11.
The Diligence Discourse
53.
Then a certain brahmin approached the Blessed One;
having approached, he exchanged friendly greetings with the Blessed One.
Having concluded the pleasant and memorable talk, he sat down to one side.
Seated to one side, that brahmin said this to the Blessed One -
"Is there indeed, Master Gotama, one thing which, when developed and cultivated, can secure both kinds of good - the good pertaining to the present life and the good pertaining to the future life?" "There is indeed, brahmin, one thing which, when developed and cultivated, can secure both kinds of good - the good pertaining to the present life and the good pertaining to the future life."
"But which, Master Gotama, one thing which, when developed and cultivated, can secure both kinds of good - the good pertaining to the present life and the good pertaining to the future life?" "Diligence, brahmin, is that one principle that, when developed and cultivated, having taken hold of both benefits, remains - the good pertaining to the present life and the good pertaining to the future life.
"Just as, brahmin, whatever kinds of footprints there are of living beings that walk on the ground, all of them are included in the elephant's footprint; the elephant's footprint is declared the foremost among them, that is to say, in terms of its greatness. So too, brahmin, diligence is that one principle that, when developed and cultivated, having taken hold of both benefits, remains - the good pertaining to the present life and the good pertaining to the future life.
"Just as, brahmin, whatever rafters there are of a pinnacle building, all of them go to the pinnacle, slope towards the pinnacle, converge at the pinnacle, the pinnacle is declared the foremost among them; so too, brahmin, etc.
"Just as, brahmin, a reaper of reeds, having reaped the reeds, grasping them at the top, shakes them down, shakes them out, and beats them; so too, brahmin, etc.
"Just as, brahmin, when a bunch of mangoes is cut from its stalk, all the mangoes connected to the stalk follow along with it; so too, brahmin, etc.
"Just as, brahmin, whatever petty kings there are, all of them become followers of a wheel-turning monarch, the wheel-turning monarch is declared the foremost among them; so too, brahmin, etc.
"Just as, brahmin, whatever radiance there is of the stars, all of it is not worth a sixteenth fraction of the radiance of the moon, the radiance of the moon is declared the foremost among them. So too, brahmin, diligence is that one principle that, when developed and cultivated, having taken hold of both benefits, remains - both the benefit pertaining to the present life and the benefit pertaining to the future life.
"This, brahmin, is that one principle that, when developed and cultivated, having taken hold of both benefits, remains - the good pertaining to the present life and the good pertaining to the future life."
"Excellent, Master Gotama, excellent, Master Gotama! Etc. May Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge from this day forth for life." The eleventh.