Saṃyutta Nikāya
II. Nidāna Vagga
13. Abhisamaya Saṃyutta
Sutta 1
Nakha-Sikhā Suttaṃ
The Tip of the Fingernail
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
Proofed against and modified in accordance with the revised edition at dhammatalks.org
Provenance, terms and conditons
[1][pts][bodh][olds] I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Sāvatthi in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery.
[2][pts][bodh][olds] Then the Blessed One, picking up a little bit of dust with the tip of his fingernail, said to the monks, "What do you think, monks?
Which is greater: the little bit of dust I have picked up with the tip of my fingernail, or the great earth?"
[3][pts][bodh][olds] "The great earth is far greater, lord.
The little bit of dust the Blessed One has picked up with the tip of his fingernail is next to nothing.
It's not a hundredth, a thousandth, a one hundred-thousandth — this little bit of dust the Blessed One has picked up with the tip of his fingernail — when compared with the great earth."
[4][pts][bodh][olds] "In the same way, monks, for a disciple of the noble ones who is consummate in view, an individual who has broken through [to stream-entry], the suffering and stress that is totally ended and extinguished is far greater.
That which remains in the state of having at most seven remaining lifetimes is next to nothing: it's not a hundredth, a thousandth, a one hundred-thousandth, when compared with the previous mass of suffering.
[5][pts][bodh][olds] That's how great the benefit is of breaking through to the Dhamma, monks.
That's how great the benefit is of obtaining the Dhamma eye."
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