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buddhavacana

Arriving to extinguishment (`abhisamaya`) - what remains?

12S2/2.1 Abhisamayavagga

Section titled “12S2/2.1 Abhisamayavagga”

These collection of similar suttas were attributed to the Buddha staying at Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s park.

They all emphasise that a great deal of suffering is eliminated when one gains the insight into the phenomenal nature of experience - what remains is a tiny fraction.

12S2/2.1.1 Nakhasikhāsutta

Section titled “12S2/2.1.1 Nakhasikhāsutta”

604. Thus heard by me:

On one occasion the Bhagavā was staying at Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s park. Then the Bhagavā, having picked up a little dust on the tip of his fingernail, addressed the bhikkhus thus:

“What do you think, bhikkhave? Which is greater: this little bit of dust I have picked up on the tip of my fingernail, or this great earth?”

605. “Venerable sir, this great earth is far greater. The little bit of dust the Bhagavā has picked up on the tip of his fingernail is trifling. It does not amount to a hundredth part, a thousandth part, or a hundred-thousandth part when compared to the great earth.”

“So too, bhikkhave, for a noble disciple who is accomplished in view, for one who has penetrated (the Dhamma), the suffering that has been entirely eliminated and eradicated is far greater; what remains is trifling. It does not amount to a hundredth part, a thousandth part, or a hundred-thousandth part when compared to the former mass of suffering that has been entirely eliminated and eradicated, namely, what amounts to at most seven more existences. So great, bhikkhave, is the penetration of the Dhamma (phenomenal nature of experience); so great is the attainment of the insight into the Dhamma.”

12S2/2.1.2 Pokkharaṇīsutta

Section titled “12S2/2.1.2 Pokkharaṇīsutta”

607. [The Bhagavā] was staying at Sāvatthī.

“Suppose, bhikkhave, a pond fifty yojanas in length, fifty yojanas in width, and fifty yojanas in depth, full of water, brimful, so that a crow could drink from it. Then a man would draw out water with the tip of a blade of kusa grass. What do you think, bhikkhave? Which is greater: the water drawn out with the tip of the kusa grass, or the water in the pond?”

12S2/2.1.3 Sambhejjaudakasutta

Section titled “12S2/2.1.3 Sambhejjaudakasutta”

607. [The Bhagavā] was staying at Sāvatthī.

“Suppose, bhikkhave, where these great rivers meet and converge — namely, the Ganges, Yamuna, Aciravati, Sarabhu, and Mahi — then a man would draw out two or three drops of water. What do you think, bhikkhave? Which is greater: the two or three drops of water drawn out, or the water where they converge?”

12S2/2.1.4 Dutiyasambhejjaudakasutta

Section titled “12S2/2.1.4 Dutiyasambhejjaudakasutta”

607. [The Bhagavā] was staying at Sāvatthī.

“Suppose, bhikkhave, where these great rivers meet and converge — namely, the Ganges, Yamuna, Aciravati, Sarabhu, and Mahi — that water would dry up and be exhausted, except for two or three drops of water. What do you think, bhikkhave? Which is greater: the water from the convergence that has dried up and been exhausted, or the two or three drops of water that remain?”

12S2/2.1.5 Pathavīsutta

Section titled “12S2/2.1.5 Pathavīsutta”

607. [The Bhagavā] was staying at Sāvatthī.

“Suppose, bhikkhave, a man would lay down seven jujube-seed-sized pellets on this great earth. What do you think, bhikkhave? Which is greater: those seven jujube-seed-sized pellets that have been laid down, or this great earth?”

12S2/2.1.6 Dutiyapathavīsutta

Section titled “12S2/2.1.6 Dutiyapathavīsutta”

607. [The Bhagavā] was staying at Sāvatthī.

“Suppose, bhikkhave, this great earth would dry up and be exhausted, except for seven jujube-seed-sized pellets. What do you think, bhikkhus? Which is greater: that from the great earth which has dried up and been exhausted, or those seven jujube-seed-sized pellets that remain?”

12S2/2.1.7 Samuddasutta

Section titled “12S2/2.1.7 Samuddasutta”

607. [The Bhagavā] was staying at Sāvatthī.

“Suppose, bhikkhave, a man would draw out two or three drops of water from the great ocean. What do you think, bhikkhave? Which is greater: the two or three drops of water that have been drawn out, or the water in the great ocean?”

12S2/2.1.8 Dutiyasamuddasutta

Section titled “12S2/2.1.8 Dutiyasamuddasutta”

607. [The Bhagavā] was staying at Sāvatthī.

“Suppose, bhikkhave, the great ocean would dry up and be exhausted, except for two or three drops of water. What do you think, bhikkhave? Which is greater: that water from the great ocean which has dried up and been exhausted, or those two or three drops of water that remain?”

12S2/2.1.9 Pabbatasutta

Section titled “12S2/2.1.9 Pabbatasutta”

607. [The Bhagavā] was staying at Sāvatthī.

“Suppose, bhikkhave, a man would lay down seven mustard-seed-sized pebbles on the Himalayas. What do you think, bhikkhave? Which is greater: those seven mustard-seed-sized pebbles that have been laid down, or the Himalayas?”

12S2/2.1.10 Dutiyapabbatasutta

Section titled “12S2/2.1.10 Dutiyapabbatasutta”

607. [The Bhagavā] was staying at Sāvatthī.

“Suppose, bhikkhave, the Himalayas would dry up and be exhausted, except for seven mustard-seed-sized pebbles. What do you think, bhikkhave? Which is greater: that from the Himalayas which has dried up and been exhausted, or those seven mustard-seed-sized pebbles that remain?”

12S2/2.1.11 Tatiyapabbatasutta

Section titled “12S2/2.1.11 Tatiyapabbatasutta”

607. [The Bhagavā] was staying at Sāvatthī.

“Suppose, bhikkhave, a man would lay down seven mung-bean-sized pebbles on the Sineru, King of Mountains. What do you think, bhikkhave? Which is greater: those seven mung-bean-sized pebbles that have been laid down, or the Sineru, King of Mountains?”