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 60
Dutiya Pabbat'Upamā Suttaṃ
Simile of the Mountain (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, that Himalaya, lord of mountains,
should waste away,
come to an end,
except for seven grains of gravel
as large as mustard seeds.
[390] Now what tbink ye, monks?
Which is the greater:
that part of Himalaya, lord of mountains,
that has wasted away,
come to an end,
or those seven grains of gravel
as large as mustard seeds?"
Why, lord, this is the greater,
Himalaya, lord of mountains.
Exceeding small
are the seven grains of gravel
as large as mustard seeds.
They cannot be reckoned,
cannot be compared therewith:
they do not amount to the merest fraction
of a part
when laid beside that part of Himalaya
that has wasted away,
come to an end, -
those seven grains of gravel
as large as mustard seeds."
"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, monks, an effort must be made to realize:
'This is Ill'.[1]
'This is the arising of Ill.'
'This is the ceasing of Ill.'
This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.'"
[1] Here the third simile of S. ii, 139 (of Sineru and beans) is omitted.
