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Saṁyutta Nikāya — The Connected Discourses

SN56: Connected Discourses on the Truths

SN56:58 The Ocean (2)

1"Bhikkhus, suppose that the great ocean would be destroyed and eliminated except for two or three drops of water. What do you think, bhikkhus, which is more: the water in the great ocean that has been destroyed and eliminated or the two or three drops of water that remain?"

"Venerable sir, the water in the great ocean that has been destroyed and eliminated is more. The two or three drops of water that remain are trifling. Compared to the water that has been destroyed and eliminated, the two or three drops of water that remain are not calculable, do not bear comparison, do not amount even to a fraction."


"So too, bhikkhus, for a noble disciple, a person accomplished in view who has made the breakthrough, the suffering that has been utterly destroyed and eliminated is more, while that which remains is trifling.

Compared to the former mass of suffering that has been destroyed and eliminated, the latter is not calculable, does not bear comparison, does not amount even to a fraction, as there is a maximum of seven more lives.

He is one who understands as it really is: ‘This is suffering.’
‘This is the origin of suffering.’
‘This is the cessation of suffering.’
‘This is the way leading to the cessation of suffering.’

"Therefore, bhikkhus, an exertion should be made to understand: ‘This is suffering.’[n.376] Tasmātiha bhikkhave idaṁ dukkhan ti yogo karaṇīyo. Spk: Since a concentrated bhikkhu understands the Four Noble Truths as they really are, therefore you should make an exertion to become concentrated in order to understand the four truths as they really are. And since the round of existence increases for those who do not penetrate them, but stops increasing from the time they are penetrated, therefore you should make an exertion to understand them, thinking, "Let the round not increase for us."
An exertion should be made to understand: ‘This is the origin of suffering.’
An exertion should be made to understand: ‘This is the cessation of suffering.’
An exertion should be made to understand: ‘This is the way leading to the cessation of suffering.’"sn.v.464

1"Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, mahāsamudde udakaṁ parikkhayaṁ pariyādānaṁ gaccheyya ṭhapetvā dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni. Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, katamaṁ nu kho bahutaraṁ – yaṁ vā mahāsamudde udakaṁ parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādinnaṁ, yāni dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni avasiṭṭhānī"ti?

"Etadeva, bhante, bahutaraṁ mahāsamudde udakaṁ yadidaṁ parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādinnaṁ; appamattakāni dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni avasiṭṭhāni. Saṅkhampi na upenti, upanidhampi na upenti, kalabhāgampi na upenti mahāsamudde udakaṁ parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādinnaṁ upanidhāya dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni avasiṭṭhānī"ti.


"Evameva kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvakassa … pe … yogo karaṇīyo"ti.


Aṭṭhamaṁ.