1Then the Blessed One took up a little bit of soil in his fingernail and addressed the bhikkhus thus:

"What do you think, bhikkhus, which is more: the little bit of soil in my fingernail or the great earth?"

"Venerable sir, the great earth is more. The little bit of soil that the Blessed One has taken up in his fingernail is trifling. Compared to the great earth, that little bit of soil is not calculable, does not bear comparison, does not amount even to a fraction."

"So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who abstain from damaging seed and plant life. But those beings are more numerous who do not abstain from damaging seed and plant life.

For what reason? Because, bhikkhus, they have not seen the Four Noble Truths.

What four? The noble truth of suffering, the noble truth of the origin of suffering, the noble truth of the cessation of suffering, the noble truth of 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.’"

1…

"Evameva kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye bījagāmabhūtagāmasamārambhā paṭiviratā; atha kho eteva bahutarā sattā ye bījagāmabhūtagāmasamārambhā appaṭiviratā.

… pe … .

Aṭṭhamaṁ.