9.
The First Discourse on Sineru, the King of Mountains
1119.
"Just as, monks, a man might place down seven stone pebbles the size of mung beans beside Sineru, the king of mountains.
What do you think, monks, which is more -
the seven stone pebbles the size of mung beans placed down, or Sineru, the king of mountains?"
"This indeed, venerable sir, is more, that is to say -
Sineru, the king of mountains;
the seven stone pebbles the size of mung beans placed down 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 placed down compared with 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 ninth.