36. Earthquakes （三六）地动经

I have heard thus:

At one time, the Buddha was traveling in the country of Vajra, in the city named Earth.

At that time, the earth shook greatly. When the earth shook greatly, a great wind arose from the four directions, meteors appeared from the four directions, and houses and walls all collapsed. Then Venerable Ānanda saw the earth shake greatly, when the earth shook greatly, a great wind arose from the four directions, meteors appeared from the four directions, and houses and walls all collapsed.

Having seen this, Venerable Ānanda was terrified, his body hair standing on end. He went to where the Buddha was, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, stood to one side, and said, "World-Honored One! Now the earth is shaking greatly. When the earth shakes greatly, a great wind arises from the four directions, meteors appear from the four directions, and houses and walls all collapse.

Then the World-Honored One said to Venerable Ānanda, "So it is, Ānanda! Now the earth is shaking greatly. So it is, Ānanda! When the earth shakes greatly, a great wind arises from the four directions, meteors appear from the four directions, and houses and walls all collapse.

Venerable Ānanda said, "World-Honored One! How many causes and conditions make the earth shake greatly, when the earth shakes greatly, a great wind arises from the four directions, meteors appear from the four directions, and houses and walls all collapse?"

The World-Honored One replied, "Ānanda! There are three causes and conditions that make the earth shake greatly, when the earth shakes greatly, a great wind arises from the four directions, meteors appear from the four directions, and houses and walls all collapse. What are the three? Ānanda! This earth rests on water, water rests on wind, and wind relies on space. Ānanda! Sometimes a great wind arises in space, when the wind arises, the water is disturbed, and when the water is disturbed, the earth shakes. This is called the first cause and condition that makes the earth shake greatly, when the earth shakes greatly, a great wind arises from the four directions, meteors appear from the four directions, and houses and walls all collapse.

Furthermore, Ānanda! A bhikṣu has great supernatural powers, great authority, great merit, and great spiritual power, and is free in his mind. He thinks of the earth as small and the water as immeasurable. Because of this, this earth shakes and trembles as he wishes and intends. The guardian devas of the bhikṣu are also like this, with great supernatural powers, great authority, great merit, and great spiritual power, and are free in their minds. They think of the earth as small and the water as immeasurable. Because of this, this earth shakes and trembles as they wish and intend. This is called the second cause and condition that makes the earth shake greatly, when the earth shakes greatly, a great wind arises from the four directions, meteors appear from the four directions, and houses and walls all collapse.

"Furthermore, Ānanda! If the Tathāgata will pass into parinirvāṇa in three months, because of this, the earth will shake greatly. When the earth shakes greatly, a great wind arises from the four directions, meteors appear from the four directions, and houses and walls all collapse. This is called the third cause and condition that makes the earth shake greatly, when the earth shakes greatly, a great wind arises from the four directions, meteors appear from the four directions, and houses and walls all collapse."

Then Venerable Ānanda, having heard this, wept with tears streaming down. He joined his palms towards the Buddha and said, "World-Honored One! It is truly amazing! The Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One has accomplished the merit of the unsurpassed Dharma. Why is that? It is because the Tathāgata will pass into parinirvāṇa in three months. At that time, the earth will shake greatly. When the earth shakes greatly, a great wind arises from the four directions, meteors appear from the four directions, and houses and walls all collapse."

The World-Honored One said to Venerable Ānanda, "So it is, Ānanda! So it is, Ānanda! It is truly amazing! The Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One has accomplished the merit of the unsurpassed Dharma. Why is that? It is because the Tathāgata will pass into parinirvāṇa in three months. At that time, the earth will shake greatly. When the earth shakes greatly, a great wind arises from the four directions, meteors appear from the four directions, and houses and walls all collapse.

Furthermore, Ānanda! I go to countless hundreds of thousands of kṣatriya assemblies, sit with them and discuss, pleasing their minds. Having sat down, I am like their appearance, my appearance is also like that; like their voices, my voice is also like that; like their deportment and etiquette, my deportment and etiquette are also like that. If they ask about the meaning, I answer their meaning. Furthermore, I teach the Dharma for them, encouraging and inspiring them, bringing about joy. Having taught the Dharma for them with countless skillful means, encouraging and inspiring them, bringing about joy, I then disappear right there. After I have disappeared, they do not know who it was, whether human or non-human? Ānanda! Such is the amazing and wonderful accomplishment of merit by the Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One, attaining the unsurpassed Dharma. It is the same for the assemblies of brāhmaṇas, householders, and śramaṇas.

Ānanda! I go to countless hundreds of thousands of assemblies of the Four Heavenly Kings, sit with them and discuss, pleasing their minds. Having sat down, I am like their appearance, my appearance is also like that; like their voices, my voice is also like that; like their deportment and etiquette, my deportment and etiquette are also like that. If they ask about the meaning, I answer their meaning. Furthermore, I teach the Dharma for them, encouraging and inspiring them, bringing about joy. Having taught the Dharma for them with countless skillful means, encouraging and inspiring them, bringing about joy, I then disappear right there. After I have disappeared, they do not know who it was, whether heavenly or non-heavenly? Ānanda! Such is the amazing and wonderful accomplishment of merit by the Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One, attaining the unsurpassed Dharma. It is the same for the assemblies of the Thirty-three Heavens, Yāma Heaven, Tuṣita Heaven, Nirmāṇarati Heaven, Paranirmitavaśavartin Heaven, Brahmakāyika Heaven, Brahmapurohita Heaven, Parīttābha Heaven, Apramāṇābha Heaven, Ābhāsvara Heaven, Parīttaśubha Heaven, Apramāṇaśubha Heaven, Śubhakṛtsna Heaven, Anabhraka Heaven, Puṇyaprasava Heaven, Bṛhatphala Heaven, Avṛha Heaven, Atapa Heaven, Sudṛśa Heaven, Sudarśana Heaven.

"Ānanda! I go to countless hundreds of thousands of assemblies of the highest heaven of the form realm, sit with them and discuss, pleasing their minds. Having sat down, I am like their appearance, my appearance is also like that; like their voices, my voice is also like that; like their deportment and etiquette, my deportment and etiquette are also like that. If they ask about the meaning, I answer their meaning. Furthermore, I teach the Dharma for them, encouraging and inspiring them, bringing about joy. Having taught the Dharma for them with countless skillful means, encouraging and inspiring them, bringing about joy, I then disappear right there. After I have disappeared, they do not know who it was, whether heavenly or non-heavenly? Ānanda! Such is the amazing and wonderful accomplishment of merit by the Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One, attaining the unsurpassed Dharma."

The Buddha spoke thus. The Venerable Ānanda and the bhikṣus, having heard the Buddha's words, rejoiced and upheld them.