I have heard that: |
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on one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Savatthi at Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's monastery. |
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Then the Blessed One, picking up a little bit of dust with the tip of his fingernail, said to the monks: |
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"What do you think, monks? Which is greater: the little bit of dust I have picked up with the tip of my fingernail, or the great earth?" |
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"The great earth is far greater, lord. The little bit of dust the Blessed One has picked up with the tip of his fingernail is next to nothing. It's not a hundredth, a thousandth, a one hundred-thousandth — this little bit of dust the Blessed One has picked up with the tip of his fingernail — when compared with the great earth." |
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"In the same way, monks, for a disciple of the noble ones who is consummate in view, an individual who has broken through [to stream-entry], the suffering & stress that is totally ended & extinguished is far greater. That which remains in the state of having at most seven remaining lifetimes is next to nothing: it's not a hundredth, a thousandth, a one hundred-thousandth, when compared with the previous mass of suffering. |
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That's how great the benefit is of breaking through to the Dhamma, monks. That's how great the benefit is of obtaining the Dhamma eye." |
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