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SN 35.228 
Saṁyutta Nikāya 
The Connected Discourses 
 
Saḷāyatana Saṁyutta  
Connected Discourses On Feelings 
Samudda Vagga 
The Section on the Ocean 
 
Paṭhama Samudda Sutta  
“Simile of the Ocean – Part 1” 
 
Translated by Bhikkhu Candana 
Copyright © Bhikkhu Candana 2023 
 
 
 
“Bhikkhus, the putujjana or the undisciplined and dense person keeps on saying: 
 
‘The ocean…the ocean!’ as he gazes upon the vast ocean.  
 
 
“However, Bhikkhus, according to the Noble One’s Discipline, that is not what is to be 
understood as ‘the ocean,’ for that is merely a great body of water, simply a large body of water. 
 
 
1. “Instead, it is the eye, Bhikkhus, that is to be seen and understood as truly ‘the ocean’ for the 
person; meanwhile, its forcefully rippling waves happen to be the countless visible forms and 
sights, which the eye sees!  
 
“Now, know this Bhikkhus!  
 
“Whoever is able to withstand those endless currents of powerful waves of visible forms, while 
coming out unscathed from all the sights the eye sees, is the only one, who is declared to have 
truly traversed ‘the eye ocean!’ He is the one, indeed, who has faced and endured its turbulent 
waves and menacing undercurrents, its whirlpools, its many sharks and other dangerous animals, 
as well as its demons.  
 
“Thus, having crossed over, the Brahmin stands on dry land, on the farther shore.

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2. “Further, Bhikkhus, it is the ear, that is to be seen and understood as truly ‘the ocean’ for the 
person; meanwhile, its forcefully rippling waves happen to be the countless audible sounds, 
which the ear hears!  
 
“Now, know this Bhikkhus!  
 
“Whoever is able to withstand those endless currents of powerful waves of audible sounds, while 
coming out unscathed from all the sounds the ear hears, is the only one, who is declared to have 
truly traversed ‘the ear ocean!’ He is the one, indeed, who has faced and endured its turbulent 
waves and menacing undercurrents, its whirlpools, its many sharks, and other dangerous animals, 
as well as its demons.  
 
“Thus, having crossed over, the Brahmin stands on dry land, on the farther shore. 
 
3. “Further, Bhikkhus, it is the nose, that is to be seen and understood as truly ‘the ocean’ for the 
person; meanwhile, its forcefully rippling waves happen to be the countless odors, which the 
nose smells!  
 
“Now, know this Bhikkhus!  
 
“Whoever is able to withstand those endless currents of powerful waves of odors and fragrances, 
while coming out unscathed from all the odors the nose smells, is the only one, who is declared 
to have truly traversed ‘the nose ocean!’ He is the one, indeed, who has faced and endured its 
turbulent waves and menacing undercurrents, its whirlpools, its many sharks and other dangerous 
animals, as well as its demons.  
 
“Thus, having crossed over, the Brahmin stands on dry land, on the farther shore. 
 
4. “Further, Bhikkhus, it is the tongue, that is to be seen and understood as truly ‘the ocean’ for 
the person; meanwhile, its forcefully rippling waves happen to be the countless flavors, which 
the tongue tastes!  
 
“Now, know this Bhikkhus!  
 
“Whoever is able to withstand those endless currents of powerful waves of flavors and tastes, 
while coming out unscathed from all the flavors the tongue tastes, is the only one, who is 
declared to have truly traversed ‘the tongue ocean!’ He is the one, indeed, who has faced and 
endured its turbulent waves and menacing undercurrents, its whirlpools, its many sharks and 
other dangerous animals, as well as its demons.  
 
“Thus, having crossed over, the Brahmin stands on dry land, on the farther shore. 
 
5. “Further, Bhikkhus, it is the body, that is to be seen and understood as truly ‘the ocean’ for the 
person; meanwhile, its forcefully rippling waves happen to be the countless tactile objects, which 
the body touches!

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“Now, know this Bhikkhus!  
 
“Whoever is able to withstand those endless currents of powerful waves of tactile objects, while 
coming out unscathed from all the tactile objects the body touches, is the only one, who is 
declared to have truly traversed ‘the body ocean!’ He is the one, indeed, who has faced and 
endured its turbulent waves and menacing undercurrents, its whirlpools, its many sharks and 
other dangerous animals, as well as its demons.  
 
“Thus, having crossed over, the Brahmin stands on dry land, on the farther shore. 
 
6. “Further, Bhikkhus, it is the mind, that is to be seen and understood as truly ‘the ocean’ for the 
person; meanwhile, its forcefully rippling waves happen to be the countless mind objects and 
thoughts, which the mind thinks about and cognizes!  
 
“Now, know this Bhikkhus!  
 
“Whoever is able to withstand those endless currents of powerful waves of mind objects, while 
coming out unscathed from all the thoughts and perceptions the mind cognizes and processes, is 
the only one, who is declared to have truly traversed ‘the mind ocean!’ He is the one, indeed, 
who has faced and endured its turbulent waves and menacing undercurrents, its whirlpools, its 
many sharks and other dangerous animals, as well as its demons.  
 
“Thus, having crossed over, the Brahmin stands on dry land, on the farther shore.” 
 
This is what The Blessed One said.  
 
Then, having uttered those words, The Sugata, The Fortunate One, The Great Teacher, spoke 
these verses: 
 
‘The One who has traversed the vast ocean, so hard to cross, 
Navigating through its menacing currents, whirlpools, and forceful waves, 
Its countless dangerous animals and sharks, and demons too; 
The true master of knowledge completing the goal of the Holy Life, 
Reaches the world’s end,  
And is thus recognized as 
The one who has gone beyond, indeed.’ 
 
 
Sādhu 
 
Sādhu 
 
Sādhu
