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SN 56.52PTS SN 5.4601 min read

A Lotus Pond

Pokkharaṇīsutta

As a drop of water on a blade of grass compared to a massive dam, so is the suffering remaining to one who has seen the four noble truths.

Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral

  • 0.1Saṁyutta Nikāya 56.52Linked Discourses 56.52
  • 0.26. Abhisamayavagga6. Comprehension

0.3PokkharaṇīsuttaA Lotus Pond

1.1“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, pokkharaṇī paññāsayojanāni āyāmena, paññāsayojanāni vitthārena, paññāsayojanāni ubbedhena, puṇṇā udakassa samatittikā kākapeyyā.“Mendicants, suppose there was a lotus pond that was fifty leagues long, fifty leagues wide, and fifty leagues deep, full to the brim so a crow could drink from it.1.2Tato puriso kusaggena udakaṁ uddhareyya.Then a person would pick up some water on the tip of a blade of grass.

1.3Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave,What do you think, mendicants?1.4katamaṁ nu kho bahutaraṁ—yaṁ vā kusaggena ubbhataṁ, yaṁ vā pokkharaṇiyā udakan”ti?Which is more: the water on the tip of the blade of grass, or the water in the lotus pond?”

1.5“Etadeva, bhante, bahutaraṁ, yadidaṁ—pokkharaṇiyā udakaṁ; appamattakaṁ kusaggena udakaṁ ubbhataṁ.“Sir, the water in the lotus pond is certainly more. The water on the tip of a blade of grass is tiny.1.6Saṅkhampi na upeti, upanidhampi na upeti, kalabhāgampi na upeti pokkharaṇiyā udakaṁ upanidhāya kusaggena udakaṁ ubbhatan”ti.Compared to the water in the lotus pond, it doesn’t count, there’s no comparison, it’s not worth a fraction.”

1.7“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvakassa …pe…“In the same way, for a noble disciple …

1.8yogo karaṇīyo”ti.That’s why you should practice meditation …”

1.9Dutiyaṁ.