The Discourse about the Great Emancipation

The Third Chapter for Recitation
was the reason, reverend Sir, what was the cause, for the occurrence of
this great earthquake?”
“There are these eight reasons, eight causes, Ānanda, for the
occurrence of a great earthquake.
Which eight?
1) This great Earth, Ānanda, stands in the water, the water stands in
the atmosphere, the atmosphere stands in space. 85 There comes a
time, Ānanda, when great winds blow, with the great winds
blowing, the waters move, the waters having moved, the Earth
moves. This is the first reason, the first cause for the occurrence of
a great earthquake.
2) Furthermore, Ānanda, when an ascetic or a brahmin or a Divinity,
one of great power, one of great majesty, has, through spiritual
power, attained (complete) mastery of the mind, and has then
developed even a trifling perception of the Earth, or an unlimited
perception of water, this Earth moves, wavers, flutters, and shakes.
This is the second reason, the second cause for the occurrence of a
great earthquake.
85 I interpret vāta (normally wind) here as atmosphere. This is quite an
accurate description of the facts, especially given the time it was made.
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