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 56
Dutiya Paṭhavī Suttaṃ
The Earth (b)
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, the mighty earth should waste away,
come to an end,
all except just seven balls of clay
as big as kola-stones.
Now what think ye, monks?
Which is the greater:
that part of the mighty earth
which has wasted away,
come to an end,
or those seven balls of clay,
as big as kola-stones,
that remain?"
"Why, lord, greater is that part of the mighty earth
which has wasted away,
come to an end.
Exceeding small are the seven balls of clay
as big as kola-stones
that remain:
they cannot be reckoned,
cannot be compared therewith.
They do not amount to the merest fraction
of a part of the mighty earth
that has wasted away,
come to an end, -
those seven balls of clay
as big as kola-stones."
"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.'"
