Dialogues of the Buddha, Part II — trans. T. W. and C. A. F. Rhys Davids (1910)

43. ' Now there too, Ananda, I spoke to thee, and said : — " How pleasant, Ananda, is Rajagaha ; how pleasant the Vulture's Peak ; how pleasant the Banyan tree of Gotama ; how pleasant the Robbers' Cliff ; how pleasant the Sattapawm cave on the slope of Mount Vebhara ; how pleasant the Black Rock on the slope of Mount Isigili ; how pleasant the mountain cave of the Serpent's Pool in the Sitavana Grove ; how pleasant the Tapoda Grove ; how pleasant the Squirrels' Feeding Ground in the Bambu Grove ; how pleasant Jivaka's Mango Grove ; how pleasant the Deer Forest at Maddakucchi ! "

p. 124

44. [117] ' " Whosoever, Ananda, has developed, practised, dwelt on, expanded, and ascended to the very heights of the four paths to Iddhi, and so mastered them as to be able to use them as a vehicle, and as a basis, he, should he desire it, could remain in the same birth for an aeon, or for that portion of the aeon which had yet to run. Now the Tathagata has thought out and thoroughly practised them [in all respects as just now fully described], and might, should he desire it, remain alive for an aeon, or for that portion of an aeon which has yet to run." But even when a suggestion so evident and a hint so clear were thus given thee by the Tathagata, thou wast yet incapable of comprehending them, and thou besoughtest not the Tathagata, saying : — " Vouchsafe, lord, to remain during the aeon. Live on, O Exalted One ! through the aeon for the good and the happiness of the great multitudes, out of pity for the world, for the good and the gain and the weal of gods and men." If thou shouldst then have so besought the Tathagata, the Tathagata might have rejected the appeal even to the second time, but the third time he would have granted it. Thine, therefore, O Ananda, is the fault, thine is the offence !

45. ' On one occasion, Ananda, I was residing here
at Vesali at the Udena Shrine. And there too,
Ananda, I spoke to thee, and said : — " How pleasant,

> Ananda, is Vesali: how pleasant the Udena Ketiya. Whosoever, Ananda, has thought out, developed, practised, dwelt on, expanded, and ascended to the very heights of the four paths to Iddhi, and so mastered them as to be able to use them as a vehicle, and as a basis, he, should he desire it, could remain in the same birth for an aeon, or for that portion of the aeon which had yet to run. Now the Tathagata has thought out and thoroughly practised them [in all respects as just now fully described], and might, should he desire it, remain alive for an aeon, or for that portion of an aeon which has yet to run." But when a suggestion so evident and a hint so clear were thusp. 125 given thee by the Tathagata, thou wast yet incapable of comprehending them, and thou besoughtest not the Tathagata, saying : — " Vouchsafe, Lord, to remain during the aeon. Live on, O Exalted One ! through o o the aeon for the good and the happiness of the great multitudes, out of pity for the world, for the good and the gain and the weal of gods and men." If thou shouldst then have so besought the Tathagata, the Tathagata might have rejected the appeal even to the second time, but the third time he would have

A

granted it. Thine, therefore, O Ananda, is the fault, thine is the offence !