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- Samyutta Nikaya LVI.31
- Simsapa Sutta
- The Simsapa Leaves
- For free distribution only, as a gift of Dhamma
Once the Blessed One was staying at Kosambi in the Simsapa forest. Then, picking up a few Simsapa leaves with his hand, he
asked the monks, "How do you construe this, monks: Which are more numerous, the few
Simsapa leaves in my hand or those overhead in the Simsapa forest?"
"The leaves in the hand of the Blessed One are few in number, lord. Those overhead
in the forest are far more numerous."
"In the same way, monks, those things that I have known with direct knowledge but
have not taught are far more numerous [than what I have taught]. And why haven't I taught
them? Because they are not connected with the goal, do not relate to the rudiments of the
holy life, and do not lead to disenchantment, to dispassion, to cessation, to calm, to
direct knowledge, to self-awakening, to Unbinding. That is why I have not taught them.
"And what have I taught? 'This is stress...This is the origination of
stress...This is the cessation of stress...This is the path of practice leading to the
cessation of stress': This is what I have taught. And why have I taught these things?
Because they are connected with the goal, relate to the rudiments of the holy life, and
lead to disenchantment, to dispassion, to cessation, to calm, to direct knowledge, to
self-awakening, to Unbinding. This is why I have taught them.
"Therefore your duty is the contemplation, 'This is stress...This is the
origination of stress...This is the cessation of stress.' Your duty is the contemplation,
'This is the path of practice leading to the cessation of stress.'"