SN2.26 — Saṁyutta Nikāya 2.26
3. Nānātitthiyavagga
Rohitassasutta
Originating at Sāvatthi, while standing to one side, the celestial being Rohitassa addressed the Blessed One: Venerable sir, is it possible by traveling to know, to see, or to reach the end of the world where there is neither birth, nor aging, nor death, nor departing, nor reappearing?
The Blessed One replied: Friend, where there is neither birth, nor aging, nor death, nor departing, nor reappearing, I do not say that by traveling one can know, see, or reach the end of the world.
Wonderful, Venerable Sir, astounding, Venerable Sir, is this statement by the Blessed One. Previously, Venerable Sir, I was an ascetic named Rohitassa, the son of Bhoja, endowed with great spiritual power, capable of traveling through the sky. Such was my speed, Venerable Sir, that it was like a trained, skilled archer, wellequipped with a strong bow, could easily shoot a light arrow across the shadow of a palm tree. Such was my stride, Venerable Sir, as is the distance between the eastern and western oceans. A desire arose in me, Venerable Sir, to reach the end of the world by traveling. With such speed and stride, renouncing food and drink, abstaining from eating and drinking, without stopping to relieve myself or to sleep, for a lifespan of a hundred years, traveling for a hundred years, without reaching the end of the world, I died along the way.
Wonderful, Venerable Sir, astounding, Venerable Sir, is this statement by the Blessed One. Friend, where there is neither birth, nor aging, nor death, nor departing, nor reappearing, I do not say that by traveling one can know, see, or reach the end of the world.
But, friend, I do not say that without reaching the end of the world there is an end to suffering. Still, friend, I declare that in this very fathom-long body, with its perception and mind, one can know the world, the origin of the world, the cessation of the world, and the path leading to the cessation of the world.
Not by traveling is the worlds end reached;
nor, without reaching the worlds end, is release gained from suffering.
Therefore, truly, the wise one understanding the world,
within this very body ending the woe.
The one who has traversed beyond the world, having completed the holy life;
Having known the end of the world with profound understanding,
Does not long for this world or any other.