1.
The Discourse at the Sīsapā Grove
1101.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Kosambī in the Sīsapā grove.
Then the Blessed One, having taken a few sīsapā leaves in his hand, addressed the monks -
"What do you think, monks, which is more -
the few sīsapā leaves taken by me in my hand, or those above in the sīsapā grove?"
"The few sīsapā leaves taken by the Blessed One in his hand are trifling, venerable sir;
but those above in the sīsapā grove are indeed more."
"So too, monks, that indeed is more which has not been declared by me having directly known it.
And why, monks, has this not been declared by me?
Because, monks, this is not connected with the goal, not fundamental to the holy life, it does not lead to disenchantment, to dispassion, to cessation, to peace, to direct knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nibbāna;
therefore this has not been declared by me."
"And what, monks, has been declared by me? 'This is suffering' - this, monks, has been declared by me; 'This is the origin of suffering' - this has been declared by me; 'This is the cessation of suffering' - this has been declared by me; 'This is the practice leading to the cessation of suffering' - this has been declared by me."
"And why, monks, has this been declared by me? Because, monks, this is connected with the goal, this is fundamental to the holy life, this leads to disenchantment, to dispassion, to cessation, to peace, to direct knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nibbāna; therefore this has been declared by me.
"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 first.