The Discourse about the Great Emancipation

The Third Chapter for Recitation
Then at the Cāpāla shrine the Gracious One, mindfully, with full
awareness, relinquished the life-process. With the relinquishment of
the life-process by the Gracious One there was a great earthquake, and
a fearful, horrifying crash of the Divinities’ (thunder) drum.
Then the Gracious One, having understood the significance of it, on
that occasion uttered this exalted utterance:
“Measurable and immeasurable continuity,
And the continuation-process the Sage relinquished.
Content in himself, and concentrated,
He broke continuity of self like a coat of mail.”
[19: Eight Reasons for Earthquakes]
Then it occured to venerable Ānanda: “Surely it is wonderful, surely it
is marvellous, this great earthquake, this very great earthquake, and
(this) awful, hair-raising, crash of the Divinities' (thunder) drum. What
was the reason, what was the cause, for the occurrence of this great
earthquake?”
Then venerable Ānanda approached the Gracious One, and after
approaching and worshipping the Gracious One, he sat down at one
side. Sitting on one side venerable Ānanda said this to the Gracious
One: “Surely it is wonderful, reverend Sir, surely it is marvellous,
reverend Sir, this great earthquake, this very great earthquake, and
(this) awful, hair-raising, crash of the Divinities' (thunder) drum. What
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