SA 404（四〇四） 申恕林

Thus have I heard:

Once, the Buddha was traveling in the human realm of Magadha, and the king had built a meritorious dwelling in the bamboo grove between Rajagriha and Pāṭaligāma. At that time, the World-Honored One stayed there with the great assembly.

At that time, the World-Honored One told the bhikṣus, "You should go together to the Śītavana."

At that time, the World-Honored One, together with the great assembly, arrived at Śītavana and sat under a tree.

At that time, the World-Honored One held a tree leaf in his hand and said to the bhikṣus, "Which is greater, the leaves in my hand or the leaves in the great forest?"

The bhikṣus said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! The leaves in the hand are very few, while the leaves in the great forest are immeasurable, hundreds of thousands of millions of times, and cannot be compared even by calculation or analogy."

"Thus, bhikṣus! The Dharma I have seen and explained to others after attaining perfect enlightenment is like the leaves in my hand. Why is that? Because that Dharma is beneficial, beneficial to the Dharma, beneficial to the holy life, illuminating, wise, truly awakened, and leads to nirvāṇa. It is like the leaves in the great forest. The Dharma I have not explained after attaining perfect enlightenment, knowing it to be true, is also like that. Why is that? Because that Dharma is not beneficial, not beneficial to the Dharma, not beneficial to the holy life, not illuminating, not wise, not truly awakened, and does not lead to nirvāṇa. Therefore, bhikṣus! Those who have not yet attained the four noble truths without interruption should diligently make effort, arouse supreme desire, and study without interruption."

After the Buddha had spoken this sūtra, the bhikṣus heard what the Buddha had said and joyfully practiced it.