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2. Connected Discourses on Realization 1. The Discourse on the Fingernail Tip 74. Thus have I heard: At one time the Blessed One was staying at Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery. Then the Blessed One, having placed a little dust on his fingernail tip, addressed the bhikkhus: "What do you think, bhikkhus, which is more, this little dust I have placed on my fingernail tip, or this great earth?" "This is more, Venerable Sir, this great earth. Little is the dust the Blessed One has placed on his fingernail tip. It does not amount to a hundredth part, nor a thousandth part, nor a hundred-thousandth part, when compared to the great earth, the little dust the Blessed One has placed on his fingernail tip." "Even so, bhikkhus, for a noble disciple, a person endowed with right view, one who has realized, this is more suffering: that which is exhausted, that which is ended. Little is what remains. It does not amount to a hundredth part, nor a thousandth part, nor a hundred-thousandth part, when compared to the former mass of suffering that is exhausted, that is ended, which is the maximum of seven more births. So great is the benefit, bhikkhus, of the realization of the Dhamma; so great is the benefit of the attainment of the Dhamma-eye." The First. 2. The Discourse on the Pond 75. Staying at Sāvatthī... "Just as, bhikkhus, a pond fifty leagues in length, fifty leagues in width, fifty leagues in depth, full of water, brimming to the top, enough for a crow to drink. From that, a man might draw water with the tip of a kusa grass blade. What do you think, bhikkhus, which is more, the water drawn with the tip of a kusa grass blade, or the water in the pond?" "This is more, Venerable Sir, the water in the pond. Little is the water drawn with the tip of a kusa grass blade. It does not amount to a hundredth part, nor a thousandth part, nor a hundred-thousandth part, when compared to the water in the pond, the little water drawn with the tip of a kusa grass blade." "Even so, bhikkhus, for a noble disciple, a person endowed with right view, one who has realized, this is more suffering: that which is exhausted, that which is ended. Little is what remains. It does not amount to a hundredth part, nor a thousandth part, nor a hundred-thousandth part, when compared to the former mass of suffering that is exhausted, that is ended, which is the maximum of seven more births. So great is the benefit, bhikkhus, of the realization of the Dhamma; so great is the benefit of the attainment of the Dhamma-eye." is not worth a hundredth part, not a thousandth part, not a hundred-thousandth part, compared to the water in a pond, the water drawn up by a blade of kusa grass.” “Even so, bhikkhus, for a noble disciple, a person endowed with right view, who has comprehended the Dhamma, this is much more suffering: that which is exhausted, finished; a small amount remains. It is not worth a hundredth part, not a thousandth part, not a hundred-thousandth part, compared to the former mass of suffering that is exhausted, finished, that is, at most seven more existences. So great is the benefit, bhikkhus, of the comprehension of the Dhamma; so great is the benefit of the attainment of the Dhamma-eye.” The Second. 3. The Discourse on Confluent Waters 76. Residing at Sāvatthī… “Just as, bhikkhus, where these great rivers flow together, meet: namely, the Gaṅgā, Yamunā, Aciravatī, Sarabhū, Mahī— from there, a man might draw out two or three drops of water. What do you think, bhikkhus, which is more: the two or three drops of water drawn out, or the confluent water?” “This is much more, venerable sir, the confluent water; the two or three drops of water drawn out are a small amount. They are not worth a hundredth part, not a thousandth part, not a hundred-thousandth part, compared to the confluent water, the two or three drops of water drawn out.” “Even so, bhikkhus… the attainment of the Dhamma-eye.” The Third. 4. The Second Discourse on Confluent Waters 77. Residing at Sāvatthī… “Just as, bhikkhus, where these great rivers flow together, meet: namely, the Gaṅgā, Yamunā, Aciravatī, Sarabhū, Mahī— that water might be exhausted, finished, except for two or three drops of water. What do you think, bhikkhus, which is more: the confluent water that which is exhausted, consumed, or the two or three drops of water remaining?” “This, venerable sir, is much more, the water that is exhausted, consumed; insignificant are the two or three drops of water remaining. They do not amount to a hundredth part, nor a thousandth part, nor a hundred-thousandth part, compared to the water that is exhausted, consumed, are the two or three drops of water remaining.” “Even so, bhikkhus… (rest omitted)… is the attainment of the Dhamma-eye.” Fourth. 