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The Discourse about the Great Emancipation

[The Sixth Chapter for Recitation]

[41: The Final Emancipation]

Then the Gracious One attained the first absorption, and after emerging from the first absorption he attained the second absorption, and after emerging from the second absorption he attained the third absorption, and after emerging from the third absorption he attained the fourth absorption, ⁰¹ and after emerging from the fourth absorption he attained the sphere of endless space, and after emerging from the sphere of endless space he attained the sphere of endless consciousness, and after emerging from the sphere of endless consciousness he attained the sphere of nothingness, and after emerging from the sphere of nothingness, he attained the sphere of neither-perception-nor-non-perception, and after emerging from the sphere of neither-perception-nor-non-perception, he attained the cessation of perception and feeling.

Then venerable ânanda said this to venerable Anuruddha: ß(Has) the Gracious One, reverend Anuruddha, attained Final Emancipation?û ⁰²

ßThe Gracious One, reverend ânanda, has not attained Final Emancipation, he has attained the cessation of perception and feeling.û ⁰³

Then the Gracious One, after emerging from the cessation of perception and feeling, attained the sphere of neither-perception-nor-non-perception, and after emerging from the sphere of neither-perception-nor-non-perception he attained the sphere of nothingness, and after emerging from the sphere of nothingness he attained the sphere of endless consciousness, and after emerging from the sphere of endless consciousness he attained the sphere of endless space, and after emerging from the sphere of endless space he attained the fourth absorption, and after emerging from the fourth absorption he attained the third absorption, and after emerging from the third absorption he attained the second absorption, and after emerging from the second absorption he attained the first absorption, and after emerging from the first absorption he attained the second absorption, and after emerging from the second absorption he attained the third absorption, and after emerging from the third absorption he attained the fourth absorption, and after emerging from the fourth absorption, immediately the Gracious One attained Final Emancipation.

When the Gracious One attained Final Emancipation along with the Emancipation there was a great earthquake, and an awful, horrifying crash of the Divinities' (thunder) drum.

When the Gracious One attained Final Emancipation along with the Emancipation Brahmà Sahampati spoke this verse: ⁰⁴

ßAll beings in the world will surely lay aside the body,
In the same way the Teacher, Such-like, unmatched in the world,
the Realised One, attained to (the ten) strengths, the Sambuddha, has attained Final Emancipation.û

When the Gracious One attained Final Emancipation along with the Emancipation Sakka, the Lord of the Divinities, spoke this verse:

ßImpermanent, indeed, are (all) processes, arisen they have the nature to decay,
After arising they come to cessation, the stilling of them is blissful.û ⁰⁵

When the Gracious One attained Final Emancipation along with the Emancipation venerable Anuruddha spoke these verses:

ßThere is no more breathing for that Such-like one of steady mind,
Freed from lust, the Sage who has died, has entered the peace (of Nibbàna).
With an unshaken heart, he endured the painful feelings,
Like a flame (when it goes out) so his mind was liberated in Nibbàna.û ⁰⁶

When the Gracious One attained Final Emancipation along with the Emancipation venerable ânanda spoke this verse:

ßWith that there was fear, with that there was horror,
When the Sambuddha, endowed with all noble qualities, attained Emancipation.û

When the Gracious One attained Final Emancipation those monks there who were not free from passion, throwing up their arms, falling down (as though) cut down, rolling backwards and forwards as though with their feet cut off, were crying: `Too quickly the Gracious One has attained Final Emancipation, too quickly the Fortunate One has attained Final Emancipation, too quickly the Visionary in the world has disappeared!' But those monks who were free from passion, mindfully, with full awareness, endured, (thinking): ßImpermanent are (all) processes, how can it be otherwise?û

Then venerable Anuruddha said this to the monks: ßEnough, friends, do not grieve, do not lament, were you not warned by the Gracious One when he declared: `There is alteration in, separation from, and changeability in all that is dear and appealing.' How can it be otherwise, friends, for that which is obtained, born, become, in process, subject to dissolution? It is not possible (to say) this: `It should not dissolve'. The Divinities, friends, are complaining.û

ßBut what beings and Divinities is the venerable Anuruddha thinking of?û

ßThere are, friend ânanda, Divinities in the sky, perceiving the Earth, who, having dishevelled hair, are weeping, throwing up their arms, falling down (as though) cut down, rolling backwards and forwards as though with their feet cut off, crying: `Too quickly the Gracious One has attained Final Emancipation, too quickly the Fortunate One has attained Final Emancipation, too quickly the Visionary in the world has disappeared!'

There are, friend ânanda, Divinities on the Earth, perceiving the Earth, who, having dishevelled hair, are weeping, throwing up their arms, falling down (as though) cut down, rolling backwards and forwards as though with their feet cut off, crying: `Too quickly the Gracious One has attained Final Emancipation, too quickly the Fortunate One has attained Final Emancipation, too quickly the Visionary in the world has disappeared!'

But those Divinities, who have cut off passion, they mindfully, with full awareness, endure, (thinking): `Impermanent are (all) processes, how can it be otherwise?'û