Sutta Pitaka
Saṃyutta Nikāya
Division II –– Nidāna
Book 12 –– Abhisamaya Saṃyutta
Chapter 10 –– Abhisamaya Vagga
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammā sambuddhassa
12. 10. 1.
(214) Nakhasikhā –– On the Nail
1. At one time the Blessed One was living in the monastery offered by Anāthapiṇḍika in Jeta’s grove in Sāvatthī.
2. The Blessed One picked up a little soil on the nail of his thumb and addressed the bhikkhus: “Bhikkhus, where do you find more soil, is it on the nail of my thumb or on this great earth?”
3. “Venerable sir, there is more soil on this earth than on the nail of the thumb. The Blessed One has taken up, only a little of the soil on his nail, it does not come up to one hundredth portion of the soil on earth, not even the one thousandth portion and not even the one hundred thousandth portion, compared to the soil on the earth.”
4. “In the same manner bhikkhus, the unpleasantness already scattered and exhausted by the noble disciple who has come to righteousness of view, has penetrated the Teaching, is very much more and it is only a little that remains to be exhausted, not even the one hundred thousandth portion and certainly not more. The unpleasantness that remains to be exhausted is the unpleasantness of seven lives the maximum.
5. “Thus the realization of the Teaching is very beneficial and very fruitful.”
12. 10. 2.
(215) Pokkharaṇī –– A Pond
1. At one time the Blessed One was living in the monastery offered by Anāthapiṇḍika in Jeta’s grove in Sāvatthī.
2. “Bhikkhus, in a pond which is five hundred yojanas [*] by the length, breadth and the depth there is water up to the brim, for even crows to drink. A man comes to draw water from the pond with a blade of grass. Bhikkhus, where is the more water is it in the pond or on the blade of grass?”
3. “Venerable sir, indeed there is more water in the pond than on the blade of grass. The water on the blade of grass, does not come up to one hundredth portion of the water in the pond, not even the one thousandth portion, and not even the one hundred thousandth portion, compared to the water in the pond.”
4. “In the same manner, bhikkhus, the unpleasantness already scattered and exhausted by the noble disciple who has come to righteousness of view, has penetrated the Teaching, is very much more and it is only a little that remains to be exhausted, not even the one hundred thousandth portion and certainly not more. The unpleasantness that remains to be exhausted is the unpleasantness of seven lives the maximum.
5. “Thus the realization of the Teaching is very beneficial and very fruitful.”
12. 10. 3.
(216) Sambhejja Udaka I –– The Confluence of Rivers I
1. At one time the Blessed One was living in the monastery offered by Anāthapiṇḍika in Jeta’s grove in Sāvatthī.
2. Bhikkhus, a man comes to the confluence of the rivers such as the Ganges, Yamunā, Aciravathī, Sarabhū and Mahī and takes two or three drops of water. Bhikkhus, where would you find more water is it the two or three drops of water the man has drawn or the water at the confluence of the rivers?”
3. “Venerable sir, indeed there is more water at the confluence of the rivers. The two or three drops of water the man has drawn does not come up to one hundredth portion of the water at the confluence of the, rivers not even the one thousandth portion, and not even the one hundred thousandth portion, compared to the two or three drops of water.”
4. “In the same manner, bhikkhus, the unpleasantness already scattered and exhausted by the noble disciple who has come to righteousness of view, has penetrated the Teaching is very much more and it is only a little that remains to be exhausted, not even the one hundred thousandth portion and certainly not more. The unpleasantness that remains to be exhausted is the unpleasantness of seven lives the maximum.
5. “Thus the realization of the Teaching is very beneficial and very fruitful.”
12. 10. 4.
(217) Sambhejja Udaka II –– Water at the Rivers’ Confluence II
1. At one time the Blessed One was living in the monastery offered by Anāthapiṇḍika in Jeta’s grove in Sāvatthī.
2. “Bhikkhus, the water at the confluence of the rivers such as the Ganges, Yamunā, Aciravathī, Sarabhū and Mahī get exhausted and consumed excepting two or three drops of water. Bhikkhus, what would be the more water, is it the exhausted and consumed portion at the confluence of the rivers or the remaining two or three drops of water?”
