SN 35.116

Lokantagamanasutta

“Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, gamanena lokassa antaṁ ñāteyyaṁ, daṭṭheyyaṁ, patteyyanti vadāmi. Na ca panāhaṁ, bhikkhave, appatvā lokassa antaṁ dukkhassa antakiriyaṁ vadāmī”ti. Idaṁ vatvā bhagavā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ pāvisi. Atha kho tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ acirapakkantassa bhagavato etadahosi: “idaṁ kho no, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho: ‘“nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, gamanena lokassa antaṁ ñāteyyaṁ, daṭṭheyyaṁ, patteyyan”ti vadāmi. Na ca panāhaṁ, bhikkhave, appatvā lokassa antaṁ dukkhassa antakiriyaṁ vadāmī’ti. Ko nu kho imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajeyyā”ti?

Traveling to the End of the World

“Mendicants, I say it’s not possible to know or see or reach the end of the world by traveling. But I also say there’s no making an end of suffering without reaching the end of the world.” When he had spoken, the Blessed One rose from his seat and entered his dwelling. Soon after the Buddha left, those mendicants considered, “The Buddha gave this brief summary recital, then entered his dwelling without explaining the meaning in detail. … Who can explain in detail the meaning of this brief summary recital given by the Buddha?”

Atha kho tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ etadahosi: “ayaṁ kho āyasmā ānando satthu ceva saṁvaṇṇito, sambhāvito ca viññūnaṁ sabrahmacārīnaṁ. Pahoti cāyasmā ānando imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajituṁ. Yannūna mayaṁ yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkameyyāma; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyāmā”ti.

Then those mendicants thought, “This Venerable Ānanda is praised by the Buddha and esteemed by his sensible spiritual companions. He is capable of explaining in detail the meaning of this brief summary recital given by the Buddha. Let’s go to him, and ask him about this matter.”

Atha kho te bhikkhū yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmatā ānandena saddhiṁ sammodiṁsu. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etadavocuṁ:

Then those mendicants went to Ānanda and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, they sat down to one side. They told him what had happened, and said,

“Idaṁ kho no, āvuso ānanda, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho: ‘nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, gamanena lokassa antaṁ ñāteyyaṁ, daṭṭheyyaṁ, patteyyanti vadāmi. Na ca panāhaṁ, bhikkhave, appatvā lokassa antaṁ dukkhassa antakiriyaṁ vadāmī’ti. Tesaṁ no, āvuso, amhākaṁ acirapakkantassa bhagavato etadahosi: ‘idaṁ kho no, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho— nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, gamanena lokassa antaṁ ñāteyyaṁ, daṭṭheyyaṁ, patteyyanti vadāmi. Na ca panāhaṁ, bhikkhave, appatvā lokassa antaṁ dukkhassa antakiriyaṁ vadāmīti. Ko nu kho imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajeyyā’ti? Tesaṁ no, āvuso, amhākaṁ etadahosi: ‘ayaṁ kho, āvuso, āyasmā ānando satthu ceva saṁvaṇṇito, sambhāvito ca viññūnaṁ sabrahmacārīnaṁ. Pahoti cāyasmā ānando imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajituṁ. Yannūna mayaṁ yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkameyyāma; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyāmā’ti. Vibhajatāyasmā ānando”ti.

“May Venerable Ānanda please explain this.”

“Seyyathāpi, āvuso, puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato atikkammeva, mūlaṁ atikkammeva, khandhaṁ sākhāpalāse sāraṁ pariyesitabbaṁ maññeyya; evaṁ sampadamidaṁ āyasmantānaṁ satthari sammukhībhūte taṁ bhagavantaṁ atisitvā amhe etamatthaṁ paṭipucchitabbaṁ maññatha. So hāvuso, bhagavā jānaṁ jānāti, passaṁ passati— cakkhubhūto, ñāṇabhūto, dhammabhūto, brahmabhūto, vattā, pavattā, atthassa ninnetā, amatassa dātā, dhammassāmī, tathāgato. So ceva panetassa kālo ahosi yaṁ bhagavantaṁyeva etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyātha. Yathā vo bhagavā byākareyya tathā vo dhāreyyāthā”ti.

“Reverends, suppose there was a person in need of heartwood. And while wandering in search of heartwood he’d come across a large tree standing with heartwood. But he’d pass over the roots and trunk, imagining that the heartwood should be sought in the branches and leaves. Such is the consequence for the venerables. Though you were face to face with the Buddha, you bypassed him, imagining that you should ask me about this matter. For he is the Buddha, the one who knows and sees. He is vision, he is knowledge, he is the manifestation of principle, he is the manifestation of divinity. He is the preacher, the proclaimer, the elucidator of meaning, the bestower of freedom from death, the lord of truth, the Realized One. That was the time to approach the Buddha and ask about this matter. You should have remembered it in line with the Buddha’s answer.”

“Addhāvuso ānanda, bhagavā jānaṁ jānāti, passaṁ passati— cakkhubhūto, ñāṇabhūto, dhammabhūto, brahmabhūto, vattā, pavattā, atthassa ninnetā, amatassa dātā, dhammassāmī, tathāgato. So ceva panetassa kālo ahosi yaṁ bhagavantaṁyeva etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyāma. Yathā no bhagavā byākareyya tathā naṁ dhāreyyāma. Api cāyasmā ānando satthu ceva saṁvaṇṇito, sambhāvito ca viññūnaṁ sabrahmacārīnaṁ. Pahoti cāyasmā ānando imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajituṁ. Vibhajatāyasmā ānando agaruṁ karitvā”ti.

