Benefits for One’s Confidence in The Tathāgata

A thousand times the world in which the sun and moon revolve and light up the quarters with their brightness is called a thousandfold minor world system. In that thousandfold world system there are a thousand moons, a thousand suns, a thousand Sinerus King of mountains, a thousand Jambudīpas, a thousand Aparagoyānas, a thousand Uttarakurus, a thousand Pubbavidehas, and a thousand four great oceans; a thousand four great Kings, a thousand [heavens] of heavenly beings [ruled by] The Four Great Kings, a thousand Tāvatiṃsa [heavens], a thousand Yāma [heavens], a thousand Tusita [heavens], a thousand [heavens] of heavenly beings who excite in creation, a thousand [heavens] of heavenly beings who control what is created by others, a thousand Brahmā worlds.

A world that is a thousand times a thousandfold minor world system is called a thousand‑to‑the‑second‑power middling world system. A world that is a thousand times a thousand‑to‑the‑second‑power middling world system is called a thousand‑to‑the‑third‑power great world system.

Ānanda, The Tathāgata can convey his voice as far as he would like in a thousand‑to‑the‑third‑power great world system.

‘But in what way, Venerable Sir, can The Tathāgata convey his voice as far as he would like in a thousand-to-the-third-power great world system?’

Here, Ānanda, The Tathāgata fills with his radiance a thousand‑to‑the‑third‑power great world system. When those beings perceive that light, then The Tathāgata projects his voice and makes them hear its sound.

It is in such a way, Ānanda, that The Tathāgata can convey his voice as far as he would like in a thousand‑to‑the‑third‑power great world system.

When this was said, the Venerable Ānanda said to The Perfectly Enlightened One: ‘It is my good fortune! I am very fortunate that my Teacher is so powerful and mighty.’

When this was said, the Venerable Udāyī said to the Venerable Ānanda: ‘What is it to you, friend Ānanda, that your Teacher is so powerful and mighty?’

When this was said, The Perfectly Enlightened One said to the Venerable Udāyī: Do not say so, Udāyī! Do not say so, Udāyī!

Udāyī, if Ānanda were to die without being free of craving, then because of his confidence he would exercise heavenly kingship among the heavenly beings seven times and great kingship in this Jambudīpa (one of the great continents) seven times.

However, in this very life Ānanda will attain Final Nibbāna (Final Enlightenment).

(Reference: AN 3.80)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares that his voice can be heard across many of the “world systems” (i.e. realms).

His close Student Ānanda is proud that his Teacher’s voice can be heard across multiple realms.

The Buddha shares that Ānanda will attain Final Enlightenment in this life. This did happen as it is shared in The Pāli Canon that Ānanda attained Enlightenment and then Final Enlightenment after The Buddha’s death. The Buddha was able to foresee and predict Ānanda attaining Final Enlightenment.