Saṃyutta Nikāya
II. Nidāna Vagga
13. Abhisamaya Saṃyutta

The Book of the Kindred Sayings
Part II. The Book Called the Nidāna-Vagga
Containing Kindred sayings on Cause
and Other Subjects
13. The Kindred Sayings on Understanding

Sutta 7

Paṭhama Samudda Suttaṃ

The Sea (1)

Translated by Mrs. Rhys Davids
Assisted by F. L. Woodward

Originally Published by
The Pali Text Society
Public Domain

 

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[98]

[1] Thus have I heard:

The Exalted One was once staying near Sāvatthī
at the Jeta Grove in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.

And there the Exalted One addressed the brethren, saying:

"Brethren!"

"Master!" responded those brethren.

The Exalted One said:

"Suppose, brethren, that a man were to draw from the sea
two or three drops of water.

As to that what think ye, brethren,
which is more?

Those two or three drops of water brought up,
or the water in the sea?"

"Just this is more, lord,
even the water in the sea.

Scanty are the two or three drops of water brought up;
they do not make up one hundredth,
one thousandth,
one hundred thousandth part
when compared with the water in the sea -
those two or three little drops."

"Even so, brethren,
for the Ariyan disciple who has won vision,
for the person who has understanding
this is the greater ill, to wit,
that which for him is wholly perished,
wholly finished;
little is the ill that remains,
not worth the hundredth part,
not worth the thousandth part,
not worth the hundred thousandth part
when measured with the former ill
which for him is wholly perished,
wholly finished,
to wit, a term of seven times.

So great in good, brethren,
is it to be wise in the Norm;
so great in good is it
to have gained the eye of the Norm."