<p>First, we have to understand what is meant by <em>loka</em>. There are three types of loka, according to type <em>(DN-A 2.189)</em>:</p>

<ol>
<li><em>okāsaloka</em> - the world of space</li>
<li><em>sattaloka</em> - the world of beings</li>
<li><em>saṅkhāraloka</em> - the world of formations</li>
</ol>

<p>According to the commentaries (AN-A 3.40):</p>

<blockquote>
  <p><strong>lokavidū</strong>ti tayo loke vidite pākaṭe katvā ṭhito</p>
  
  <p><em>lokavidū</em> means one who stands having made known, having made clear, the three worlds.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>The Visuddhimagga (VII.135) goes into detail about how the Buddha knows each of these three worlds, including quotes from the texts:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>“Tis utterly impossible
  <br/>To reach by travel the world’s end;
  <br/>But there is no escape from pain
  <br/>Until the world’s end has been reached.
  <br/>It is a sage, a knower of the worlds,
  <br/>Who gets to the world’s end, and it is he
  <br/>Whose life divine is lived out to its term;
  <br/>He is at peace who the world’s end has known
  <br/>And hopes for neither this world nor the next” (S I 62).</p>
  
  <p>-- <em>from Path of Purification VII.36 (Nyanamoli, trans)</em></p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-01T14:26:42.707Z
2015-08-01T14:26:42.707Z
yuttadhammo
<p>I've seen this translated as knower of worlds/cosmos and with relation to the senses as what arises, but I still don't have a solid understanding, can someone add clarity? </p>

<theravada><the-buddha><pali-language>
Detailed definition of Lokavidu
# Detailed definition of Lokavidu

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-07-31)

I've seen this translated as knower of worlds/cosmos and with relation to the senses as what arises, but I still don't have a solid understanding, can someone add clarity?

**Tags:** theravada, the-buddha, pali-language


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-08-01. Score: 4

First, we have to understand what is meant by *loka*. There are three types of loka, according to type *(DN-A 2.189)*:

1. *okāsaloka* - the world of space
2. *sattaloka* - the world of beings
3. *saṅkhāraloka* - the world of formations

According to the commentaries (AN-A 3.40):

> **lokavidū**ti tayo loke vidite pākaṭe katvā ṭhito
>
> *lokavidū* means one who stands having made known, having made clear, the three worlds.

The Visuddhimagga (VII.135) goes into detail about how the Buddha knows each of these three worlds, including quotes from the texts:

> “Tis utterly impossible
>   
> To reach by travel the world’s end;
>   
> But there is no escape from pain
>   
> Until the world’s end has been reached.
>   
> It is a sage, a knower of the worlds,
>   
> Who gets to the world’s end, and it is he
>   
> Whose life divine is lived out to its term;
>   
> He is at peace who the world’s end has known
>   
> And hopes for neither this world nor the next” (S I 62).
>
> -- *from Path of Purification VII.36 (Nyanamoli, trans)*


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