SN 56.61 · Not Human
SN 56.61 · Aññatrasutta
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, the sentient beings reborn as humans are few, while those not reborn as humans are many. Why is that? It’s because they haven’t seen the four noble truths. What four? The noble truths of suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path.
“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, appamattakā te sattā ye manussesu paccājāyanti; atha kho eteva bahutarā sattā ye aññatra manussehi paccājāyanti. Taṁ kissa hetu? Adiṭṭhattā, bhikkhave, catunnaṁ ariyasaccānaṁ. Katamesaṁ catunnaṁ? Dukkhassa ariyasaccassa …pe… dukkhanirodhagāminiyā paṭipadāya ariyasaccassa.
That’s why you should practice meditation …”
Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yogo karaṇīyo …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yogo karaṇīyo”ti.
Paṭhamaṁ.
SN 56.62 · In the Borderlands
SN 56.62 · Paccantasutta
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, the sentient beings reborn in central countries are few, while those reborn in the borderlands, among uneducated foreigners, are many. …”
“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, appamattakā te sattā ye majjhimesu janapadesu paccājāyanti; atha kho eteva bahutarā sattā ye paccantimesu janapadesu paccājāyanti aviññātāresu milakkhesu …pe….
Dutiyaṁ.
SN 56.63 · Wisdom
SN 56.63 · Paññāsutta
“… the sentient beings who have the noble eye of wisdom are few, while those who are ignorant and confused are many. …”
… “Evameva kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye pana ariyena paññācakkhunā samannāgatā; atha kho eteva bahutarā sattā ye avijjāgatā sammuḷhā …pe….
Tatiyaṁ.
SN 56.64 · Beer and Wine
SN 56.64 · Surāmerayasutta
“… the sentient beings who refrain from intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor, are few, while those who don’t refrain are many. …”
… “Evameva kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye surāmerayamajjappamādaṭṭhānā paṭiviratā; atha kho eteva bahutarā sattā ye surāmerayamajjappamādaṭṭhānā apaṭiviratā …pe….
Catutthaṁ.
SN 56.65 · Born in Water
SN 56.65 · Odakasutta
“… the sentient beings born on land are few, while those born in water are many. …”
… “Evameva kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye thalajā; atha kho eteva bahutarā sattā ye udakajā. Taṁ kissa hetu …pe….
Pañcamaṁ.
SN 56.66 · Respect Mother
SN 56.66 · Matteyyasutta
“… the sentient beings who respect their mothers are few, while those who don’t are many. …”
… “Evameva kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye matteyyā; atha kho eteva bahutarā sattā ye amatteyyā …pe….
Chaṭṭhaṁ.
SN 56.67 · Respect Father
SN 56.67 · Petteyyasutta
“… the sentient beings who respect their fathers are few, while those who don’t are many. …”
… “Evameva kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye petteyyā; atha kho eteva bahutarā sattā ye apetteyyā …pe….
Sattamaṁ.
SN 56.68 · Respect Ascetics
SN 56.68 · Sāmaññasutta
“… the sentient beings who respect ascetics are few, while those who don’t are many. …”
… “Evameva kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye sāmaññā; atha kho eteva bahutarā sattā ye asāmaññā …pe….
Aṭṭhamaṁ.
SN 56.69 · Respect Brahmins
SN 56.69 · Brahmaññasutta
“… the sentient beings who respect brahmins are few, while those who don’t are many. …”
… “Evameva kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye brahmaññā; atha kho eteva bahutarā sattā ye abrahmaññā …pe….
Navamaṁ.