“Certainly he is the Buddha, the one who knows and sees. He is vision, he is knowledge, he is the manifestation of principle, he is the manifestation of divinity. He is the preacher, the proclaimer, the elucidator of meaning, the bestower of freedom from death, the lord of truth, the Realized One. That was the time to approach the Buddha and ask about this matter. We should have remembered it in line with the Buddha’s answer. Still, Venerable Ānanda is praised by the Buddha and esteemed by his sensible spiritual companions. You are capable of explaining in detail the meaning of this brief summary recital given by the Buddha. Please explain this, if it’s no trouble.”

“Tenahāvuso, suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti. “Evamāvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato ānandassa paccassosuṁ. Āyasmā ānando etadavoca:

“Then listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.” “Yes, reverend,” they replied. Ānanda said this:

“Yaṁ kho vo, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho: ‘nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, gamanena lokassa antaṁ ñāteyyaṁ, daṭṭheyyaṁ, patteyyanti vadāmi. Na ca panāhaṁ, bhikkhave, appatvā lokassa antaṁ dukkhassa antakiriyaṁ vadāmī’ti, imassa khvāhaṁ, āvuso, bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāmi. Yena kho, āvuso, lokasmiṁ lokasaññī hoti lokamānī— ayaṁ vuccati ariyassa vinaye loko. Kena cāvuso, lokasmiṁ lokasaññī hoti lokamānī? Cakkhunā kho, āvuso, lokasmiṁ lokasaññī hoti lokamānī. Sotena kho, āvuso … ghānena kho, āvuso … jivhāya kho, āvuso, lokasmiṁ lokasaññī hoti lokamānī. Kāyena kho, āvuso … manena kho, āvuso, lokasmiṁ lokasaññī hoti lokamānī. Yena kho, āvuso, lokasmiṁ lokasaññī hoti lokamānī— ayaṁ vuccati ariyassa vinaye loko. Yaṁ kho vo, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho: ‘nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, gamanena lokassa antaṁ ñāteyyaṁ, daṭṭheyyaṁ, patteyyanti vadāmi. Na ca panāhaṁ, bhikkhave, appatvā lokassa antaṁ dukkhassa antakiriyaṁ vadāmī’ti, imassa khvāhaṁ, āvuso, bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa evaṁ vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāmi. Ākaṅkhamānā ca pana tumhe āyasmanto bhagavantaṁyeva upasaṅkamitvā etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyātha. Yathā vo bhagavā byākaroti tathā naṁ dhāreyyāthā”ti.

“Reverends, the Buddha gave this brief summary recital, then entered his dwelling without explaining the meaning in detail: ‘Mendicants, I say it’s not possible to know or see or reach the end of the world by traveling. But I also say there’s no making an end of suffering without reaching the end of the world.’ This is how I understand the detailed meaning of this summary recital. Whatever in the world through which you perceive the world and conceive the world is called the world in the training of the Noble One. And through what in the world do you perceive the world and conceive the world? Through the eye in the world you perceive the world and conceive the world. Through the ear … nose … tongue … body … mind in the world you perceive the world and conceive the world. Whatever in the world through which you perceive the world and conceive the world is called the world in the training of the Noble One. Reverends, the Buddha gave this brief summary, then entered his dwelling without explaining the meaning in detail: ‘Mendicants, I say it’s not possible to know or see or reach the end of the world by traveling. But I also say there’s no making an end of suffering without reaching the end of the world.’ That is how I understand the detailed meaning of this summary. If you wish, you may go to the Buddha and ask him about this. You should remember it in line with the Buddha’s answer.”

“Evamāvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato ānandassa paṭissutvā uṭṭhāyāsanā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:

“Yes, reverend,” replied those mendicants. Then they rose from their seats and went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened.

“Yaṁ kho no, bhante, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho: ‘nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, gamanena lokassa antaṁ ñāteyyaṁ, daṭṭheyyaṁ, patteyyanti vadāmi. Na ca panāhaṁ, bhikkhave, appatvā lokassa antaṁ dukkhassa antakiriyaṁ vadāmī’ti. Tesaṁ no, bhante, amhākaṁ acirapakkantassa bhagavato etadahosi: ‘idaṁ kho no, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho— nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, gamanena lokassa antaṁ ñāteyyaṁ, daṭṭheyyaṁ, patteyyanti vadāmi. Na ca panāhaṁ, bhikkhave, appatvā lokassa antaṁ dukkhassa antakiriyaṁ vadāmīti. Ko nu kho imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajeyyā’ti? Tesaṁ no, bhante, amhākaṁ etadahosi: ‘ayaṁ kho āyasmā ānando satthu ceva saṁvaṇṇito, sambhāvito ca viññūnaṁ sabrahmacārīnaṁ. Pahoti cāyasmā ānando imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajituṁ. Yannūna mayaṁ yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkameyyāma; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyāmā’ti. Atha kho mayaṁ, bhante, yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkamimha; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etamatthaṁ paṭipucchimha. Tesaṁ no, bhante, āyasmatā ānandena imehi ākārehi imehi padehi imehi byañjanehi attho vibhatto”ti.

Then they said, “And Ānanda explained the meaning to us in this manner, with these words and phrases.”

“Paṇḍito, bhikkhave, ānando; mahāpañño, bhikkhave, ānando. Mañcepi tumhe, bhikkhave, etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyātha, ahampi taṁ evamevaṁ byākareyyaṁ yathā taṁ ānandena byākataṁ. Eso cevetassa attho, evañca naṁ dhāreyyāthā”ti.

“Mendicants, Ānanda is astute, he has great wisdom. If you came to me and asked this question, I would answer it in exactly the same way as Ānanda. That is what it means, and that’s how you should remember it.”