1.
The Discourse on the Fingernail
1121.
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, 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 first.