[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [法苑珠林](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122) › 52.67 # 法苑珠林 52.67 法苑珠林 52.67 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [52.67](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.52.67) 又雜阿含經云。爾時世尊手捉團土大如梨果。告諸比丘。云何我手中團土為多。大雪山中土石為多。諸比丘。白佛言。世尊。手中少少耳。彼雪山土石甚多。乃至算數不得為比。佛告諸比丘。如是眾生知四聖諦苦集滅道者。如我所捉團土。不如實知者。如大雪山土石。爾時世尊以爪甲擎土告諸比丘。於意云何。我甲上土為多。此大地土多。諸比丘白佛言。世尊。甲上土甚少少耳。此大地土甚多。乃至算數不可為比。佛告諸比丘。若諸眾生形可見者。如甲上土。其形微細不可見者。如大地土。如陸地。如是水性亦爾。得人道者如甲上土。墮非人者如大地土。如是生中國者。如甲上土。生邊地者。如大地土。如是成聖慧眼者。如甲上土。不成聖者。如大地土。如是知法律者。如甲上土。不知法律者。如大地土。如是知有父母者。如甲上土。不知有父母者。如大地土。如是知受齋戒者。如甲上土。不知受齋戒者。如大地土。如是從地獄畜生餓鬼命終生人中者。如甲上土。從地獄命終還生地獄畜生餓鬼者。如大地土。如是眾生從地獄畜生餓鬼命終生天上者。如甲上土。還生地獄畜生餓鬼者。如大地土。如是從天命終還生天上者。如甲上土。從天命終還生地獄畜生餓鬼者。如大地土。 > Furthermore, the Saṃyuktāgama says: At that time, the World-Honoured One held in his hand a clump of earth as large as a pear. He addressed the monks: "What do you think? Which is greater: the clump of earth in my hand, or the earth and rocks in the Great Snow Mountains?" The monks addressed the Buddha: "World-Honoured One, the earth in your hand is very little indeed; the earth and rocks of those Snow Mountains are exceedingly vast, beyond all reckoning and comparison." The Buddha addressed the monks: "In this same way, beings who know the four noble truths—suffering, its arising, its cessation, and the path—are like the clump of earth I hold; those who do not know them as they truly are are like the earth and rocks of the Great Snow Mountains." At that time, the World-Honoured One picked up some soil on his fingernail and addressed the monks: "What do you think? Which is greater: the soil on my nail, or the soil of this great earth?" The monks addressed the Buddha: "World-Honoured One, the soil on your nail is exceedingly minute; the earth of this great land is exceedingly vast, beyond all reckoning and comparison." The Buddha addressed the monks: "Beings whose forms are visible are like the soil on the nail; those whose forms are minute and invisible are like the soil of the great earth. As on dry land, so too it is with aquatic creatures. Those who attain the human path are like the soil on the nail; those who fall into non-human realms are like the soil of the great earth. So too, those born in the Middle Country are like the soil on the nail; those born in outlying borderlands are like the soil of the great earth. So too, those who accomplish the noble eye of wisdom are like the soil on the nail; those who do not accomplish nobility are like the soil of the great earth. So too, those who know the Dharma and Vinaya are like the soil on the nail; those who do not know the Dharma and Vinaya are like the soil of the great earth. So too, those who know \[filial duty toward\] father and mother are like the soil on the nail; those who do not know \[filial duty toward\] father and mother are like the soil of the great earth. So too, those who know to observe the abstinences and precepts are like the soil on the nail; those who do not know to observe the abstinences and precepts are like the soil of the great earth. So too, those who pass away from the hells, animals, and hungry ghosts to be born among humans are like the soil on the nail; those who pass away from the hells to be reborn back into the hells, animals, and hungry ghosts are like the soil of the great earth. In this way, beings who pass away from the hells, animals, and hungry ghosts to be born in the heavens are like the soil on the nail; those who return to rebirth in the hells, animals, and hungry ghosts are like the soil of the great earth. In this way, those who pass away from heaven to be reborn back in heaven are like the soil on the nail; those who pass away from heaven to be reborn back into the hells, animals, and hungry ghosts are like the soil of the great earth." > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 52.66](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.52.66) - [Next: 52.68](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.52.68) - [Up: 52](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.52) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122~en-mt.52.67) — English, machine translation --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.52.67](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.52.67) · Pramāṇa