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- Samyutta Nikaya XIII.1
- Nakhasikha Sutta
- The Tip of the Fingernail
- For free distribution only, as a gift of Dhamma
I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Savatthi at Jeta's
Grove, Anathapindika's monastery. Then the Blessed One, picking up a little bit of dust
with the tip of his fingernail, said to the monks, "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?"
"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."
"In the same way, monks, for a noble disciple 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. 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."