SA-2 306（三〇六）

Thus have I heard:

Once, the Buddha was at Anāthapiṇḍada's Park in the Jeta Grove near Śrāvastī. At that time, a god named Red Horse, with radiance and splendor surpassing the usual, came to where the Buddha was, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, sat to one side, and said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! Where can one find a place where there is no birth, aging, death, no sinking or emerging, the end of all beings? Is it possible to know such a limit? "

At that time, the World-Honored One said to the god Red Horse, "As for not being born, not aging, not dying, not perishing, not being reborn, no one can reach the limit, and no one can go to the end of it."

At that time, the god Red Horse said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! The World-Honored One's words are very good and rare. As for not being born, not aging, not dying, and not being able to reach the limit, why is that? I remember in the past, I was once a sage named Red Horse. I cut off the bonds of desire and attained the five supernatural powers of the world. My divine power was swift, surpassing the sun and moon. With a single leap, I could cross the great ocean. I thought, 'My divine power is so swift now. I shall go to the limit of all beings.' At that time, I was single-mindedly seeking the limit of all beings. My mind was so focused that I had no leisure, except for washing my hands, eating, and going to the toilet. In a hundred years, I still could not reach the limit of all beings, and then I died. Therefore, I know that the Tathāgata speaks well. As for not being born, not aging, not dying, not perishing, not being reborn, wanting to go there and know its limit, there is no such place."

The Buddha told the god Red Horse, "So it is! So it is! If there is no birth, aging, death, no perishing, no rebirth, the limit of beings is indeed not a place. If one wants to know, the limit of beings is the same as nirvāṇa. If one ends suffering, that is called reaching the limit."

At that time, the World-Honored One spoke a verse, saying:

Although there is this spiritual power, in the end, one cannot
attain the limit of beings. If one cannot reach the limit
how can one end suffering? Therefore, I, the sage, am called
one who knows the world well. Only those with superior wisdom
can understand the limit. The practice of purity has been established
with right wisdom reaching the limit of beings, crossing to the
other shore of the limit.

At that time, the Heavenly Son of the Red Horse heard what the Buddha said, rejoiced, bowed his head to the Buddha's feet, and returned to his heavenly palace.