The Discourse about the Great Emancipation

The Second Chapter for Recitation
without being troubled. Then this occurred to the Gracious One: “It is
not suitable that I, without having addressed my attendants, without
having given notice to the Community of monks, should attain Final
Emancipation. Having energetically dismissed this affliction, I could
live on after determining the lifespan.”
Then the Gracious One having energetically dismissed that affliction
lived on after determining 72 the lifespan. 73 Then the Gracious One's
affliction abated. Then, the Gracious One, having risen from that
sickness, not long after rising, departed from the Sick Room and sat
down on the prepared seat in front of that Room.
Then venerable Ānanda approached the Gracious One, and after
approaching and worshipping the Gracious One, he sat down on one
72 Comm: samāpattivikkhambhitā vedanā dasamāse na uppajji yeva; the
feelings suppressed by the attainment did not arise again for a further 10
months. From the beginning of the Rains Retreat in July until just before
his Final Emancipation in May the following year is 10 months, so we can
infer that the Commentary believes the illness occurred at the beginning of
the retreat.
73 Comm: ettha jīvitam-pi jīvitasaṅkhāro…phalasamāpattidhammo pi
jīvitasaṅkhāro, so idha adhippeto; here the lifespan means life…the lifespan
(can) also mean the attainment of fruition, this is the designation here. This
seems contradictory, and I know of no other place where jīvitasaṅkhāra is
defined as fruition attainment. The latter is probably meant to guard
against the idea that the Buddha had determined the length of life, before
the temptation by Māra, which comes later in the story, where he gives up
the life-process (ayusaṅkhāra).
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