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Linked Discourses · SN 56.61

  • Linked Discourses 56.61Saṁyutta Nikāya 56.61
  • 7. Abbreviated Texts on Raw Grain7. Paṭhamaāmakadhaññapeyyālavagga

Not HumanAññatrasutta

Then the Buddha, picking up a little bit of dirt on his fingernail, addressed the mendicants:Atha kho bhagavā parittaṁ nakhasikhāyaṁ paṁsuṁ āropetvā bhikkhū āmantesi: “What do you think, mendicants?“Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, Which is more: the little bit of dirt on my fingernail, or this great earth?”katamaṁ nu kho bahutaraṁ—yo vāyaṁ mayā paritto nakhasikhāyaṁ paṁsu āropito, ayaṁ vā mahāpathavī”ti?

“Sir, the great earth is certainly more. The little bit of dirt on your fingernail is tiny.“Etadeva, bhante, bahutaraṁ, yadidaṁ—mahāpathavī; appamattakāyaṁ bhagavatā paritto nakhasikhāyaṁ paṁsu āropito. Compared to the great earth, it doesn’t count, there’s no comparison, it’s not worth a fraction.”Saṅkhampi na upeti, upanidhampi na upeti, kalabhāgampi na upeti mahāpathaviṁ upanidhāya bhagavatā paritto nakhasikhāyaṁ paṁsu āropito”ti.

“In the same way, the sentient beings reborn as humans are few, while those not reborn as humans are many.“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, appamattakā te sattā ye manussesu paccājāyanti; atha kho eteva bahutarā sattā ye aññatra manussehi paccājāyanti. Why is that?Taṁ kissa hetu? It’s because they haven’t seen the four noble truths.Adiṭṭhattā, bhikkhave, catunnaṁ ariyasaccānaṁ. What four?Katamesaṁ catunnaṁ? The noble truths of suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path.Dukkhassa ariyasaccassa …pe… dukkhanirodhagāminiyā paṭipadāya ariyasaccassa.

That’s why you should practice meditation …”Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yogo karaṇīyo …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yogo karaṇīyo”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 56.62 In the Borderlands 0.66near 0.1Linked Discourses 56.62 7. Abbreviated Texts on Raw Grain In the Borderlands Then the Buddha, picking up a little bit of dirt on his fingernail, addressed the mendicants: “What do you think, mendicants? Which is more: th…
  2. SN 20.2 A Fingernail 0.66near 0.1Linked Discourses 20.2 1. Similes A Fingernail At Sāvatthī. Then the Buddha, picking up a little bit of dirt on his fingernail, addressed the mendicants: “What do you think, mendicants? Which is more: the little bit of d…
  3. SN 56.51 A Fingernail 0.63near 0.1Linked Discourses 56.51 6. Comprehension A Fingernail Then the Buddha, picking up a little bit of dirt on his fingernail, addressed the mendicants: “What do you think, mendicants? Which is more: the little bit of dirt on…
  4. SN 13.1 A Fingernail 0.57near 0.1Linked Discourses 13.1 1. Comprehension A Fingernail 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 on his f…