"Bhikkhus, suppose a man were to place seven small pebbles, each the size of a mung bean, beside Mount Sineru, the king of mountains.

What do you think, bhikkhus? Which is greater — those seven small pebbles, each the size of a mung bean, that have been placed, or Mount Sineru, the king of mountains?

Venerable sir, the Mount Sineru, the king of mountains, is certainly far greater. The seven small pebbles, each the size of a mung bean, are insignificant. They do not come close in comparison, they do not approach in measure, they do not even amount to a fraction when compared to Mount Sineru, the king of mountains.

In the same way, bhikkhus, for a noble disciple, one endowed with right view, who has attained full understanding, the suffering that has been eradicated and exhausted is indeed far greater, while what little remains is insignificant. It does not come close in comparison, does not approach in measure, does not even amount to a fraction when compared to the mass of suffering that has already been eradicated and exhausted. This refers to someone who is capable of at most seven more rebirths, who understands, as it truly is: 'This is suffering'; understands, as it truly is: 'This is the arising of suffering'; understands, as it truly is: 'This is the ending of suffering'; and understands, as it truly is: 'This is the way of practice leading to the ending of suffering.'

Therefore, bhikkhus, effort should be made to fully understand: 'This is suffering'; effort should be made to fully understand: 'This is the arising of suffering'; effort should be made to fully understand: 'This is the ending of suffering'; effort should be made to fully understand: 'This is the way of practice leading to the ending of suffering.'"