The Theories
The Round of the Past
Theories About a Finite and Infinite World
"There are recluses and Brahmans, monks, who, upon four grounds, theorize that the world is finite or infinite. What are the means and references that these honorable recluses and Brahmans use?
Monks, there are recluses or Brahmans who, through ardor, endeavor, application, persistence and reflection, attain such a degree of mental concentration that they imagine the world to be finite. They think: 'The world is finite such that a path could be traced around it. Why is that? That is because I, through ardor, endeavor, application, persistence and reflection, attained such a degree of mental concentration that I know the world is finite such that a path could be traced around it.'
This, monks, is the first case."
The second case is a repetition of the first differing only in the conclusion: "The world is infinite and without limit. Those who say that it is finite such that a path could be traced around it are wrong."
The third case is a repetition of the first differing only in the conclusion: "The world is finite in the upward and downward direction, but it is infinite across. Those who say that it is finite such that a path could be traced around it are wrong. Likewise, those who say that the world is infinite and without limit are wrong."
"What are the means and references that these honorable recluses and Brahmans use regarding the fourth case?
Monks, there are recluses or Brahmans who speculate using logic and reason. They think: 'The world is neither finite nor infinite. Those who say that it is finite such that a path could be traced around it are wrong. Likewise, those who say that the world is infinite and without limit are wrong. Furthermore, those who say that it is both finite and infinite are wrong.'
This, monks, is the fourth case.
These, monks, are those recluses and Brahmans who, upon four grounds, theorize that the world is finite or infinite. Recluses and Brahmans who maintain this view do so only within the boundaries of these four cases.
Monks, the Tathāgata understands how these misguided theories were formulated. These are the Dhammas that an outsider, when speaking well of the Tathāgata, might speak."