7.
The First Discourse on the Great Ocean
1127.
"Just as, monks, a man might draw up two or three drops of water from the great ocean.
What do you think, monks, which is more -
the two or three drops of water drawn up or the water in the great ocean?"
"This indeed, venerable sir, is more, that is to say -
the water in the great ocean;
the two or three drops of water drawn up are trifling.
They do not amount to a reckoning, they do not bear comparison, they do not amount to a fraction - compared with the water in the great ocean, the two or three drops of water drawn up."
"So too, monks, for a noble disciple, etc.
exertion is to be done."
The seventh.