3. “Venerable sir, indeed, more water is exhausted and consumed at the confluence of the rivers. The two or three drops of water that remain cannot be reckoned do not come up to one hundredth portion of the water at the confluence of the, rivers not even the one thousandth portion, and not even the one hundred thousandth portion, compared to the two or three drops of water that remain.”
4. “In the same manner, bhikkhus, the unpleasantness already scattered and exhausted by the noble disciple who has come to righteousness of view, has penetrated the Teaching is very much more and it is only a little that remains to be exhausted, not even the one hundred thousandth portion and certainly not more. The unpleasantness that remains to be exhausted is the unpleasantness of seven lives the maximum.
5. “Thus the realization of the Teaching is very beneficial and very fruitful.”
12. 10. 5.
(218) Paṭhavī I –– The Earth I
1. At one time the Blessed One was living in the monastery offered by Anāthapiṇḍika in Jeta’s grove in Sāvatthī.
2. “Bhikkhus, a man takes seven balls of mud from the great earth, the size of the kernel of the jujube and place them on top of each other. Bhikkhus, where is there more earth is it in the seven balls of mud placed on top of each other or in this great earth?”
3. “Venerable sir, indeed, this great earth is more in volume than the seven balls of mud placed on top of each other the size of the kernel of a jujube. It cannot be reckoned, do not come up to one hundredth portion of the earth not even the one thousandth portion, and not even the one hundred thousandth portion, compared to the seven balls of mud the size of jujube kernels placed on top of each other.”
4. “In the same manner bhikkhus, the unpleasantness already scattered and exhausted by the noble disciple who has come to righteousness of view, has penetrated the Teaching is very much more and it is only a little that remains to be exhausted, not even the one hundred thousandth portion and certainly not more. The unpleasantness that remains to be exhausted is the unpleasantness of seven lives the maximum.
5. “Thus the realization of the Teaching is very beneficial and very fruitful.”
12. 10. 6.
(219) Paṭhavī II –– The Earth II
1. At one time the Blessed One was living in the monastery offered by Anāthapiṇḍika in Jeta’s grove in Sāvatthī.
2. “Bhikkhus, the great earth gets exhausted and consumed leaving behind seven balls of mud the size of the kernel of the jujube. Bhikkhus, which is the greater the exhausted and consumed portion of the earth or the seven balls of mud left?”
3. “Venerable sir, indeed, this great earth that has exhausted and is consumed is more in volume than the seven balls of mud, the size of the kernel of a jujube. The remaining seven balls of mud cannot be reckoned, do not come up to one hundredth portion of the earth not even the one thousandth portion, and not even the one hundred thousandth portion.”
4. “In the same manner, bhikkhus, the unpleasantness already scattered and exhausted by the noble disciple who has come to righteousness of view, has penetrated the Teaching is very much more and it is only a little that remains to be exhausted, not even the one hundred thousandth portion and certainly not more. The unpleasantness that remains to be exhausted is the unpleasantness of seven lives the maximum.
5. “Thus the realization of the Teaching is very beneficial and very fruitful.”
12. 10. 7.
(220) Samudda I –– The Ocean I
1. At one time the Blessed One was living in the monastery offered by Anāthapiṇḍika in Jeta’s grove in Sāvatthī.
2. “Bhikkhus, a man takes two or three drops of water from the ocean. Bhikkhus, isn’t the water in the ocean, the major portion and not the two or three drops of water taken from the ocean?”
3. “Venerable sir, indeed, the water in the great ocean is much more than the two or three drops of water taken from it and cannot be reckoned, it does not come up to one hundredth portion of the water in the ocean not even the one thousandth portion, and not even the one hundred thousandth portion, compared to the water in the ocean.”
4. “In the same manner bhikkhus, the unpleasantness already scattered and exhausted by the noble disciple who has come to righteousness of view, has penetrated the Teaching is very much more and it is only a little that remains to be exhausted, not even the one hundred thousandth portion and certainly not more. The unpleasantness that remains to be exhausted is the unpleasantness of seven lives the maximum.
5. “Thus the realization of the Teaching is very beneficial and very fruitful.”
12. 10. 8.
(221) Samudda II –– The Ocean II
1. At one time the Blessed One was living in the monastery offered by Anāthapiṇḍika in Jeta’s grove in Sāvatthī.
2. “Bhikkhus, the water in the great ocean diminishes and dries up, leaving behind two or three drops of water. Bhikkhus, what is more the water that has diminished and dried up, or the two or three drops of water that are left behind?”
3. “Venerable sir, indeed, the water, that has dried up is much more than the two or three drops of water left behind. It cannot be reckoned, it does not come up to one hundredth portion of the water in the ocean not even the one thousandth portion and not even the one hundred thousandth portion, compared to the water in the ocean.”
4. “In the same manner bhikkhus, the unpleasantness already scattered and exhausted by the noble disciple who has come to righteousness of view, has penetrated the Teaching is very much more and it is only a little that remains to be exhausted, not even the one hundred thousandth portion and certainly not more. The unpleasantness that remains to be exhausted is the unpleasantness of seven lives the maximum.
5. “Thus the realization of the Teaching is very beneficial and very fruitful.”
12. 10. 9.
(222) Pabbatūpama I –– Comparable to a Mountain I
1. At one time the Blessed One was living in the monastery offered by Anāthapiṇḍika in Jeta’s grove in Sāvatthī.
2. “A man mounts seven pebbles of the size of mustard seeds on top of the Himalayas. Bhikkhus, which is bigger in size, the seven pebbles of the size of mustard seeds or the great Himalaya mountains?”
“Venerable sir, the Himalaya mountains are indeed bigger than the seven pebbles of the size of mustard seeds. It cannot be reckoned, it does not come up to one hundredth portion of the Himalaya mountains not even the one thousandth portion, and not even the one hundred thousandth portion, compared to the Himalaya mountains.”
4. “In the same manner bhikkhus, the unpleasantness already scattered and exhausted by the noble disciple who has come to righteousness of view, has penetrated the Teaching is very much more and it is only a little that remains to be exhausted, not even the one hundred thousandth portion and certainly not more. The unpleasantness that remains to be exhausted is the unpleasantness of seven lives the maximum.
5. “Thus the realization of the Teaching is very beneficial and very fruitful.”
12. 10. 10.
(223) Pabbatūpama II –– Comparable to a Mountain II
1. At one time the Blessed One was living in the monastery offered by Anāthapiṇḍika in Jeta’s grove in Sāvatthī.
2. “Bhikkhus, the Himalaya mountain diminishes and gets consumed exempting the seven pebbles of the size of mustard seeds. Bhikkhus, which is bigger in size, the exhausted consumed Himalaya mountains or the seven pebbles of the size of mustard seeds?”
3. “Venerable sir, the exhausted, consumed Himalaya mountains is indeed bigger than the seven pebbles of the size of mustard seeds it cannot be reckoned, it does not come up to one hundredth portion of the Himalaya mountains not even the one thousandth portion, and not even the one hundred thousandth portion, compared to the Himalaya mountains.”
4. “In the same manner, bhikkhus, the unpleasantness already scattered and exhausted by the noble disciple who has come to righteousness of view, has penetrated the Teaching is very much more and it is only a little that remains to be exhausted, not even the one hundred thousandth portion and certainly not more. The unpleasantness that remains to be exhausted is the unpleasantness of seven lives the maximum.
5. ‘Thus the realization of the Teaching is very beneficial and very fruitful.”
12. 10. 11.
(224) Pabbatūpama III –– Comparable to a Mountain III
1. At one time the Blessed One was living in the monastery offered by Anāthapiṇḍika in Jeta’s grove in Sāvatthī.
2. “Bhikkhus, a man mounts seven pebbles of the size of green grams on top of the mount Sineru. Bhikkhus, which is bigger in size, the seven pebbles of the size of green grams or the great mount Sineru?”
“Venerable sir, Mount Sineru is indeed bigger than the seven pebbles of the size of green grams, it cannot be reckoned, does not come up to one hundredth portion of Mount Sineru not even the one thousandth portion, and not even the one hundred thousandth portion, compared to Mount Sineru.”
4. “In the same manner, bhikkhus, the attainment of the noble disciple who has come to righteousness of view, has penetrated the Teaching is very much more exalted than the attainments of recluses and Brahmins of other sects. Their attainments are not the one hundredth, one thousandth, nor the one hundred thousandth portion of the noble one’s attainment.
5. “Thus the attainment of right view is attainment of great knowledge.”
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1. A yojana is equal to about seven miles. [Go back]
