SA-2 199（一九九）

Thus have I heard:

Once, the Buddha was staying in Rajagriha. At that time, a brahman named Utkala came to where the Buddha was, greeted the Buddha, and sat to one side. He then asked the Buddha, "Gautama! Is the entire world finite or infinite?"

The Buddha told Utkala, "I have not answered such questions before."

Utkala said, "Gautama! I asked about the world being finite or infinite, but you did not answer. If that is so, you always teach the Dharma and explain questions. What do you answer?"

The Buddha said, "Utkala! I have fully understood all dharmas and distinguish the right path for my disciples, removing all suffering and exhausting its limits."

Utkala said, "Gautama! You have fully understood all dharmas and teach the right path to your disciples, removing all suffering and exhausting its limits. If that is so, do all people practice this path that you have attained, or are there some who practice this path?" At that time, the Tathāgata remained silent and did not answer. The second and third times he asked the same question, the Tathāgata remained silent and did not respond.

At that time, Ānanda was holding a fan and serving the Buddha, fanning the Buddha with the fan. Hearing what Utkala had asked, he said to him, "What you ask later is no different from before. That is why the World-Honored One remains silent and does not answer you. Let me explain a parable for you. It is like a border city with strong walls, railings, and windows. The streets, lanes, government offices, and markets are arranged without confusion. But this city has only one gate. The gatekeeper is wise and intelligent, with a great power of memory, and is good at distinguishing guests and old acquaintances. He lets those he knows enter and blocks those he does not know. When the people in the city want to leave, not knowing the way out, they look around and see no holes, only this one gate through which they seek to leave. Although the wise gatekeeper does not know all the types of people in the city, he knows that those who want to leave the city all go through this gate. In this way, Utkala, the Tathāgata is also like this. Although he does not fully know and distinguish, he knows that entering and leaving are all through this gate. The Tathāgata is also like this. He knows the limits of past, present, and future suffering, all through this path, and attains the end of suffering."

The brāhman Utkala, having heard the Buddha's teaching, was delighted and left.