This teaching is from Deepening One’s Perspective on the World from the book “In the Buddha’s Words” by Bhikkhu Bodhi.

Assusutta—Bhikkhu Sujato

The tears you have shed in transmigration are greater than the waters in the oceans

At Sāvatthī.

“Mendicants, transmigration has no known beginning.

No first point is found of sentient beings roaming and transmigrating, shrouded by ignorance and fettered by craving.

What do you think? Which is more: the flow of tears you’ve shed while roaming and transmigrating for such a very long time—weeping and wailing from being united with the unloved and separated from the loved—or the water in the four oceans?”

“As we understand the Buddha’s teaching, the flow of tears we’ve shed while roaming and transmigrating is more than the water in the four oceans.”

“Good, good, mendicants! It’s good that you understand my teaching like this.

The flow of tears you’ve shed while roaming and transmigrating is indeed more than the water in the four oceans.

For a long time you’ve undergone the death of a mother …father …brother …sister …son …daughter …loss of relatives …loss of wealth …or loss through illness. From being united with the unloved and separated from the loved, the flow of tears you’ve shed while roaming and transmigrating is indeed more than the water in the four oceans.

Why is that?

Transmigration has no known beginning. …This is quite enough for you to become disillusioned, dispassionate, and freed regarding all conditions.”

In this teaching, the Buddha is sharing on the beginningless nature of transmigration. The word ignorance deriving from the Pali word avijjā should be read as not knowing of true reality. The Buddha is sharing the enormity of the cause of suffering so one may understand the relative nature of their present attachments and be diligent in their practice.

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