhammadharā dhammānudhammappaṭipannā sāmīcippaṭipannā anudhammacāriniyo sakaṁ ācariyakaṁ uggahetvā ācikkhanti desenti paññapenti paṭṭhapenti vivaranti vibhajanti uttānīkaronti uppannaṁ parappavādaṁ sahadhammena suniggahitaṁ niggahetvā sappāṭihāriyaṁ dhammaṁ desenti. Parinibbātu dāni, bhante, bhagavā; parinibbātu sugato; parinibbānakālo dāni, bhante, bhagavato.

Bhāsitā kho panesā, bhante, bhagavatā vācā: ‘Wicked One, I shall not be fully extinguished until I have layman disciples who are competent, educated, assured, learned …’ ‘na tāvāhaṁ, pāpima, parinibbāyissāmi yāva me upāsakā na sāvakā bhavissanti viyattā vinītā visāradā bahussutā dhammadharā dhammānudhammappaṭipannā sāmīcippaṭipannā anudhammacārino sakaṁ ācariyakaṁ uggahetvā ācikkhissanti desessanti paññapessanti paṭṭhapessanti vivarissanti vibhajissanti uttānīkarissanti uppannaṁ parappavādaṁ sahadhammena suniggahitaṁ niggahetvā sappāṭihāriyaṁ dhammaṁ desessantī’ti. Today you do have such layman disciples. Etarahi kho pana, bhante, upāsakā bhagavato sāvakā viyattā vinītā visāradā bahussutā dhammadharā dhammānudhammappaṭipannā sāmīcippaṭipannā anudhammacārino sakaṁ ācariyakaṁ uggahetvā ācikkhanti desenti paññapenti paṭṭhapenti vivaranti vibhajanti uttānīkaronti uppannaṁ parappavādaṁ sahadhammena suniggahitaṁ niggahetvā sappāṭihāriyaṁ dhammaṁ desenti. Parinibbātu dāni, bhante, bhagavā; parinibbātu sugato; parinibbānakālo dāni, bhante, bhagavato.

Bhāsitā kho panesā, bhante, bhagavatā vācā: ‘Wicked One, I shall not be fully extinguished until I have laywoman disciples who are competent, educated, assured, learned …’ ‘na tāvāhaṁ, pāpima, parinibbāyissāmi yāva me upāsikā na sāvikā bhavissanti viyattā vinītā visāradā bahussutā dhammadharā dhammānudhammappaṭipannā sāmīcippaṭipannā anudhammacāriniyo sakaṁ ācariyakaṁ uggahetvā ācikkhissanti desessanti paññapessanti paṭṭhapessanti vivarissanti vibhajissanti uttānīkarissanti uppannaṁ parappavādaṁ sahadhammena suniggahitaṁ niggahetvā sappāṭihāriyaṁ dhammaṁ desessantī’ti. Today you do have such laywoman disciples. Etarahi kho pana, bhante, upāsikā bhagavato sāvikā viyattā vinītā visāradā bahussutā dhammadharā dhammānudhammappaṭipannā sāmīcippaṭipannā anudhammacāriniyo sakaṁ ācariyakaṁ uggahetvā ācikkhanti desenti paññapenti paṭṭhapenti vivaranti vibhajanti uttānīkaronti uppannaṁ parappavādaṁ sahadhammena suniggahitaṁ niggahetvā sappāṭihāriyaṁ dhammaṁ desenti. May the Blessed One now be fully extinguished! May the Holy One now be fully extinguished! Now is the time for the full extinguishment of the Buddha. Parinibbātu dāni, bhante, bhagavā; parinibbātu sugato; parinibbānakālo dāni, bhante, bhagavato.

Sir, you once made this statement: Bhāsitā kho panesā, bhante, bhagavatā vācā: ‘I shall not be fully extinguished until my spiritual path is successful and prosperous, extensive, popular, widespread, and well proclaimed wherever there are gods and humans.’ ‘na tāvāhaṁ, pāpima, parinibbāyissāmi yāva me idaṁ brahmacariyaṁ na iddhañceva bhavissati phītañca vitthārikaṁ bāhujaññaṁ puthubhūtaṁ yāva devamanussehi suppakāsitan’ti. Today your spiritual path is successful and prosperous, extensive, popular, widespread, and well proclaimed wherever there are gods and humans. Etarahi kho pana, bhante, bhagavato brahmacariyaṁ iddhañceva phītañca vitthārikaṁ bāhujaññaṁ puthubhūtaṁ yāva devamanussehi suppakāsitaṁ. May the Blessed One now be fully extinguished! May the Holy One now be fully extinguished! Now is the time for the full extinguishment of the Buddha. Parinibbātu dāni, bhante, bhagavā; parinibbātu sugato; parinibbānakālo dāni, bhante, bhagavato”ti.

When this was said, the Buddha said to Māra, Evaṁ vutte, bhagavā māraṁ pāpimantaṁ etadavoca: “Relax, Wicked One. The full extinguishment of the Realized One will be soon. “appossukko tvaṁ, pāpima, hohi. Na ciraṁ tathāgatassa parinibbānaṁ bhavissati. Three months from now the Realized One will be fully extinguished.” Ito tiṇṇaṁ māsānaṁ accayena tathāgato parinibbāyissatī”ti.

So at the Cāpāla Shrine the Buddha, mindful and aware, surrendered the life force. Atha kho bhagavā cāpāle cetiye sato sampajāno āyusaṅkhāraṁ ossaji. When he did so there was a great earthquake, awe-inspiring and hair-raising, and thunder cracked the sky. Ossaṭṭhe ca bhagavatā āyusaṅkhāre mahābhūmicālo ahosi bhiṁsanako lomahaṁso, devadundubhiyo ca phaliṁsu.

Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment: Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

“Comparing the incomparable <j>with the creation of prolonged life, “Tulamatulañca sambhavaṁ, the sage surrendered the life force. Bhavasaṅkhāramavassaji muni; Happy inside, serene, Ajjhattarato samāhito, he shattered self-creation like a suit of armor.” Abhindi kavacamivattasambhavan”ti.

Paṭhamaṁ.