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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