8.
The Second Discourse on the Great Ocean
1128.
"Just as, monks, the water in the great ocean would be eliminated and brought to an end, except for two or three drops of water.
What do you think, monks, which is more -
the water in the great ocean that has been eliminated and brought to an end, or the two or three drops of water remaining?"
"This indeed, venerable sir, is more, the water in the great ocean, that is to say, what has been eliminated and brought to an end;
the two or three drops of water remaining are trifling.
They do not amount to a reckoning, they do not bear comparison, they do not amount to a fraction - compared with the water in the great ocean that has been eliminated and brought to an end, the two or three drops of water remaining."
"So too, monks, for a noble disciple, etc.
exertion is to be done."
The eighth.