Linked Discourses on Comprehension
The Chapter on Comprehension
SN 13.1 A Fingernail Nakhasikhāsutta
So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery.
Then the Buddha, picking up a little bit of dirt under his fingernail, addressed the mendicants: "What do you think, mendicants? Which is more: the little bit of dirt under my fingernail, or this great earth?"
"Sir, the great earth is far more. The little bit of dirt under your fingernail is tiny. Compared to the great earth, it's not nearly a hundredth, a thousandth, or a hundred thousandth part."
"In the same way, for a noble disciple accomplished in view, a person with comprehension, the suffering that's over and done with is more, what's left is tiny. Compared to the mass of suffering in the past that's over and done with, it's not nearly a hundredth, a thousandth, or a hundred thousandth part, since there are at most seven more lives. That's how very beneficial it is to comprehend the teaching and gain the vision of the teaching."
SN 13.2 A Lotus Pond Pokkharaṇīsutta
At Sāvatthī.
"Mendicants, suppose there was a lotus pond that was fifty leagues long, fifty leagues wide, and fifty leagues deep, full to the brim so a crow could drink from it. Then a person would pick up some water on the tip of a blade of grass.
What do you think, mendicants? Which is more: the water on the tip of the blade of grass, or the water in the lotus pond?"
"Sir, the water in the lotus pond is certainly more. The water on the tip of a blade of grass is tiny. Compared to the water in the lotus pond, it's not nearly a hundredth, a thousandth, or a hundred thousandth part."
"In the same way, for a person with comprehension, a noble disciple accomplished in view, the suffering that's over and done with is more, what's left is tiny. Compared to the mass of suffering in the past that's over and done with, it's not nearly a hundredth, a thousandth, or a hundred thousandth part, since there are at most seven more lives. That's how very beneficial it is to comprehend the teaching and gain the vision of the teaching."
SN 13.3 Where the Waters Flow Together Sambhejjaudakasutta
At Sāvatthī.
"Mendicants, there are places where the great rivers---the Ganges, Yamuna, Aciravatī, Sarabhū, and Mahī---come together and converge. Suppose a person was to draw two or three drops of water from such a place.
What do you think, mendicants? Which is more: the two or three drops drawn out or the water in the confluence?"
"Sir, the water in the confluence is certainly more. The two or three drops drawn out are tiny. Compared to the water in the confluence, it's not nearly a hundredth, a thousandth, or a hundred thousandth part."
"In the same way, for a noble disciple, the suffering that's over and done with is more ..."
SN 13.4 Where the Waters Flow Together (2nd) Dutiyasambhejjaudakasutta
At Sāvatthī.
"Mendicants, there are places where the great rivers---the Ganges, Yamuna, Aciravatī, Sarabhū, and Mahī---come together and converge. Suppose that water dried up and evaporated except for two or three drops.
What do you think, mendicants? Which is more: the water in the confluence that has dried up and evaporated, or the two or three drops left?"
"Sir, the water in the confluence that has dried up and evaporated is certainly more. The two or three drops left are tiny. Compared to the water in the confluence that has dried up and evaporated, it's not nearly a hundredth, a thousandth, or a hundred thousandth part."
"In the same way, for a noble disciple, the suffering that's over and done with is more ..."
SN 13.5 The Earth Pathavīsutta
At Sāvatthī.
"Mendicants, suppose a person was to place seven clay balls the size of jujube seeds on the great earth.
What do you think, mendicants? Which is more: the seven clay balls the size of jujube seeds, or the great earth?"
"Sir, the great earth is certainly more. The seven clay balls the size of jujube seeds are tiny. Compared to the great earth, it's not nearly a hundredth, a thousandth, or a hundred thousandth part."
"In the same way, for a noble disciple, the suffering that's over and done with is more ..."
SN 13.6 The Earth (2nd) Dutiyapathavīsutta
At Sāvatthī.
"Mendicants, suppose the great earth was worn away and eroded except for seven clay balls the size of jujube seeds.
