The Discourse about the Great Emancipation

The Third Chapter for Recitation
“Enough, Ānanda, do not beg the Realised One, now is the wrong time,
Ānanda, for begging the Realised One.”
For a third time venerable Ānanda said this to the Gracious One:
“Let the Gracious One remain, reverend Sir, for the lifespan, let the
Fortunate One remain for the lifespan, for the benefit of many people,
for the happiness of many people, having compassion on the world, for
the welfare, benefit, and happiness of Divinities and men.”
“Do you, Ānanda, have faith in the Realised One's Awakening?”
“Yes, reverend Sir,”
“Then why do you, Ānanda, harrass the Realised One up and till the
third time?”
“Face to face with me, reverend Sir, face to face I have heard (you
say): ‘Whoever has developed, Ānanda, made much of, carried on,
established, maintained, augmented, and properly instigated the Four
Paths to Power, could, if he wanted, remain for the lifespan or for
what is left of the lifespan. The Realised One has developed, Ānanda,
made much of, carried on, established, maintained, augmented, and
properly instigated the Four Paths to Power. If he wanted, Ānanda, the
Realised One could remain for the lifespan or for what is left of the
lifespan.’ ”
“Do you have faith, Ānanda?”
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