The Ocean I

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

2. “Bhikkhus, a man takes two or three drops of water from the ocean. Bhikkhus, isn't the water in the ocean, the major portion and not the two or three drops of water taken from the ocean?”

3. “Venerable sir, indeed, the water in the great ocean is much more than the two or three drops of water taken from it and cannot be reckoned, it does not come up to one hundredth portion of the water in the ocean not even the one thousandth portion, and not even the one hundred thousandth portion, compared to the water in the ocean.”

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.”