7.
The First Discourse on the Yoke with a Hole
1117.
"Just as, monks, a man might throw a yoke with a single hole into the great ocean.
There might be a blind turtle.
He would emerge once every hundred years.
What do you think, monks, would that blind turtle, emerging once every hundred years, insert his neck into that yoke with a single hole?"
"If at all, venerable sir, only after a very long period has passed."
"More quickly, monks, would that blind turtle, emerging once every hundred years, insert his neck into that yoke with a single hole than I say would a fool who has gone once to the nether world attain human existence."
What is the reason for this? For here, monks, there is no observance of righteousness, no living in spiritual calm, no doing of wholesome deeds, no doing of meritorious deeds. Here, monks, there prevails mutual devouring, devouring of the weak. 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 seventh.