________________
296
"And so you had in your mind whether the abode of the perfected souls is with limit or without limit. On this too, I ordain that the abode of the perfected souls is to be viewed from four angles, viz., substance, place, time and phenomena, As to substance, the abode of the perfected souls is one and with limit. As to place, this abode of the perfected souls extends over an area of 45,00, 000 yojanas in length, and so also in breadth, and with a circumference which is 142, 30, 249 hundred-thousand yojanas more or less, but still with limit. As to time, there was no time, nor there will be any, when the abode of the perfected souls did not, does not and will not exist. As to phenomena, the same as with the spheres. So, you see, the abode of the perfected souls is, as to substance, with limit, and so also as to place; but without limit as to time, and so also without limit as to phenomena".
"And Skandaka, you had in mind whether the perfected souls are with limit or without limit. Here, too, you have to consider them in terms of the same four, viz., as to substance, as to place, as to time and as to phenomena. As to substance, the perfected souls are one and with limit; as to place, the perfected souls are in possession of innumerable space-units and hold innumerable space-units, but still with limit; as to time, the perfected souls are with a genesis but without limit; as to phenomena, the perfected souls are in possession of limitless knowledge, limitless vision, till in possession of limitless non-heaviness, limitless, non-lightness, still without limit. So, you see, the perfected souls are, as to substance, with limit: as to place, with limit: but as to time, without limit, and so without limit as to phenomena".
"And then, Skandaka, you had in mind, by what death does a being enlongen his stay and by what death do es he shorten it. On this, I say that death is of two types, viz., death of the fool (bāla marana) and death of the prudent (pandita-marana).
"And what about the death of the fool"?
"Well, it may occur by 12 causes which are",