Bhavanasutta 5.1

5.1

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, phalagaṇḍassa vā phalagaṇḍantevāsikassa vā dissanteva vāsijaṭe aṅgulipadāni dissati aṅguṭṭhapadaṃ. No ca khvassa evaṃ ñāṇaṃ hoti: ‘ettakaṃ me ajja vāsijaṭassa khīṇaṃ, ettakaṃ hiyyo, ettakaṃ pare’ti, atha khvassa khīṇe ‘khīṇan’teva ñāṇaṃ hoti.

Suppose a mason or their apprentice sees the marks of his fingers and thumb on the handle of his adze. They don’t know how much of the handle was worn away today, how much yesterday, and how much previously. They just know what has been worn away.