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Cūḷasamudda

An elder of Sri Lanka (Tambapaṇṇi). Once, in a time of famine, seven hundred monks came to him early in the day. Realising that he could not get alms anywhere in Sri Lanka, he took them across to Pāṭaliputta by his psychic-power.

Before he started the monks asked him the time, and when he told them they said, “But, Sir, Pāṭaliputta is far off!”

“Friends, aged elders seize the distance and make it near.”

“Where is the ocean, Sir?” “Friends, that was the dark ditch you passed on the way!”

“But, Sir, the ocean is large!” “Friends, aged elders make the great small.” (Vism.403).

The Majjhimanikāya Commentary (ii.758) mentions a Gavilaṅgana-vāsi Cūḷasammuda who, when asked what he wished for, answered, “Supramundane (lokuttara) things only.”