Water at the Rivers' Confluence II

1. At one time the Blessed One was living in the monastery offered by Anāthapiṇḍika in Jeta's grove in Sāvatthī.

2. “Bhikkhus, the water at the confluence of the rivers such as the Ganges, Yamunā, Aciravathī, Sarabhū and Mahī get exhausted and consumed excepting two or three drops of water. Bhikkhus, what would be the more water, is it the exhausted and consumed portion at the confluence of the rivers or the remaining two or three drops of water?”

3. “Venerable sir, indeed, more water is exhausted and consumed at the confluence of the rivers. The two or three drops of water that remain cannot be reckoned do not come up to one hundredth portion of the water at the confluence of the, rivers not even the one thousandth portion, and not even the one hundred thousandth portion, compared to the two or three drops of water that remain.”

4. “In the same manner, bhikkhus, the unpleasantness already scattered and exhausted by the noble disciple who has come to righteousness of view, has penetrated the Teaching is very much more and it is only a little that remains to be exhausted, not even the one hundred thousandth portion and certainly not more. The unpleasantness that remains to be exhausted is the unpleasantness of seven lives the maximum.

5. “Thus the realization of the Teaching is very beneficial and very fruitful.”