法苑珠林 52.67

52.67

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."