The Connected Discourses of the Buddha
Page 206
52 (2) The Pond
“Bhikkhus, suppose there were a pond fifty yojanas long, fifty yojanas wide, and fifty yojanas deep, full of water, overflowing so that a crow could drink from it, and a man would draw out some water from it on the tip of a blade of kusa grass. What do you think, bhikkhus, which is more: the water drawn out on the tip of the blade of kusa grass or the water in the pond?”
“Venerable sir, the water in the pond is more. The water drawn out on the tip of the blade of kusa grass is trifling. Compared to the water in the pond, the water drawn out on the tip of the blade of kusa grass is not calculable, does not bear comparison, does not amount even to a fraction.”
“So too, bhikkhus, for a noble disciple … Therefore an exertion should be made.…”
53 (3) Water at the Confluence (1)
“Bhikkhus, suppose that in the place where these great rivers meet and converge—that is, the Ganges, the Yamunā, the Aciravatī, the Sarabhū, and the Mahī—a man would draw out two or three drops of water. [461] What do you think, bhikkhus, which is more: these two or three drops of water that have been drawn out or the water at the confluence?”
“Venerable sir, the water at the confluence is more. The two or three drops of water that have been drawn out are trifling. Compared to the water at the confluence, the two or three drops of water that have been drawn out are not calculable, do not bear comparison, do not amount even to a fraction.”
“So too, bhikkhus, for a noble disciple … Therefore an exertion should be made.…”
54 (4) Water at the Confluence (2)
“Bhikkhus, suppose that in the place where these great rivers meet and converge—that is, the Ganges, the Yamunā, the Aciravatī, the Sarabhū, and the Mahī—their water would be destroyed and eliminated except for two or three drops. What do you think, bhikkhus, which is more: the water at the confluence that has been destroyed and eliminated or the two or three drops of water that remain?”
“Venerable sir, the water at the confluence that has been destroyed and eliminated is more; the two or three drops of water that remain are trifling. Compared to the water at the confluence that has been destroyed and eliminated, the two or three drops of water that remain are trifling; they are not calculable, do not bear comparison, do not amount even to a fraction.”
“So too, bhikkhus, for a noble disciple … Therefore an exertion should be made.…” [462]
55 (5) The Earth (1)
“Bhikkhus, suppose that a man would place seven little balls of clay the size of jujube kernels on the great earth. What do you think, bhikkhus, which is more: those seven little balls of clay the size of jujube kernels that have been placed there or the great earth?”
“Venerable sir, the great earth is more. The seven little balls of clay the size of jujube kernels are trifling. Compared to the great earth, those seven little balls of clay the size of jujube kernals are trifling; they are not calculable, do not bear comparison, do not amount even to a fraction.”
“So too, bhikkhus, for a noble disciple … Therefore an exertion should be made.…”
56 (6) The Earth (2)
“Bhikkhus, suppose that the great earth would be destroyed and eliminated except for seven little balls of clay the size of jujube kernels. What do you think, bhikkhus, which is more: the great earth that has been destroyed and eliminated or the seven little balls of clay the size of jujube kernels that remain?”
“Venerable sir, the great earth that has been destroyed and eliminated is more. The seven little balls of clay the size of jujube kernels that remain are trifling. Compared to the great earth that has been destroyed and eliminated, the seven little balls of clay the size of jujube kernels that remain are not calculable, do not bear comparison, do not amount even to a fraction.”
“So too, bhikkhus, for a noble disciple … Therefore an exertion should be made.…” [463]
57 (7) The Ocean (1)
“Bhikkhus, suppose that a man would draw out two or three drops of water from the great ocean. What do you think, bhikkhus, which is more: the two or three drops of water that have been drawn out or the water in the great ocean?”
“Venerable sir, the water in the great ocean is more. The two or three drops of water that have been drawn out are trifling. Compared to the water in the great ocean, the two or three drops of water that have been drawn out are not calculable, do not bear comparison, do not amount even to a fraction.”
“So too, bhikkhus, for a noble disciple … Therefore an exertion should be made.…”
58 (8) The Ocean (2)
“Bhikkhus, suppose that the great ocean would be destroyed and eliminated except for two or three drops of water. What do you think, bhikkhus, which is more: the water in the great ocean that has been destroyed and eliminated or the two or three drops of water that remain?”
