The Sobhana Cittas in Our Life - MahaParinibbana-sutta

We all have in our daily life opportunities for dāna and sīla. As regards bhāvanā, this comprises samatha, vipassanā, studying Dhamma or explaining it to others. Not only the monks, but also laypeople can study and teach Dhamma. We read in the 'MahāParinibbāna-sutta' (Ch. III, l12, l13) that the Buddha told Ānanda that Māra, the Evil One, had said to the Buddha after his enlightenment that it was now the time for him to pass away. The Buddha said: 

 

And when he had thus spoken, Ānanda,

I addressed Māra, the Evil One, and said:- -

'I shall not pass away, O Evil One!  

until not only the monks and sisters of the Order,

but also the laydisciples of either sex shall have become true hearers,

wise and well trained, ready and learned,

carrying the teachings in their memory,

masters of the lesser corolaries that follow from the larger doctrine, 

correct in life, walking according to the precepts--

until they, having thus themselves learned the doctrine,

shall be able to tell others of it, preach it, make it known,

establish it, open it, minutely explain it and make it clear--

until they, when others start vain doctrine easy to be refuted by the truth,

shall be able in refuting it to spread the wonderworking truth abroad!

I shall not die until this pure religion of mine shall have become successful,

prosperous, widespread, and popular in all its full extent--

until, in a word, it shall have been well proclaimed among men!'