9.
The Discourse on the Mountain
82.
He was dwelling at Sāvatthī, etc.
"Just as, monks, a man might place down seven stone pebbles the size of mustard seeds beside the Himalaya, the king of mountains.
What do you think, monks, which is more, the seven stone pebbles the size of mustard seeds placed down, or the Himalaya, the king of mountains?"
"This indeed, venerable sir, is more, that is to say, the Himalaya, the king of mountains; the seven stone pebbles the size of mustard seeds placed down are insignificant. They do not amount to a hundredth fraction, they do not amount to a thousandth fraction, they do not amount to a hundred-thousandth fraction - the seven stone pebbles the size of mustard seeds placed down compared with the Himalaya, the king of mountains." "So too, etc. the attainment of the eye of the teaching." The ninth.