10.
The Second Discourse on Sineru, King of Mountains
1120.
"Just as, monks, Sineru, the king of mountains, would be eliminated and brought to an end, except for seven stone pebbles the size of mung beans.
What do you think, monks, which is more -
what has been eliminated and brought to an end of Sineru, the king of mountains, or the seven stone pebbles the size of mung beans remaining?"
"This indeed, venerable sir, is more of Sineru, the king of mountains, that is to say, what has been eliminated and brought to an end;
the seven stone pebbles the size of mung beans remaining are insignificant.
They do not amount to a reckoning, they do not bear comparison, they do not amount to a fraction - the seven stone pebbles the size of mung beans remaining compared with what has been eliminated and brought to an end of Sineru, the king of mountains."
"So too, monks, for a noble disciple, a person accomplished in right view, one who has fully realised, this indeed is more suffering, that is to say, what has been eliminated and brought to an end;
what remains is insignificant.
It does not amount to a reckoning, it does not bear comparison, it does not amount to a fraction - compared with the former mass of suffering that has been eliminated and brought to an end, that is to say, having seven rebirths at the utmost;
one who understands as it really is: 'This is suffering', etc.
one who understands as it really is: 'This is the practice leading to the cessation of suffering.'"
"Therefore, monks, exertion is to be done regarding 'This is suffering', etc. exertion is to be done regarding 'This is the practice leading to the cessation of suffering.'" The tenth.