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Linked Discourses · SN 20.4

  • Linked Discourses 20.4Saṁyutta Nikāya 20.4
  • 1. Similes1. Opammavagga

CauldronsOkkhāsutta

At Sāvatthī.Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

“Mendicants, suppose one person was to give a gift of a hundred cauldrons of rice in the morning, at midday, and in the evening. And someone else was to develop a heart of love, even just as long as it takes to pull a cow’s udder. The latter would be more fruitful.“Yo, bhikkhave, pubbaṇhasamayaṁ okkhāsataṁ dānaṁ dadeyya, yo majjhanhikasamayaṁ okkhāsataṁ dānaṁ dadeyya, yo sāyanhasamayaṁ okkhāsataṁ dānaṁ dadeyya, yo vā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ antamaso gadduhanamattampi mettacittaṁ bhāveyya, yo vā majjhanhikasamayaṁ antamaso gadduhanamattampi mettacittaṁ bhāveyya, yo vā sāyanhasamayaṁ antamaso gadduhanamattampi mettacittaṁ bhāveyya, idaṁ tato mahapphalataraṁ.

So you should train like this:Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ: ‘We will develop the heart’s release by love. We’ll cultivate it, make it our vehicle and our basis, keep it up, consolidate it, and properly implement it.’‘mettā no cetovimutti bhāvitā bhavissati bahulīkatā yānīkatā vatthukatā anuṭṭhitā paricitā susamāraddhā’ti. That’s how you should train.”Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.

Similar passages elsewhere

Found by meaning, not by citation: the passages in other texts whose wording sits closest to a passage here.

  1. SN 20.5 A Spear 0.57near 0.1Linked Discourses 20.5 1. Similes A Spear At Sāvatthī. “Mendicants, suppose there was a sharp-pointed spear. And a man came along and thought, ‘With my hand or fist I’ll fold this sharp spear over, crumple it, and bend i…
  2. SN 20.3 Families 0.51near 0.1Linked Discourses 20.3 1. Similes Families At Sāvatthī. “Mendicants, those families with many women and few men are easy prey for bandits and grain-jar thieves. In the same way any mendicant who has not developed and cu…