Reading guide
A different mountain, confirmed directly
This project's own direct comparison: SN 56.49-50 named “Sineru,” the mythic cosmological mountain at the center of traditional Buddhist cosmology; this discourse and its own companion SN 56.60 instead name “the Himalayas,” an actual, geographically real mountain range — a genuine textual distinction this project confirms by reading the root Pali directly, rather than treating the two discourses as identical repetitions.
Mustard seeds, not mung beans
This project's own reading: the pebble size also shifts from “muggamattiyo” (“mung-bean-sized,” at SN 56.49-50) to “sāsapamattiyo” (“mustard-seed-sized,” here) — a smaller unit, matching this vagga's own escalating attention to minute measure across its own ten discourses.
Key terms
The text
§1“Mendicants, suppose a person was to place seven pebbles the size of mustard seeds on the Himalayas, the king of mountains. What do you think, mendicants? Which is more: the seven pebbles the size of mustard seeds, or the Himalayas, the king of mountains?” “Sir, the Himalayas, the king of mountains, is certainly more. The seven pebbles the size of mustard seeds are tiny. Compared to the Himalayas, they don’t count, there’s no comparison, they’re not worth a fraction.” “In the same way, for a noble disciple … That’s why you should practice meditation …”
Self-check quiz
3 questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.