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