THE GREAT CHRONICLE OF BUDDHAS
1040
in RÈjagaha. (p1:) At that time I had said to you: ‘Œnanda, pleasant is the city of
RÈjagaha. Œnanda, pleasant is the GijjhakuÔa hill. Œnanda, whosoever has cultivated,
practised, used as a vehicle (medium), taken as his basis, kept up, mastered, and fully
developed the Four Bases of Psychic Power (iddhipÈda), could, if he so wishes, live
the maximum life span or even beyond the maximum life span. Œnanda, the TathÈgata
has cultivated, practised, used as a vehicle (medium), taken as His basis, kept up,
mastered, and fully developed the Four Bases of Psychic Powered. Therefore, Œnanda,
the TathÈgata could, if He so wishes, live the maximum life span or even beyond the
maximum life span.
‚Œnanda, although the TathÈgata thus gave clear hints, you failed to grasp them. It
never occurred to you to entreat the BhagavÈ: ‘May the BhagavÈ, for the welfare of
mankind, for the benefit, wellbeing and happiness of devas and men, out of
compassion for the world, live the maximum life span! May the BhagavÈ live the
maximum life span!
‚Œnanda, if you had entreated Me then, the TathÈgata might have refused the entreaty
twice but might have acceded to it on the third time. Therefore, this failure to entreat
Me then is your own doing, your own omission.
‚Œnanda, on one occasion, .....
(2) I was dwelling at the foot of Gotama banyan tree in RÈjagaha...(
Repeat p1: above
)
(3) I was dwelling at the CorapÈta cliff near RÈjagaha...(
Repeat p1: above
)
(4) I was dwelling in the SattapaÓÓi cave in the side of VebhÈra mountain (where the
Astonic scholaris tree grows) near RÈjagaha ...(
Repeat p1: above
)
(5) I was at KaÄasia at the side of the Isigili mountain near RÈjagaha...(
Repeat p1: above
)
(6) at the ebony grove in the SappasoÓÉika mountain range near RÈjagaha...(
Repeat p1:
above:
)
(7) at the TapodÈrÈma monastery in RÈjagaha...(
Repeat p1: above
)
(8) at VeÄuvana monastery where black squirrels are fed...(
Repeat p1: above
)
(9) at the mango grove of JÊvaka...(
Repeat p1: above
)
(10) at the MigadÈya wood in Maddakucahi near RÈjagaha...(
Repeat p1: above
)
Œnanda, while I was dwelling at those places, too, I had said to you:
(1) Œnanda, RÈjagaha is pleasant...(2) Œnanda, Gotama banyan tree is pleasant... (3)
CorapÈpta cliff is pleasant...(4) SattapaÓÓi cave is pleasant..(5) KaÄasla at the side of
Isigli mountain is pleasant... (6) The ebony grove in the SappasoÓÉika mountain rage is
pleasant... (7) TapodÈrÈma monastery is pleasant...(8) VeÄuvana monastery where black
squirrels are fed is pleasant...(9) the mango grove of JÊvaka is pleasant...(10) the
MigadÈya Wood in Maddakucchi is pleasant. Œnanda, whoever has cultivated,
practised, used as a vehicle, medium, taken as his basis, kept up, mastered, and fully
developed the Four Bases of Psychic Power could, if he so wishes, live the maximum
life span or even beyond the maximum life span. Œnanda, the TathÈgata has cultivated,
practised, used as (vehicle) medium, taken as His basis, kept up, mastered, and fully
developed the Four Bases of Psychic Power. Therefore, Œnanda, the TathÈgata could,
if He so wishes, live the maximum life span or even beyond the maximum life span.
‚Œnanda, although the TathÈgata thus gave clear hints, you failed to grasp them. It
never occurred to you to entreat the BhagavÈ: ‘May the BhagavÈ, for the welfare of
mankind, for the benefit, wellbeing and happiness of devas and men, out of
compassion for the world, live the maximum life span! May the Well-Spoken One live
the maximum life span!’
‚Œnanda, if you had entreated Me then, the TathÈgata might have refused the entreaty
twice but might have acceded to it on the third time. Therefore, Œnanda, this failure to
entreat Me then is your own doing, your own omission.‛
a) ‚Œnanda, on one occasion, while I was living at the Udena Shrine in VesÈlÊ, (p2:) there
too, I said to you: ‘Œnanda, VesÈlÊ is pleasant. The Udena shrine is pleasant. Œnanda,