2.
The Discourse on the Acacia Leaf
1102.
"Whoever, monks, would say thus -
'Without having fully realised as it really is the noble truth of suffering, without having fully realised as it really is the noble truth of the origin of suffering, without having fully realised as it really is the noble truth of the cessation of suffering, without having fully realised as it really is the noble truth of the practice leading to the cessation of suffering, I will rightly make an end of suffering' -
this is impossible.
"Just as, monks, if anyone were to say thus - 'Having made a container from acacia leaves or pine leaves or emblic myrobalan leaves, I will bring water or a palm-leaf' - this is impossible; so too, monks, whoever would say thus - 'Without having fully realised as it really is the noble truth of suffering, etc. without having fully realised as it really is the noble truth of the practice leading to the cessation of suffering, I will rightly make an end of suffering' - this is impossible.
"But whoever, monks, would say thus - 'Having fully realised as it really is the noble truth of suffering, having fully realised as it really is the noble truth of the origin of suffering, having fully realised as it really is the noble truth of the cessation of suffering, having fully realised as it really is the noble truth of the practice leading to the cessation of suffering, I will rightly make an end of suffering' - this is possible.
"Just as, monks, if anyone were to say thus - 'Having made a container from lotus leaves or butea leaves or creeper leaves, I will bring water or a palm-leaf' - this is possible; so too, monks, whoever would say thus - 'Having fully realised as it really is the noble truth of suffering, etc. having fully realised as it really is the noble truth of the practice leading to the cessation of suffering, I will rightly make an end of suffering' - this is possible.
"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 second.