What do you think, mendicants? Which is more: the great earth that has been worn away and eroded, or the seven clay balls the size of jujube seeds that are left?"
"Sir, the great earth that has been worn away and eroded is certainly more. The seven clay balls the size of jujube seeds are tiny. Compared to the great earth that has been worn away and eroded, it's not nearly a hundredth, a thousandth, or a hundred thousandth part."
"In the same way, for a noble disciple, the suffering that's over and done with is more ..."
SN 13.7 The Ocean Samuddasutta
At Sāvatthī.
"Mendicants, suppose a man was to draw up two or three drops of water from the ocean.
What do you think, mendicants? Which is more: the two or three drops drawn out or the water in the ocean?"
"Sir, the water in the ocean is certainly more. The two or three drops drawn out are tiny. Compared to the water in the ocean, it's not nearly a hundredth, a thousandth, or a hundred thousandth part."
"In the same way, for a noble disciple, the suffering that's over and done with is more ..."
SN 13.8 The Ocean (2nd) Dutiyasamuddasutta
At Sāvatthī.
"Mendicants, suppose the water in the ocean dried up and evaporated except for two or three drops.
What do you think, mendicants? Which is more: the water in the ocean that has dried up and evaporated, or the two or three drops left?"
"Sir, the water in the ocean that has dried up and evaporated is certainly more. The two or three drops left are tiny. Compared to the water in the ocean that has dried up and evaporated, it's not nearly a hundredth, a thousandth, or a hundred thousandth part."
"In the same way, for a noble disciple, the suffering that's over and done with is more ..."
SN 13.9 A Mountain Pabbatasutta
At Sāvatthī.
"Mendicants, suppose a person was to place seven pebbles the size of mustard seeds on the Himalayas, the king of mountains.
What do you think, mendicants? Which is more: the seven pebbles the size of mustard seeds, or the Himalayas, the king of mountains?"
"Sir, the Himalayas, the king of mountains, is certainly more. The seven pebbles the size of mustard seeds are tiny. Compared to the Himalayas, it's not nearly a hundredth, a thousandth, or a hundred thousandth part."
"In the same way, for a noble disciple, the suffering that's over and done with is more ..."
SN 13.10 A Mountain (2nd) Dutiyapabbatasutta
At Sāvatthī.
"Mendicants, suppose the Himalayas, the king of mountains, was worn away and eroded except for seven pebbles the size of mustard seeds.
What do you think, mendicants? Which is more: the portion of the Himalayas, the king of mountains, that has been worn away and eroded, or the seven pebbles the size of mustard seeds that are left?"
"Sir, the portion of the Himalayas, the king of mountains, that has been worn away and eroded is certainly more. The seven pebbles the size of mustard seeds are tiny. Compared to the Himalayas, it's not nearly a hundredth, a thousandth, or a hundred thousandth part."
"In the same way, for a noble disciple accomplished in view, a person with comprehension, the suffering that's over and done with is more, what's left is tiny. Compared to the mass of suffering in the past that's over and done with, it's not nearly a hundredth, a thousandth, or a hundred thousandth part, since there are at most seven more lives. That's how very beneficial it is to comprehend the teaching and gain the vision of the teaching."
SN 13.11 A Mountain (3rd) Tatiyapabbatasutta
At Sāvatthī.
"Mendicants, suppose a person was to place down on Sineru, the king of mountains, seven pebbles the size of mung beans.
What do you think, mendicants? Which is more: the seven pebbles the size of mung beans, or Sineru, the king of mountains?"
"Sir, Sineru, the king of mountains, is certainly more. The seven pebbles the size of mung beans are tiny. Compared to Sineru, it's not nearly a hundredth, a thousandth, or a hundred thousandth part."
"In the same way, compared with the achievements of a noble disciple accomplished in view, the achievements of the ascetics, brahmins, and wanderers of other religions is not nearly a hundredth, a thousandth, or a hundred thousandth part. So great is the achievement of the person accomplished in view, so great is their direct knowledge."