Saṃyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
56. Sacca Saṃyutta
4. Siṃsapā Vagga
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
5. The Great Chapter
56. Kindred Sayings about the Truths
4. Siṃsapā Grove
Sutta 36
Pāṇā Suttaṃ
Living Creatures
Translated by F. L. Woodward
Edited by Mrs. Rhys Davids
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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[1][bodh][than] THUS have I heard:
Once the Exalted One addressed the monks,
saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.
The Exalted One said:
"Suppose, monks, a man should cut up all the grass,
sticks,
branches
and stalks in this Jambudīpa[1]
and gather them together in a heap;
and thus heaped together,
were to make stakes[ed1] thereof.
Then, having made stakes of them,
suppose he spitted all the mighty creatures
in the mighty ocean
on the mighty stakes;
likewise all the creatures of middle size
on the stakes of middle size;
likewise all the creatures of minute size
on the stakes of minute size.
All the bulky creatures
in the mighty ocean might thus be used up:
but, though he should use up
and consume
all the grass,
sticks,
branches
and stalks in this Jambudīpa,
yet would there stIll remain in the mighty ocean
a majority of the minute animals
which could not be impaled on stakes.
Why so?
Because of the minuteness of their bodies.
Even thus widespread
is the ruin of things.
Yet from such widespread ruin
he is saved
who has the gift of sight to see,
who understands,
as it really is,
this is Ill,
who understands,
as it really is,
this is the arising of ill,
who understands,
as it really is,
this is the ceasing of ill,
who understands,
as it really is,
this is the practice that leads to the ceasing of ill.
Wherefore, monks, an effort must be made to realize:
'This is ill.'
'This is the arising of ill.'
'This is the ceasing of ill.'
'This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of ill.'"
[1] India.
[ed1] Woodward has clearly mis-translated this and I have altered it to make sense. His original is as follows:
"Suppose, monks, a man should cut up all the grass,
sticks,
branches
and stalks in this Jambudīpa
and gather them together in a heap;
were to bind them together
and make a stake thereof.
Then, having made a stake of them,
suppose he spitted all the mighty creatures
in the mighty ocean
on mighty stakes;
likewise all the creatures of middle size
on stakes of middle size;
likewise all the creatures of minute size
on stakes of minute size.
