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- Samyutta Nikaya XV.3
- Assu Sutta
- Tears
- For free distribution only, as a gift of Dhamma
At Savatthi. There the Blessed One said: "From an
inconstruable beginning comes transmigration. A beginning point is not evident, though
beings hindered by ignorance and fettered by craving are transmigrating & wandering
on. What do you think, monks: Which is greater, the tears you have shed while
transmigrating & wandering this long, long time -- crying & weeping from being
joined with what is displeasing, being separated from what is pleasing -- or the water in
the four great oceans?"
"As we understand the Dhamma taught to us by the Blessed One, this is the greater:
the tears we have shed while transmigrating & wandering this long, long time -- crying
& weeping from being joined with what is displeasing, being separated from what is
pleasing -- not the water in the four great oceans."
"Excellent, monks. Excellent. It is excellent that you thus understand the Dhamma
taught by me.
"This is the greater: the tears you have shed while transmigrating & wandering
this long, long time -- crying & weeping from being joined with what is displeasing,
being separated from what is pleasing -- not the water in the four great oceans.
"Long have you (repeatedly) experienced the death of a mother. The tears you have
shed over the death of a mother while transmigrating & wandering this long, long time
-- crying & weeping from being joined with what is displeasing, being separated from
what is pleasing -- are greater than the water in the four great oceans.
"Long have you (repeatedly) experienced the death of a father...the death of a
brother...the death of a sister...the death of a son...the death of a daughter...loss with
regard to relatives...loss with regard to wealth...loss with regard to disease. The tears
you have shed over loss with regard to disease while transmigrating & wandering this
long, long time -- crying & weeping from being joined with what is displeasing, being
separated from what is pleasing -- are greater than the water in the four great oceans.
"Why is that? From an inconstruable beginning comes transmigration. A beginning
point is not evident, though beings hindered by ignorance and fettered by craving are
transmigrating & wandering on. Long have you thus experienced stress, experienced
pain, experienced loss, swelling the cemeteries -- enough to become disenchanted with all
fabricated things, enough to become dispassionate, enough to be released."