sn.35.242 Saṁyutta Nikāya (Linked Discourses)

The Simile of the Great Log (2)

On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Kimbila on the bank of the river Ganges. The Blessed One saw a great log being carried along by the current of the river Ganges, and he addressed the bhikkhus thus: “Do you see, bhikkhus, that great log being carried along by the current of the river Ganges?”

“Yes, venerable sir.”… as above …

When this was said, the Venerable Kimbila asked the Blessed One: “What, venerable sir, is the near shore … what is inward rottenness?”

Replies as above except the following:

“And what, Kimbila, is inward rottenness? Here, Kimbila, a bhikkhu commits a certain defiled offence, an offence of a kind that does not allow for rehabilitation. This is called inward rottenness.”

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh

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The Simile of the Tree Trunk (2nd)

At one time the Buddha was staying near Kimibilā on the bank of the Ganges river.
Seeing a large tree trunk being carried along by the current,
he addressed the mendicants:
“Mendicants, do you see that large tree trunk being carried along by the current of the Ganges river?”
“Yes, sir,” they replied. …
When this was said, Venerable Kimbila said to the Buddha:
“But sir, what’s the near shore and what’s the far shore? What’s sinking in the middle? What’s getting stranded on high ground? What’s getting taken by humans or non-humans? What’s getting caught up in a whirlpool? And what’s rotting away?” …
“And what, Kimbila, is rotting away?
It’s when a mendicant has committed the kind of corrupt offense from which there is no rehabilitation.
This is called ‘rotting away’.”