1.
The Discourse on Elsewhere
1131.
Then the Blessed One, having placed a small amount of soil on his fingernail, addressed the monks -
"What do you think, monks, which is more -
this small amount of soil placed by me on my fingernail, or this great earth?"
"This indeed, venerable sir, is more, that is to say -
the great earth;
the small amount of soil placed by the Blessed One on his fingernail is insignificant.
It does not amount to a reckoning, it does not bear comparison, it does not amount to a fraction - the small amount of soil placed by the Blessed One on his fingernail compared with the great earth."
"So too, monks, few are those beings who are reborn among human beings; but there are indeed more beings who are reborn elsewhere than among human beings. What is the reason for this? Because of not seeing, monks, the four noble truths. Which four? The noble truth of suffering, etc. the noble truth of 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 first.