“Venerable sir, the water in the great ocean that has been destroyed and eliminated is more. The two or three drops of water that remain are trifling. Compared to the water that has been destroyed and eliminated, the two or three drops of water that remain are not calculable, do not bear comparison, do not amount even to a fraction.”
“So too, bhikkhus, for a noble disciple … Therefore an exertion should be made.…” [464]
59 (9) The Mountain (1)
“Bhikkhus, suppose that a man would place on the Himalayas, the king of mountains, seven grains of gravel the size of mustard seeds. What do you think, bhikkhus, which is more: the seven grains of gravel the size of mustard seeds that have been placed there or the Himalayas, the king of mountains?”
“Venerable sir, the Himalayas, the king of mountains, is more. The seven grains of gravel the size of mustard seeds are trifling. Compared to the Himalayas, the king of mountains, the seven grains of gravel the size of mustard seeds are not calculable, do not bear comparison, do not amount even to a fraction.”
“So too, bhikkhus, for a noble disciple … Therefore an exertion should be made.…”
60 (10) The Mountain (2)
“Bhikkhus, suppose that the Himalayas, the king of mountains, would be destroyed and eliminated except for seven grains of gravel the size of mustard seeds. What do you think, bhikkhus, which is more: the portion of the Himalayas, the king of mountains, that has been destroyed and eliminated or the seven grains of gravel the size of mustard seeds that remain?”
“Venerable sir, the portion of the Himalayas, the king of mountains, that has been destroyed and eliminated is more. The seven grains of gravel the size of mustard seeds that remain are trifling. Compared to the portion of the Himalayas, the king of mountains, that has been destroyed and eliminated, the seven grains of gravel the size of mustard seeds that remain are not calculable, do not bear comparison, do not amount even to a fraction.”
“So too, bhikkhus, for a noble disciple, a person accomplished in view who has made the breakthrough, [465] the suffering that has been destroyed and eliminated is more, while that which remains is trifling. Compared to the former mass of suffering that has been destroyed and eliminated, the latter is not calculable, does not bear comparison, does not amount even to a fraction, as there is a maximum of seven more lives. He is one who understands as it really is: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the way leading to the cessation of suffering.’
“Therefore, bhikkhus, an exertion should be made to understand: ‘This is suffering.’… An exertion should be made to understand: ‘This is the way leading to the cessation of suffering.’”
VII. FIRST RAW GRAIN REPETITION SERIES413
61 (1) Elsewhere
Then the Blessed One took up a little bit of soil in his fingernail and addressed the bhikkhus thus:
“What do you think, bhikkhus, which is more: the little bit of soil in my fingernail or the great earth?” [466]
“Venerable sir, the great earth is more. The little bit of soil that the Blessed One has taken up in his fingernail is trifling. Compared to the great earth, that little bit of soil is not calculable, does not bear
comparison, does not amount even to a fraction.”
“So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who are reborn among human beings. But those beings are more numerous who are reborn elsewhere than among human beings.414 For what reason? Because, bhikkhus, they have not seen the Four Noble Truths. What four? The noble truth of suffering, the noble truth of the origin of suffering, the noble truth of the cessation of suffering, the noble truth of the way leading to the cessation of suffering.
“Therefore, bhikkhus, an exertion should be made to understand: ‘This is suffering.’… An exertion should be made to understand: ‘This is the way leading to the cessation of suffering.’”
