Saṁyutta Nikāya:
V. Mahā-Vagga
55. Sotapatti Saṁyutta
IV: Puññābhisanda Vaggo

V. Great Chapter
55. Kindred Sayings on Stream-winning
IV: Flood of Merit

Sutta 38

Vassa Suttaṁ

Raining

 

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THUS have I heard:

On a certain occasion the Exalted One addressed the monks,
saying:

"Monks."

"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.

The Exalted One said:

"Just as, monks, when on the mountain-top
the sky-god rains down big drops,
that water flows down
and in its course
floods the mountain-gullies,
clefts
and spurs,
and, flooding these,
fills up the little pools:
then the big pools, filling,
flood the great lakes:
the great lakes, filling,
flood the rivulets:
the rivulets, filling,
flood the great rivers:
the great rivers, being flooded,
fill up the mighty ocean, -
even so in the Ariyan disciple
who has unwavering loyalty to the Buddha,
the Norm
and the Order,
and has the virtues dear to the Ariyans,
these conditions flow onwards
and reach the further shore
and lead to the destruction of the āsavas.¹

 

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¹ Comy. points out that here the order of words is deceptive. They conduce to the destruction of the āsavas on their way to Nibbāna (paray).