Saṃyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
56. Sacca Saṃyutta
6. Abhisamaya Vagga
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
5. The Great Chapter
56. Kindred Sayings about the Truths
6. Comprehension
Sutta 54
Dutiya Sambejja Suttaṃ
Confluence (b)
Translated by F. L. Woodward
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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[1] THUS have I heard:
Then the Exalted One addressed the monks,
saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.
The Exalted One said:
"Suppose, monks, that where these great rivers,
to wit:
Ganges,
Yamunā,
Aciravatī,
Sarabhū
and Mahī
flow together,
meet together,
the water wastes away
and comes to an end,
except two or three drops.
Now what think ye, monks?
Which is the greater:
the water at the confluence,
which has wasted away
and come to an end,
or those two or three drops that remain?"
"Why, lord, this water at the confluence,
that has wasted away,
come to an end,
is the greater.
Exceeding small
are those two or three drops that remain:
they cannot be reckoned,
[388] they cannot be compared therewith.
They do not amount to the merest fraction
of a part of the water at the confluence, -
these two or three drops of water thus drawn up."
"Well, just so, monks,
for the Ariyan disciple who is blessed with vision,
for the person who has understanding,
far greater is this Ill which he has destroyed,
which he has used up,
and infinitely small
is that Ill which remains.
It cannot be reckoned,
cannot be compared therewith.
It does not come to the merest fraction
of a part of it
when set beside that Ill
which he has destroyed,
which he has used up, -
that is, it is just a period of seven lives at most
for the man who understands,
as it really is:
the meaning of:
'this is Ill'
who understands,
as it really is:
the meaning of:
'this is the arising of Ill'
who understands,
as it really is:
the meaning of:
'this is the ceasing of Ill'
who understands,
as it really is:
the meaning of:
'this is the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.'
Wherefore, monk, 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.'"
