4.
The Discourse on the Heap of Bones
24.
This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Worthy One, thus have I heard:
"For one person, monks, transmigrating and wandering on for a cosmic cycle, there would be such a great skeleton, a heap of bones, a pile of bones as this Vepulla mountain, if there were a collector and what was collected would not perish." The Blessed One said this meaning. Therein this is said:
Would be a heap equal to a mountain, thus was said by the great sage.
To the north of the Vulture's Peak, in the Giribbaja of the Magadhans.
Suffering, the origin of suffering, and the overcoming of suffering;
And the noble eightfold path, leading to the peace of suffering.
Becomes one who makes an end of suffering, through the elimination of all fetters."
This meaning too was spoken by the Blessed One, thus have I heard. The fourth.