In short: in SN 15.3 the Buddha asks which is more: the water in the four oceans, or the tears we have shed over countless lives through loss and separation. The tears, he says. It is a teaching on how long and painful wandering in saṁsāra is.
"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 coupled with the unloved and separated from the loved, or the water in the four oceans?" The monks answered: the tears are more.
What it means
The image is not meant to crush, but to open the heart: everyone has grieved, again and again. Grief is shared by all beings, which is a ground for compassion, and a reason to seek a way beyond it. If you are grieving now, see Buddhist quotes on sadness and grief and Buddhist words for the dead.
Read the full guide
The full text in Pāli and English
Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato, from SuttaCentral (SN15.3). Ellipses (…) are abbreviations in the original. Notes are ANEW's.
| Pāli | English |
|---|---|
| Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati. | At Sāvatthī. |
| “Anamataggoyaṁ, bhikkhave, saṁsāro. | “Mendicants, this transmigration has no known beginning. |
| Pubbā koṭi na paññāyati avijjānīvaraṇānaṁ sattānaṁ taṇhāsaṁyojanānaṁ sandhāvataṁ saṁsarataṁ. | No first point is found of sentient beings roaming and transmigrating, shrouded by ignorance and fettered by craving. |
| Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, katamaṁ nu kho bahutaraṁ, yaṁ vā vo iminā dīghena addhunā sandhāvataṁ saṁsarataṁ amanāpasampayogā manāpavippayogā kandantānaṁ rodantānaṁ assu passannaṁ paggharitaṁ, yaṁ vā catūsu mahāsamuddesu udakan”ti? | 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 coupled with the unloved and separated from the loved—or the water in the four oceans?” |
| “Yathā kho mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavatā dhammaṁ desitaṁ ājānāma, etadeva, bhante, bahutaraṁ yaṁ no iminā dīghena addhunā sandhāvataṁ saṁsarataṁ amanāpasampayogā manāpavippayogā kandantānaṁ rodantānaṁ assu passannaṁ paggharitaṁ, na tveva catūsu mahāsamuddesu udakan”ti. | “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.” |
| “Sādhu sādhu, bhikkhave, sādhu kho me tumhe, bhikkhave, evaṁ dhammaṁ desitaṁ ājānātha. | “Good, good, mendicants! It’s good that you understand my teaching like this. |
| Etadeva, bhikkhave, bahutaraṁ yaṁ vo iminā dīghena addhunā sandhāvataṁ saṁsarataṁ amanāpasampayogā manāpavippayogā kandantānaṁ rodantānaṁ assu passannaṁ paggharitaṁ, na tveva catūsu mahāsamuddesu udakaṁ. | The flow of tears you’ve shed while roaming and transmigrating is indeed more than the water in the four oceans. |
| Dīgharattaṁ vo, bhikkhave, mātumaraṇaṁ paccanubhūtaṁ; | For a long time you’ve undergone the death of a mother … |
| tesaṁ vo mātumaraṇaṁ paccanubhontānaṁ amanāpasampayogā manāpavippayogā kandantānaṁ rodantānaṁ assu passannaṁ paggharitaṁ, na tveva catūsu mahāsamuddesu udakaṁ. | |
| Dīgharattaṁ vo, bhikkhave, pitumaraṇaṁ paccanubhūtaṁ …pe… | father … |
| bhātumaraṇaṁ paccanubhūtaṁ … | brother … |
| bhaginimaraṇaṁ paccanubhūtaṁ … | sister … |
| puttamaraṇaṁ paccanubhūtaṁ … | son … |
| dhītumaraṇaṁ paccanubhūtaṁ … | daughter … |
| ñātibyasanaṁ paccanubhūtaṁ … | loss of relatives … |
| bhogabyasanaṁ paccanubhūtaṁ. | loss of wealth … |
| Dīgharattaṁ vo, bhikkhave, rogabyasanaṁ paccanubhūtaṁ, tesaṁ vo rogabyasanaṁ paccanubhontānaṁ amanāpasampayogā manāpavippayogā kandantānaṁ rodantānaṁ assu passannaṁ paggharitaṁ, na tveva catūsu mahāsamuddesu udakaṁ. | or loss through illness. From being coupled 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. |
| Taṁ kissa hetu? | Why is that? |
| Anamataggoyaṁ, bhikkhave, saṁsāro …pe… | This transmigration has no known beginning. … |
| yāvañcidaṁ, bhikkhave, alameva sabbasaṅkhāresu nibbindituṁ, alaṁ virajjituṁ, alaṁ vimuccitun”ti. | This is quite enough for you to become disillusioned, dispassionate, and freed regarding all conditions.” |
| Tatiyaṁ. |
A father's grief and the Buddha's answer: born from the beloved.
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Questions people ask
What is the Buddhist teaching about tears and the ocean?
In SN 15.3 the Buddha says the tears we have shed over countless lives, from losing what we love and meeting what we dislike, are more than the water in the four oceans.