5. The Discourse on the Earth 78. Dwelling at Savatthi… (rest omitted)… “Just as, bhikkhus, a man might place seven jujube-sized pellets on the great earth. What do you think, bhikkhus, which is more, the seven jujube-sized pellets that are placed, or this great earth?” “This, venerable sir, is much more, that is, the great earth; insignificant are the seven jujube-sized pellets that are placed. They do not amount to a hundredth part, nor a thousandth part, nor a hundred-thousandth part, compared to the great earth, are the seven jujube-sized pellets that are placed.” “Even so, bhikkhus… (rest omitted)… is the attainment of the Dhamma-eye.” Fifth. 6. The Second Discourse on the Earth 79. Dwelling at Savatthi… (rest omitted)… “Just as, bhikkhus, the great earth might come to exhaustion, to consumption, except for seven jujube-sized pellets. What do you think, bhikkhus, which is more, that which is exhausted, consumed of the great earth, or the seven jujube-sized pellets that remain?” “This, venerable sir, is much more, of the great earth, that which is exhausted, consumed; insignificant are the seven jujube-sized pellets that remain. They do not amount to a hundredth part, nor a thousandth part, nor a hundred-thousandth come to a fraction of the great earth that is exhausted, consumed, compared to the seven jujube-seed-sized pellets remaining." "Even so, monks... ...the attainment of the Dhamma-eye." Sixth. 7. The Discourse on the Ocean 80. Dwelling at Savatthi... "Just as, monks, a man might draw out two or three drops of water from the great ocean. What do you think, monks, which is more? The two or three drops of water drawn out, or the water in the great ocean?" "This, venerable sir, is much more, namely, the water in the great ocean; the two or three drops of water drawn out are very little. They do not come to a hundredth part, nor a thousandth part, nor a hundred-thousandth part, compared to the water in the great ocean, the two or three drops of water drawn out." "Even so, monks... ...the attainment of the Dhamma-eye." Seventh. 8. The Second Discourse on the Ocean 81. Dwelling at Savatthi... "Just as, monks, the great ocean might come to exhaustion, to consumption, leaving aside two or three drops of water. What do you think, monks, which is more? The water in the great ocean that is exhausted, consumed, or the two or three drops of water remaining?" "This, venerable sir, is much more, the water in the great ocean that is exhausted, consumed; the two or three drops of water remaining are very little. They do not come to a hundredth part, nor a thousandth part, nor a hundred-thousandth part, compared to the water in the great ocean that is exhausted, consumed, the two or three drops of water remaining." "Even so, monks... ...the attainment of the Dhamma-eye." Eighth. 9. The Discourse on the Mountain 82. Dwelling at Savatthi... "Just as, monks, a man from the Himalaya mountain One might place seven mustard-seed-sized pebbles on the king of mountains. What do you think, bhikkhus? Which is more: the seven mustard-seed-sized pebbles that have been placed, or Himavā, the king of mountains? "This indeed, venerable sir, is more: that is, Himavā, the king of mountains. Insignificant are the seven mustard-seed-sized pebbles that have been placed. They do not amount to a hundredth part, nor a thousandth part, nor a hundred-thousandth part, when compared to Himavā, the king of mountains, the seven mustard-seed-sized pebbles that have been placed." "Even so, bhikkhus... ...the attainment of the Dhamma-eye." The Ninth. 10. The Second Mountain Discourse At Sāvatthī he was dwelling... ...Suppose, bhikkhus, Himavā, the king of mountains, were to waste away, to be utterly consumed, except for seven mustard-seed-sized pebbles. What do you think, bhikkhus? Which is more: what has wasted away and been utterly consumed of Himavā, the king of mountains, or the seven mustard-seed-sized pebbles that remain? "This indeed, venerable sir, is more: what has wasted away and been utterly consumed of Himavā, the king of mountains. Insignificant are the seven mustard-seed-sized pebbles that remain. They do not amount to a hundredth part, nor a thousandth part, nor a hundred-thousandth part, when compared to what has wasted away and been utterly consumed of Himavā, the king of mountains, the seven mustard-seed-sized pebbles that remain." "Even so, bhikkhus, for a noble disciple, a person accomplished in view, one who has understood, this indeed is more suffering: what has wasted away and been utterly consumed. Insignificant is what remains. It does not amount to a hundredth part, nor a thousandth part, nor a hundred-thousandth part, when compared to the former mass of suffering that has wasted away and been utterly consumed, that which is seven times..." is the Deathless. So great is the meaning, monks, of the realization of the Dhamma, so great is the meaning of the attainment of the Eye of Dhamma.” The Tenth. 11. The Third Mountain Sutta 84. Dwelling at Sāvatthī… “Suppose, monks, a man were to place seven pebble-sized stones on Mount Sineru, the king of mountains. What do you think, monks,