6.
The Discourse on the Cosmic Cycle
156.
"There are, monks, these four incalculables of a cosmic cycle.
What are the four?
When, monks, a cosmic cycle contracts, it is not easy to reckon -
so many years, or so many hundreds of years, or so many thousands of years, or so many hundreds of thousands of years.
When, monks, a cosmic cycle remains contracted, it is not easy to reckon - so many years, or so many hundreds of years, or so many thousands of years, or so many hundreds of thousands of years.
When, monks, a cosmic cycle expands, it is not easy to reckon - so many years, or so many hundreds of years, or so many thousands of years, or so many hundreds of thousands of years.
When, monks, a cosmic cycle remains expanded, it is not easy to reckon - so many years, or so many hundreds of years, or so many thousands of years, or so many hundreds of thousands of years. These, monks, are the four incalculables of a cosmic cycle." The sixth.