The Long Āgama Sūtra 2.115

2.115

佛告阿難：「凡世地動，有八因緣。何等八？夫地在水上，水止於風，風止於空，空中大風有時自起，則大水擾，大水擾則普地動，是為一也。復次，阿難！有時得道比丘、比丘尼及大神尊天，觀水性多，觀地性少，欲自試力，則普地動，是為二也。復次，阿難！若始菩薩從兜率天降神母胎，專念不亂，地為大動，是為三也。復次，阿難！菩薩始出母胎，從右脇生，專念不亂，則普地動，是為四也。復次，阿難！菩薩初成無上正覺，當於此時，地大震動，是為五也。復次，阿難！佛初成道，轉無上法輪，魔、若魔、天、沙門、婆羅門、諸天、世人所不能轉，則普地動，是為六也。復次，阿難！佛教將畢，專念不亂，欲捨性命，則普地動，是為七也。復次，阿難！如來於無餘涅槃界般涅槃時，地大振動，是為八也。以是八因緣，令地大動。」爾時，世尊即說偈言：

The Buddha told Ānanda, “An earthquake usually has eight causes. What are the eight? The earth rests on water. Where the water stops, there’s air. Where the air stops, there’s space. Sometimes a great gale rises by itself in that empty space, which create a large wave in the water. That large wave of water then makes the whole earth quake. That’s one cause.

“Furthermore, Ānanda, sometimes a monk, nun, great spirit, sage, or exalted god achieves awakening. They observe how much water there is and how little earth there is. Wanting to test their power, they make the whole earth quake. This is the second cause.

“Furthermore, Ānanda, when a bodhisattva’s spirit first descends from the Tuṣita Heaven to his mother’s womb while focused and undisturbed, there’s a great earthquake. This is the third cause.

“Furthermore, Ānanda, when a bodhisattva first emerges from his mother’s womb, he’s born from her side while focused and undisturbed, and the whole earth quakes. This is the fourth cause.

“Furthermore, Ānanda, at the moment a bodhisattva first achieves the unsurpassed and perfect awakening, there’s a great earthquake. This is the fifth cause.

“Furthermore, Ānanda, when a buddha first achieves awakening and turns the unsurpassed Dharma wheel, which can’t be turned by [gods such as Śakra, Brahmā,] or Māra, demons and spirits, ascetics and priests, or worldly people and gods, then the whole earth quakes. This is the sixth cause.

“Furthermore, Ānanda, when a Buddha’s teaching is nearing it’s end and he discards his life force while focused and undisturbed, the whole earth quakes. This is the seventh cause.

“Furthermore, Ānanda, when the Tathāgata parinirvāṇa-s in the realm of nirvāṇa without remainder, there’s a great earthquake. This is the eighth cause. These are the eight reasons that lead to an earthquake.”

The Bhagavān then spoke in verse: