SN 56.51 · A Fingernail
SN 56.51 · Nakhasikhāsutta
Then the Buddha, picking up a little bit of dirt on his fingernail, addressed the mendicants: “What do you think, mendicants? Which is more: the little bit of dirt on my fingernail, or this great earth?”
Atha kho bhagavā parittaṁ nakhasikhāyaṁ paṁsuṁ āropetvā bhikkhū āmantesi: “Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, katamaṁ nu kho bahutaraṁ—yo vāyaṁ mayā paritto nakhasikhāyaṁ paṁsu āropito, ayaṁ vā mahāpathavī”ti?
“Sir, the great earth is certainly more. The little bit of dirt on your fingernail is tiny. Compared to the great earth, it doesn’t count, there’s no comparison, it’s not worth a fraction.”
“Etadeva, bhante, bahutaraṁ yadidaṁ—mahāpathavī; appamattakāyaṁ bhagavatā paritto nakhasikhāyaṁ paṁsu āropito. Saṅkhampi na upeti, upanidhampi na upeti, kalabhāgampi na upeti mahāpathaviṁ upanidhāya bhagavatā paritto nakhasikhāyaṁ paṁsu āropito”ti.
“In the same way, for an individual with comprehension, a noble disciple accomplished in view, the suffering that’s over and done with is more, what’s left is tiny. Compared to the mass of suffering in the past that’s over and done with, it doesn’t count, there’s no comparison, it’s not worth a fraction, since there are at most seven more lives. Such an individual truly understands about suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path.
“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvakassa diṭṭhisampannassa puggalassa abhisametāvino etadeva bahutaraṁ dukkhaṁ yadidaṁ parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādinnaṁ; appamattakaṁ avasiṭṭhaṁ. Saṅkhampi na upeti, upanidhampi na upeti, kalabhāgampi na upeti purimaṁ dukkhakkhandhaṁ parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādinnaṁ upanidhāya yadidaṁ sattakkhattuparamatā; yo ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti.
That’s why you should practice meditation …”
Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yogo karaṇīyo …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yogo karaṇīyo”ti.
Paṭhamaṁ.
SN 56.52 · A Lotus Pond
SN 56.52 · Pokkharaṇīsutta
“Mendicants, suppose there was a lotus pond that was fifty leagues long, fifty leagues wide, and fifty leagues deep, full to the brim so a crow could drink from it. Then a person would pick up some water on the tip of a blade of grass.
“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, pokkharaṇī paññāsayojanāni āyāmena, paññāsayojanāni vitthārena, paññāsayojanāni ubbedhena, puṇṇā udakassa samatittikā kākapeyyā. Tato puriso kusaggena udakaṁ uddhareyya.
What do you think, mendicants? Which is more: the water on the tip of the blade of grass, or the water in the lotus pond?”
Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, katamaṁ nu kho bahutaraṁ—yaṁ vā kusaggena ubbhataṁ, yaṁ vā pokkharaṇiyā udakan”ti?
“Sir, the water in the lotus pond is certainly more. The water on the tip of a blade of grass is tiny. Compared to the water in the lotus pond, it doesn’t count, there’s no comparison, it’s not worth a fraction.”
“Etadeva, bhante, bahutaraṁ, yadidaṁ—pokkharaṇiyā udakaṁ; appamattakaṁ kusaggena udakaṁ ubbhataṁ. Saṅkhampi na upeti, upanidhampi na upeti, kalabhāgampi na upeti pokkharaṇiyā udakaṁ upanidhāya kusaggena udakaṁ ubbhatan”ti.
“In the same way, for a noble disciple …
“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvakassa …pe…
That’s why you should practice meditation …”
yogo karaṇīyo”ti.
Dutiyaṁ.
SN 56.53 · Where the Waters Join Together (1st)
SN 56.53 · Paṭhamasambhejjasutta
“Mendicants, there are places where the great rivers—the Ganges, Yamunā, Aciravatī, Sarabhū, and Mahī—join together and converge. Suppose a person was to draw two or three drops of water from such a place.
“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, yatthimā mahānadiyo saṁsandanti samenti, seyyathidaṁ— gaṅgā, yamunā, aciravatī, sarabhū, mahī, tato puriso dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni uddhareyya.
What do you think, mendicants? Which is more: the two or three drops drawn out or the water in the confluence?”
Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, katamaṁ nu kho bahutaraṁ—yāni dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni ubbhatāni, yaṁ vā sambhejjaudakan”ti?
“Sir, the water in the confluence is certainly more. The two or three drops drawn out are tiny. Compared to the water in the confluence, it doesn’t count, there’s no comparison, it’s not worth a fraction.”
“Etadeva, bhante, bahutaraṁ, yadidaṁ—saṁbhejjaudakaṁ; appamattakāni dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni ubbhatāni. Saṅkhampi na upenti, upanidhampi na upenti, kalabhāgampi na upenti saṁbhejjaudakaṁ upanidhāya dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni ubbhatānī”ti.
“In the same way, for a noble disciple …
“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvakassa …pe…
That’s why you should practice meditation …”
yogo karaṇīyo”ti.
Tatiyaṁ.
SN 56.54 · Where the Waters Join Together (2nd)
SN 56.54 · Dutiyasambhejjasutta
“Mendicants, there are places where the great rivers—the Ganges, Yamunā, Aciravatī, Sarabhū, and Mahī—join together and converge. Suppose that water dried up and evaporated except two or three drops.
“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, yatthimā mahānadiyo saṁsandanti samenti, seyyathidaṁ— gaṅgā, yamunā, aciravatī, sarabhū, mahī, taṁ udakaṁ parikkhayaṁ pariyādānaṁ gaccheyya, ṭhapetvā dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni.
What do you think, mendicants? Which is more: the water in the confluence that has dried up and evaporated, or the two or three drops left?”
Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, katamaṁ nu kho bahutaraṁ—yaṁ vā saṁbhejjaudakaṁ parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādinnaṁ, yāni dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni avasiṭṭhānī”ti?
“Sir, the water in the confluence that has dried up and evaporated is certainly more. The two or three drops left are tiny. Compared to the water in the confluence that has dried up and evaporated, it doesn’t count, there’s no comparison, it’s not worth a fraction.”
“Etadeva, bhante, bahutaraṁ saṁbhejjaudakaṁ yadidaṁ parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādinnaṁ; appamattakāni dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni avasiṭṭhāni. Saṅkhampi na upenti, upanidhampi na upenti, kalabhāgampi na upenti saṁbhejjaudakaṁ parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādinnaṁ upanidhāya dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni avasiṭṭhānī”ti.
“In the same way, for a noble disciple …
“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvakassa …pe…
That’s why you should practice meditation …”
yogo karaṇīyo”ti.
Catutthaṁ.
SN 56.55 · The Earth (1st)
SN 56.55 · Paṭhamamahāpathavīsutta
“Mendicants, suppose a person was to place seven clay balls the size of jujube seeds on the great earth.
“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso mahāpathaviyā satta kolaṭṭhimattiyo guḷikā upanikkhipeyya.
What do you think, mendicants? Which is more: the seven clay balls the size of jujube seeds, or the great earth?”
Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, katamaṁ nu kho bahutaraṁ—yā vā satta kolaṭṭhimattiyo guḷikā upanikkhittā, ayaṁ vā mahāpathavī”ti?
“Sir, the great earth is certainly more. The seven clay balls the size of jujube seeds are tiny. Compared to the great earth, they don’t count, there’s no comparison, they’re not worth a fraction.”
“Etadeva, bhante, bahutaraṁ, yadidaṁ—mahāpathavī; appamattikā satta kolaṭṭhimattiyo guḷikā upanikkhittā. Saṅkhampi na upenti, upanidhampi na upenti, kalabhāgampi na upenti mahāpathaviṁ upanidhāya satta kolaṭṭhimattiyo guḷikā upanikkhittā”ti.
“In the same way, for a noble disciple …
“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvakassa …pe…
That’s why you should practice meditation …”
yogo karaṇīyo”ti.
Pañcamaṁ.
SN 56.56 · The Earth (2nd)
SN 56.56 · Dutiyamahāpathavīsutta
“Mendicants, suppose the great earth was worn away and eroded except seven clay balls the size of jujube seeds.
“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, mahāpathavī parikkhayaṁ pariyādānaṁ gaccheyya ṭhapetvā satta kolaṭṭhimattiyo guḷikā.
What do you think, mendicants? Which is more: the great earth that has been worn away and eroded, or the seven clay balls the size of jujube seeds that are left?”
Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, katamaṁ nu kho bahutaraṁ—yaṁ vā mahāpathaviyā parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādinnaṁ, yā vā satta kolaṭṭhimattiyo guḷikā avasiṭṭhā”ti?
“Sir, the great earth that has been worn away and eroded is certainly more. The seven clay balls the size of jujube seeds are tiny. Compared to the great earth that has been worn away and eroded, they don’t count, there’s no comparison, they’re not worth a fraction.”
“Etadeva, bhante, bahutaraṁ mahāpathaviyā yadidaṁ parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādinnaṁ; appamattikā satta kolaṭṭhimattiyo guḷikā avasiṭṭhā. Saṅkhampi na upenti, upanidhampi na upenti, kalabhāgampi na upenti mahāpathaviyā parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādinnaṁ upanidhāya satta kolaṭṭhimattiyo guḷikā avasiṭṭhā”ti.
“In the same way, for a noble disciple …
“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvakassa …pe…
That’s why you should practice meditation …”
yogo karaṇīyo”ti.
Chaṭṭhaṁ.
SN 56.57 · The Ocean (1st)
SN 56.57 · Paṭhamamahāsamuddasutta
“Mendicants, suppose a man was to draw up two or three drops of water from the ocean.
“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso mahāsamuddato dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni uddharitāni.
What do you think, mendicants? Which is more: the two or three drops drawn out or the water in the ocean?”
Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, katamaṁ nu kho bahutaraṁ—yāni dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni ubbhatāni, yaṁ vā mahāsamudde udakan”ti?
“Sir, the water in the ocean is certainly more. The two or three drops drawn out are tiny. Compared to the water in the ocean, it doesn’t count, there’s no comparison, it’s not worth a fraction.”
“Etadeva, bhante, bahutaraṁ, yadidaṁ—mahāsamudde udakaṁ; appamattakāni dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni ubbhatāni. Saṅkhampi na upenti, upanidhampi na upenti, kalabhāgampi na upenti mahāsamudde udakaṁ upanidhāya dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni ubbhatānī”ti.
“In the same way, for a noble disciple …
“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvakassa …pe…
That’s why you should practice meditation …”
yogo karaṇīyo”ti.
Sattamaṁ.
SN 56.58 · The Ocean (2nd)
SN 56.58 · Dutiyamahāsamuddasutta
“Mendicants, suppose the water in the ocean dried up and evaporated except two or three drops.
“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, mahāsamudde udakaṁ parikkhayaṁ pariyādānaṁ gaccheyya ṭhapetvā dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni.
What do you think, mendicants? Which is more: the water in the ocean that has dried up and evaporated, or the two or three drops left?”
Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, katamaṁ nu kho bahutaraṁ—yaṁ vā mahāsamudde udakaṁ parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādinnaṁ, yāni dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni avasiṭṭhānī”ti?
“Sir, the water in the ocean that has dried up and evaporated is certainly more. The two or three drops left are tiny. Compared to the water in the ocean that has dried up and evaporated, it doesn’t count, there’s no comparison, it’s not worth a fraction.”
“Etadeva, bhante, bahutaraṁ mahāsamudde udakaṁ yadidaṁ parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādinnaṁ; appamattakāni dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni avasiṭṭhāni. Saṅkhampi na upenti, upanidhampi na upenti, kalabhāgampi na upenti mahāsamudde udakaṁ parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādinnaṁ upanidhāya dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni avasiṭṭhānī”ti.
“In the same way, for a noble disciple …
“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvakassa …pe…
That’s why you should practice meditation …”
yogo karaṇīyo”ti.
Aṭṭhamaṁ.
SN 56.59 · A Mountain (1st)
SN 56.59 · Paṭhamapabbatūpamasutta
“Mendicants, suppose a person was to place seven pebbles the size of mustard seeds on the Himalayas, the king of mountains.
“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso himavato pabbatarājassa satta sāsapamattiyo pāsāṇasakkharā upanikkhipeyya.
What do you think, mendicants? Which is more: the seven pebbles the size of mustard seeds, or the Himalayas, the king of mountains?”
Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, katamaṁ nu kho bahutaraṁ—yā vā satta sāsapamattiyo pāsāṇasakkharā upanikkhittā, ayaṁ vā himavā pabbatarājā”ti?
“Sir, the Himalayas, the king of mountains, is certainly more. The seven pebbles the size of mustard seeds are tiny. Compared to the Himalayas, they don’t count, there’s no comparison, they’re not worth a fraction.”
“Etadeva, bhante, bahutaraṁ, yadidaṁ—himavā pabbatarājā; appamattikā satta sāsapamattiyo pāsāṇasakkharā upanikkhittā. Saṅkhampi na upenti, upanidhampi na upenti, kalabhāgampi na upenti himavantaṁ pabbatarājānaṁ upanidhāya satta sāsapamattiyo pāsāṇasakkharā upanikkhittā”ti.
“In the same way, for a noble disciple …
“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvakassa …pe…
That’s why you should practice meditation …”
yogo karaṇīyo”ti.
Navamaṁ.
SN 56.60 · A Mountain (2nd)
SN 56.60 · Dutiyapabbatūpamasutta
“Mendicants, suppose the Himalayas, the king of mountains, was worn away and eroded except seven pebbles the size of mustard seeds.
“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, himavā pabbatarājā parikkhayaṁ pariyādānaṁ gaccheyya, ṭhapetvā satta sāsapamattiyo pāsāṇasakkharā.
What do you think, mendicants? Which is more: the portion of the Himalayas, the king of mountains, that has been worn away and eroded, or the seven pebbles the size of mustard seeds that are left?”
Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, katamaṁ nu kho bahutaraṁ—yaṁ vā himavato pabbatarājassa parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādinnaṁ, yā vā satta sāsapamattiyo pāsāṇasakkharā avasiṭṭhā”ti?
“Sir, the portion of the Himalayas, the king of mountains, that has been worn away and eroded is certainly more. The seven pebbles the size of mustard seeds are tiny. Compared to the Himalayas, they don’t count, there’s no comparison, they’re not worth a fraction.”
“Etadeva, bhante, bahutaraṁ himavato pabbatarājassa yadidaṁ parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādinnaṁ; appamattikā satta sāsapamattiyo pāsāṇasakkharā avasiṭṭhā. Saṅkhampi na upenti, upanidhampi na upenti, kalabhāgampi na upenti himavato pabbatarājassa parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādinnaṁ upanidhāya satta sāsapamattiyo pāsāṇasakkharā avasiṭṭhā”ti.
“In the same way, for an individual with comprehension, a noble disciple accomplished in view, the suffering that’s over and done with is more, what’s left is tiny. Compared to the mass of suffering in the past that’s over and done with, it doesn’t count, there’s no comparison, it’s not worth a fraction, since there are at most seven more lives. Such an individual truly understands about suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path.
“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvakassa diṭṭhisampannassa puggalassa abhisametāvino etadeva bahutaraṁ dukkhaṁ yadidaṁ parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādinnaṁ; appamattakaṁ avasiṭṭhaṁ. Saṅkhampi na upeti, upanidhampi na upeti, kalabhāgampi na upeti, purimaṁ dukkhakkhandhaṁ parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādinnaṁ upanidhāya yadidaṁ sattakkhattuparamatā; yo ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti.
That’s why you should practice meditation …”
Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yogo karaṇīyo …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yogo karaṇīyo”ti.
Dasamaṁ.
Abhisamayavaggo chaṭṭho.
Tassuddānaṁ
Nakhasikhā pokkharaṇī,sambhejja apare duve;Pathavī dve samuddā dve,dvemā ca pabbatūpamāti.