Saṃyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
56. Sacca Saṃyutta
6. Abhisamaya Vagga
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
5. The Great Chapter
56. Kindred Sayings about the Truths
6. Comprehension
Sutta 52
Pokkharaṇī Suttaṃ
The Tank
Translated by F. L. Woodward
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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[1] THUS have I heard:
Then the Exalted One addressed the monks,
saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.
The Exalted One said:
"Suppose, monks, there were a tank
of fifty yojanas in length,
fifty yojanas in width,
fifty in depth,
full of water,
brimful,
so that a crow could drink therefrom;
and thence a man draws water
on the tip of a blade of grass.
Now what think ye, monks?
Which is the more,
the water [387] drawn up on the tip of a blade of grass
or the water that is in the tank?"
"This, lord, is the more,
the water in the tank.
Very little is the water
drawn up on the tip of a blade of grass:
it cannot be reckoned,
cannot be compared therewith.
It does not come to the merest fraction
of a part of it
when set beside the water in the tank, -
that water drawn up
on the tip of a blade of grass."
"Well, just so, monks,
for the Ariyan disciple who is blessed with vision,
for the person who has understanding,
far greater is this Ill which he has destroyed,
which he has used up,
and infinitely small
is that Ill which remains.
It cannot be reckoned,
cannot be compared therewith.
It does not come to the merest fraction
of a part of it
when set beside that Ill
which he has destroyed,
which he has used up, -
that is, it is just a period of seven lives at most
for the man who understands,
as it really is:
the meaning of:
'this is Ill'
who understands,
as it really is:
the meaning of:
'this is the arising of Ill'
who understands,
as it really is:
the meaning of:
'this is the ceasing of Ill'
who understands,
as it really is:
the meaning of:
'this is the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.'
Wherefore, monk, an effort must be made to realize:
'This is Ill'.
'This is the arising of Ill.'
'This is the ceasing of Ill.'
This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.'"
