1"Bhikkhus, suppose that the great earth would be destroyed and eliminated except for seven little balls of clay the size of jujube kernels. What do you think, bhikkhus, which is more: the great earth that has been destroyed and eliminated or the seven little balls of clay the size of jujube kernels that remain?"

"Venerable sir, the great earth that has been destroyed and eliminated is more. The seven little balls of clay the size of jujube kernels that remain are trifling. Compared to the great earth that has been destroyed and eliminated, the seven little balls of clay the size of jujube kernels that remain are not calculable, do not bear comparison, do not amount even to a fraction."

"So too, bhikkhus, for a noble disciple … Therefore an exertion should be made. … " sn.v.463

1"Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, mahāpathavī parikkhayaṁ pariyādānaṁ gaccheyya ṭhapetvā satta kolaṭṭhimattiyo guḷikā. Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, katamaṁ nu kho bahutaraṁ – yaṁ vā mahāpathaviyā parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādinnaṁ, yā vā satta kolaṭṭhimattiyo guḷikā avasiṭṭhā"ti?

"Etadeva, bhante, bahutaraṁ mahāpathaviyā yadidaṁ parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādinnaṁ; appamattikā satta kolaṭṭhimattiyo guḷikā avasiṭṭhā. Saṅkhampi na upenti, upanidhampi na upenti, kalabhāgampi na upenti mahāpathaviyā parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādinnaṁ upanidhāya satta kolaṭṭhimattiyo guḷikā avasiṭṭhā"ti.

"Evameva kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvakassa … pe … yogo karaṇīyo"ti.

Chaṭṭhaṁ.