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buddhavacana

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

· 25 min read

This collection of similar suttas was 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 Abhisamayavagga

Section titled “12S2/2.1 Abhisamayavagga”

This collection of similar suttas was 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:

At one time the Bhagavā was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park. Then the Bhagavā, having placed a little dust on the tip of his fingernail, addressed the bhikkhū:

“Bhikkhave, what do you consider: which is greater, this little bit of dust that I have placed on the tip of my fingernail, or this great earth?”

605. “Just this, Bhante, is greater, namely the great earth. The little bit of dust the Bhagavā has placed 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 an ariyasāvaka (disciple of the liberated), a person accomplished in view, who has completely realised [the dhamma], just this dukkha (suffering) is greater, namely that which has been exhausted and consumed; 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 dukkhakkhandha (mass of suffering) that has been exhausted and consumed, namely, a maximum of seven times. Of such great benefit indeed, Bhikkhave, is the complete realisation of the dhamma (phenomenal nature of experience); of such great benefit is the attainment of the dhammacakkhu (insight into the dhamma).”

12S2/2.1.2 Pokkharaṇīsutta

Section titled “12S2/2.1.2 Pokkharaṇīsutta”

607. [The Bhagavā] was dwelling 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. Bhikkhave, what do you consider: 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”

611. [The Bhagavā] was dwelling at Sāvatthī.

“Suppose, Bhikkhave, where these great rivers meet and converge — that is to say, the Ganges, Yamunā, Aciravatī, Sarabhū, and Mahī — then a man would draw out two or three drops of water. Bhikkhave, what do you consider: which is greater, the two or three drops of water drawn out, or the water at the confluence?”

12S2/2.1.4 Dutiyasambhejjaudakasutta

Section titled “12S2/2.1.4 Dutiyasambhejjaudakasutta”

614. [The Bhagavā] was dwelling at Sāvatthī.

“Suppose, Bhikkhave, where these great rivers meet and converge — that is to say, the Ganges, Yamunā, Aciravatī, Sarabhū, and Mahī — that water would be exhausted and consumed, except for two or three drops of water. Bhikkhave, what do you consider: which is greater, the water at the confluence that has been exhausted and consumed, or the two or three drops of water that remain?”

12S2/2.1.5 Pathavīsutta

Section titled “12S2/2.1.5 Pathavīsutta”

617. [The Bhagavā] was dwelling at Sāvatthī.

“Suppose, Bhikkhave, a man would lay down seven jujube-seed-sized pellets on the great earth. Bhikkhave, what do you consider: which is greater, those seven jujube-seed-sized pellets that have been laid down, or the great earth?”

12S2/2.1.6 Dutiyapathavīsutta

Section titled “12S2/2.1.6 Dutiyapathavīsutta”

620. [The Bhagavā] was dwelling at Sāvatthī.

“Suppose, Bhikkhave, the great earth would be exhausted and consumed, except for seven jujube-seed-sized pellets. Bhikkhave, what do you consider: which is greater, that of the great earth which has been exhausted and consumed, or those seven jujube-seed-sized pellets that remain?”

12S2/2.1.7 Samuddasutta

Section titled “12S2/2.1.7 Samuddasutta”

623. [The Bhagavā] was dwelling at Sāvatthī.

“Suppose, Bhikkhave, a man would draw out two or three drops of water from the great ocean. Bhikkhave, what do you consider: 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”

626. [The Bhagavā] was dwelling at Sāvatthī.

“Suppose, Bhikkhave, the great ocean would be exhausted and consumed, except for two or three drops of water. Bhikkhave, what do you consider: which is greater, the water in the great ocean that has been exhausted and consumed, or those two or three drops of water that remain?”

12S2/2.1.9 Pabbatasutta

Section titled “12S2/2.1.9 Pabbatasutta”

629. [The Bhagavā] was dwelling at Sāvatthī.

“Suppose, Bhikkhave, a man would lay down seven mustard-seed-sized pebbles on the Himālaya, the king of mountains. Bhikkhave, what do you consider: which is greater, those seven mustard-seed-sized pebbles that have been laid down, or the Himālaya, the king of mountains?”

12S2/2.1.10 Dutiyapabbatasutta

Section titled “12S2/2.1.10 Dutiyapabbatasutta”

632. [The Bhagavā] was dwelling at Sāvatthī.

“Suppose, Bhikkhave, the Himālaya, the king of mountains, would be exhausted and consumed, except for seven mustard-seed-sized pebbles. Bhikkhave, what do you consider: which is greater, that of the Himālaya, the king of mountains, which has been exhausted and consumed, or those seven mustard-seed-sized pebbles that remain?”

12S2/2.1.11 Tatiyapabbatasutta

Section titled “12S2/2.1.11 Tatiyapabbatasutta”

636. [The Bhagavā] was dwelling at Sāvatthī.

“Suppose, Bhikkhave, a man would lay down seven mung-bean-sized pebbles on Sineru, the king of mountains. Bhikkhave, what do you consider: which is greater, those seven mung-bean-sized pebbles that have been laid down, or Sineru, the king of mountains?”