{"collection":"Khuddaka Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_ud6.1/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_ud6.1","id":"suttacentral_ud6.1","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/ud6.1/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Khuddaka Nikaya"],"text":"So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Ves\u0101l\u012b, 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 Ves\u0101l\u012b for alms. Then, after the meal, on his return from almsround, he addressed Venerable \u0100nanda: \u201c\u0100nanda, get your sitting cloth. Let\u2019s go to the C\u0101p\u0101la Shrine for the day\u2019s meditation.\u201d \u201cYes, sir,\u201d replied \u0100nanda. Taking his sitting cloth he followed behind the Buddha. Then the Buddha went up to the C\u0101p\u0101la Shrine, where he sat down on the seat spread out. When he was seated he said to Venerable \u0100nanda: \u201c\u0100nanda, Ves\u0101l\u012b is lovely. And the Udena, Gotamaka, Seven Maidens, Many Sons, S\u0101randada, and C\u0101p\u0101la Shrines are all lovely. Whoever has developed and cultivated the four bases of psychic power\u2014made them a vehicle and a basis, kept them up, consolidated them, and properly implemented them\u2014may, if they wish, live for the proper lifespan or what\u2019s 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\u2019s left of it.\u201d But \u0100nanda didn\u2019t get it, even though the Buddha dropped such an obvious hint, such a clear sign. He didn\u2019t beg the Buddha, \u201cSir, 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.\u201d For his mind was as if possessed by M\u0101ra. For a second time \u2026 For a third time, the Buddha said to \u0100nanda: \u201c\u0100nanda, Ves\u0101l\u012b is lovely. And the Udena, Gotamaka, Seven Maidens, Many Sons, S\u0101randada, and C\u0101p\u0101la Shrines are all lovely. Whoever has developed and cultivated the four bases of psychic power\u2014made them a vehicle and a basis, kept them up, consolidated them, and properly implemented them\u2014may, if they wish, live for the proper lifespan or what\u2019s 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\u2019s left of it.\u201d But \u0100nanda didn\u2019t get it, even though the Buddha dropped such an obvious hint, such a clear sign. He didn\u2019t beg the Buddha, \u201cSir, 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.\u201d For his mind was as if possessed by M\u0101ra. Then the Buddha said to Venerable \u0100nanda, \u201cGo now, \u0100nanda, at your convenience.\u201d \u201cYes, sir,\u201d replied \u0100nanda. 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 \u0100nanda had left, M\u0101ra the Wicked went up to the Buddha, stood to one side, and said to him: \u201cMay 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. Sir, you once made this statement: \u2018Wicked 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 principle of the teaching. Not until they practice properly, living in line with the teaching. Not until they\u2019ve learned their own denomination, 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.\u2019 Today you do have such monk disciples. 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. Sir, you once made this statement: \u2018Wicked One, I shall not be fully extinguished until I have nun disciples who are competent, educated, self-assured, learned \u2026\u2019 \u2026 Today you do have such nun disciples. \u2018Wicked One, I shall not be fully extinguished until I have layman disciples who are competent, educated, self-assured, learned \u2026\u2019 Today you do have such layman disciples. \u2018Wicked One, I shall not be fully extinguished until I have laywoman disciples who are competent, educated, self-assured, learned \u2026\u2019 Today you do have such laywoman disciples. 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. Sir, you once made this statement: \u2018I shall not be fully extinguished until my spiritual path is successful and prosperous, extensive, popular, widespread, and fully revealed among gods and humans.\u2019 Today your spiritual path is successful and prosperous, extensive, popular, widespread, and fully revealed among gods and humans. 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.\u201d When this was said, the Buddha said to M\u0101ra, \u201cRelax, Wicked One. The full extinguishment of the Realized One will be soon. Three months from now the Realized One will be fully extinguished.\u201d So at the C\u0101p\u0101la 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: \u201cComparing the incomparable <j>with the creation of prolonged life, the sage surrendered the life force. Happy inside, serene, he shattered self-creation like a suit of armor.\u201d","title":"Surrendering the Life Force","tradition":"Khuddaka Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":1002}