Traveling to the End of the WorldLokantagamanasutta

“Mendicants, I say it’s not possible to know or see or reach the end of the world by traveling.“Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, gamanena lokassa antaṁ ñāteyyaṁ, daṭṭheyyaṁ, patteyyanti vadāmi. But I also say there’s no making an end of suffering without reaching the end of the world.”Na ca panāhaṁ, bhikkhave, appatvā lokassa antaṁ dukkhassa antakiriyaṁ vadāmī”ti.

When he had spoken, the Blessed One rose from his seat and entered his dwelling.Idaṁ vatvā bhagavā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ pāvisi.

Soon after the Buddha left, those mendicants considered,Atha kho tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ acirapakkantassa bhagavato etadahosi: “The Buddha gave this brief summary recital, then entered his dwelling without explaining the meaning in detail. …“idaṁ kho no, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho: Who can explain in detail the meaning of this brief summary recital given by the Buddha?”Ko nu kho imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajeyyā”ti?

Then those mendicants thought,Atha kho tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ etadahosi: “This Venerable Ānanda is praised by the Buddha and esteemed by his sensible spiritual companions.“ayaṁ kho āyasmā ānando satthu ceva saṁvaṇṇito, sambhāvito ca viññūnaṁ sabrahmacārīnaṁ. He is capable of explaining in detail the meaning of this brief summary recital given by the Buddha.Pahoti cāyasmā ānando imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajituṁ. Let’s go to him, and ask him about this matter.”Yannūna mayaṁ yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkameyyāma; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyāmā”ti.

Then those mendicants went to Ānanda and exchanged greetings with him.Atha kho te bhikkhū yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmatā ānandena saddhiṁ sammodiṁsu. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, they sat down to one side. They told him what had happened, and said,Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etadavocuṁ: “May Venerable Ānanda please explain this.”Vibhajatāyasmā ānando”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.“Seyyathāpi, āvuso, puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato atikkammeva, mūlaṁ atikkammeva, khandhaṁ sākhāpalāse sāraṁ pariyesitabbaṁ maññeyya;

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.evaṁ sampadamidaṁ āyasmantānaṁ satthari sammukhībhūte taṁ bhagavantaṁ atisitvā amhe etamatthaṁ paṭipucchitabbaṁ maññatha. 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.So hāvuso, bhagavā jānaṁ jānāti, passaṁ passati— That was the time to approach the Buddha and ask about this matter.So ceva panetassa kālo ahosi yaṁ bhagavantaṁyeva etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyātha. You should have remembered it in line with the Buddha’s answer.”Yathā vo bhagavā byākareyya tathā vo dhāreyyāthā”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.“Addhāvuso ānanda, bhagavā jānaṁ jānāti, passaṁ passati— That was the time to approach the Buddha and ask about this matter.So ceva panetassa kālo ahosi yaṁ bhagavantaṁyeva etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyāma. We should have remembered it in line with the Buddha’s answer.Yathā no bhagavā byākareyya tathā naṁ dhāreyyāma.

Still, Venerable Ānanda is praised by the Buddha and esteemed by his sensible spiritual companions.Api cāyasmā ānando satthu ceva saṁvaṇṇito, sambhāvito ca viññūnaṁ sabrahmacārīnaṁ. You are capable of explaining in detail the meaning of this brief summary recital given by the Buddha.Pahoti cāyasmā ānando imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajituṁ. Please explain this, if it’s no trouble.”Vibhajatāyasmā ānando agaruṁ karitvā”ti.

“Then listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”“Tenahāvuso, suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.

“Yes, reverend,” they replied.“Evamāvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato ānandassa paccassosuṁ. Ānanda said this:Āyasmā ānando etadavoca:

“Reverends, the Buddha gave this brief summary recital, then entered his dwelling without explaining the meaning in detail:“Yaṁ kho vo, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho:

‘Mendicants, I say it’s not possible to know or see or reach the end of the world by traveling.‘nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, gamanena lokassa antaṁ ñāteyyaṁ, daṭṭheyyaṁ, patteyyanti vadāmi. But I also say there’s no making an end of suffering without reaching the end of the world.’Na ca panāhaṁ, bhikkhave, appatvā lokassa antaṁ dukkhassa antakiriyaṁ vadāmī’ti,

This is how I understand the detailed meaning of this summary recital.imassa khvāhaṁ, āvuso, bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāmi.

Whatever in the world through which you perceive the world and conceive the worldYena kho, āvuso, lokasmiṁ lokasaññī hoti lokamānī— is called the world in the training of the Noble One.ayaṁ vuccati ariyassa vinaye loko. And through what in the world do you perceive the world and conceive the world?Kena cāvuso, lokasmiṁ lokasaññī hoti lokamānī?

Through the eye in the world you perceive the world and conceive the world.Cakkhunā kho, āvuso, lokasmiṁ lokasaññī hoti lokamānī. Through the ear …Sotena kho, āvuso … nose …ghānena kho, āvuso … tongue …jivhāya kho, āvuso, lokasmiṁ lokasaññī hoti lokamānī. body …Kāyena kho, āvuso … mind in the world you perceive the world and conceive the world.manena kho, āvuso, lokasmiṁ lokasaññī hoti lokamānī.

Whatever in the world through which you perceive the world and conceive the worldYena kho, āvuso, lokasmiṁ lokasaññī hoti lokamānī— is called the world in the training of the Noble One.ayaṁ vuccati ariyassa vinaye loko.

Reverends, the Buddha gave this brief summary, then entered his dwelling without explaining the meaning in detail:Yaṁ kho vo, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho:

‘Mendicants, I say it’s not possible to know or see or reach the end of the world by traveling.‘nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, gamanena lokassa antaṁ ñāteyyaṁ, daṭṭheyyaṁ, patteyyanti vadāmi. But I also say there’s no making an end of suffering without reaching the end of the world.’Na ca panāhaṁ, bhikkhave, appatvā lokassa antaṁ dukkhassa antakiriyaṁ vadāmī’ti,

That is how I understand the detailed meaning of this summary.imassa khvāhaṁ, āvuso, bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa evaṁ vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāmi.

If you wish, you may go to the Buddha and ask him about this.Ākaṅkhamānā ca pana tumhe āyasmanto bhagavantaṁyeva upasaṅkamitvā etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyātha. You should remember it in line with the Buddha’s answer.”Yathā vo bhagavā byākaroti tathā naṁ dhāreyyāthā”ti.

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

“Mendicants, Ānanda is astute, he has great wisdom.“Paṇḍito, bhikkhave, ānando; mahāpañño, bhikkhave, ānando. If you came to me and asked this question, I would answer it in exactly the same way as Ānanda.Mañcepi tumhe, bhikkhave, etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyātha, ahampi taṁ evamevaṁ byākareyyaṁ yathā taṁ ānandena byākataṁ. That is what it means, and that’s how you should remember it.”Eso cevetassa attho, evañca naṁ dhāreyyāthā”ti.