Whoever has let go of passion, aversion, and delusion is called one who has crossed beyond the ocean—with its waves, currents, whirlpools, lurking with fierce animals and monsters.

The Buddha uses a simile of two or three drops of water drawn out from the great ocean to illustrate the extent of suffering that is exhausted and overcome by a disciple of the Noble Ones who has attained right view.

The Buddha uses the simile of an ocean to describe the six sense bases and their respective objects.