62 (2) Outlying Countries
Then the Blessed One took up a little bit of soil in his fingernail and addressed the bhikkhus thus.…
“So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who are reborn in the middle countries. But those beings are more numerous who are reborn in the outlying countries among the uncultured barbarians. …” [467]
63 (3) Wisdom
… “So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who possess the noble eye of wisdom. But these beings are more numerous, who are immersed in ignorance and confused.…”
64 (4) Wines and Liquors
… “So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who abstain from wine, liquors, and intoxicants that are a basis for negligence. But these beings are more numerous who do not abstain from wines, liquors, and intoxicants that are a basis for negligence.…”
65 (5) Water-Born
… “So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who are born on high ground. But these beings are more numerous who are born in water.…”
66 (6) Who Honour Mother
… “So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who honour their mother. But these beings are more numerous who do not honour their mother.…”
67 (7) Who Honour Father
… “So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who honour their father. But these beings are more numerous who do not honour their father.…” [468]
68 (8) Who Honour Ascetics
… “So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who honour ascetics. But these beings are more numerous who do not honour ascetics. …”
69 (9) Who Honour Brahmins
… “So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who honour brahmins. But these beings are more numerous who do not honour brahmins.…”
70 (10) Who Respect Elders
… “So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who respect their elders in the family. But these beings are more numerous who do not respect their elders in the family.…”
VIII. SECOND RAW GRAIN REPETITION SERIES
71 (1) Killing Living Beings415
… “So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who abstain from the destruction of life. But these beings are more numerous who do not abstain from the destruction of life.…” [469]
72 (2) Taking What Is Not Given
… “So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who abstain from taking what is not given. But these beings are more numerous who do not abstain from taking what is not given.…”
73 (3) Sexual Misconduct
… “So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who abstain from sexual misconduct. But these beings are more numerous who do not abstain from sexual misconduct.…”
74 (4) False Speech
… “So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who abstain from false speech. But these beings are more numerous who do not abstain from false speech.…”
75 (5) Divisive Speech
… “So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who abstain from divisive speech. But these beings are more numerous who do not abstain from divisive speech.…”
76 (6) Harsh Speech
… “So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who abstain from harsh speech. But these beings are more numerous who do not abstain from harsh speech.…”
77 (7) Idle Chatter
… “So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who abstain from idle chatter. But these beings are more numerous who do not abstain from idle chatter.…” [470]
78 (8) Seed Life 416
… “So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who abstain from damaging seed and plant life. But these beings are more numerous who do not abstain from damaging seed and plant life.…”
79 (9) Improper Times
… “So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who abstain from eating at improper times. But these beings are more numerous who do not abstain from eating at improper times.…”
80 (10) Scents and Unguents
… “So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who abstain from wearing garlands, embellishing themselves with scents, and beautifying themselves with unguents. But these beings are more numerous who do not so abstain.…”
IX. THIRD RAW GRAIN REPETITION SERIES
81 (1) Dancing and Singing
… “So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who abstain from dancing, singing, instrumental music, and unsuitable shows. [471] But these beings are more numerous who do not so abstain.…”
82 (2) High Beds
… “So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who abstain from high and luxurious beds and seats. But these beings are more numerous who do not so abstain.…”
83 (3) Gold and Silver
… “So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who abstain from accepting gold and silver. But these beings are more numerous who do not so abstain.…”
84 (4) Raw Grain
… “So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who abstain from accepting raw grain. But these beings are more numerous who do not so abstain.…”
85 (5) Raw Meat
… “So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who abstain from accepting raw meat. But these beings are more numerous who do not so abstain.…”
86 (6) Girls
… “So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who abstain from accepting women and girls. But these beings are more numerous who do not so abstain.…” [472]
87 (7) Slaves
… “So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who abstain from accepting male and female slaves. But these beings are more numerous who do not so abstain.…”
88 (8) Goats and Sheep
… “So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who abstain from accepting goats and sheep. But these beings are more numerous who do not so abstain.…”
89 (9) Fowl and Swine
… “So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who abstain from accepting fowl and swine. But these beings are more numerous who do not so abstain.…”
90 (10) Elephants
… “So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who abstain from accepting elephants, cattle, horses, and mares. But these beings are more numerous who do not so abstain.…”
[473]
X. FOURTH RAW GRAIN REPETITION SERIES
91 (1) Fields
… “So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who abstain from accepting fields and land. But these beings are more numerous who do not so abstain.…”
92 (2) Buying and Selling
… “So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who abstain from buying and selling. But these beings are more numerous who do not so abstain.…”
93 (3) Messages
… “So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who abstain from running messages and errands. But these beings are more numerous who do not so abstain.…”
94 (4) False Weights
… “So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who abstain from false weights, false metals, and false measures. But these beings are more numerous who do not so abstain.…”