Saṃyutta Nikāya
II. Nidāna Vagga
20. Opamma Saṃuttaṃ
Sutta 2
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][rhyc][olds] Staying near Sāvatthī.
[2][rhyc][olds] Then the Blessed One, picking up a little bit of dust with the tip of his fingernail, said to the monks,
[3][rhyc][olds] "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?"
[4][rhyc][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 doesn't even count.
It's no comparison.
It's not even a fraction,
this little bit of dust the Blessed One has picked up with the tip of his fingernail,
when compared with the great earth."
[5][rhyc][olds] "In the same way, monks,
few are the beings reborn among human beings.
Far more are those reborn elsewhere.
[6][rhyc][olds] Thus you should train yourselves:
'We will live heedfully.'
That's how you should train yourselves."
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