[1745] "Bhikkhus, suppose a man were to place beside Sineru, the king of mountains, seven pebbles the size of mung beans. What do you think, bhikkhus: which is the greater — the seven mung-bean-sized pebbles that have been placed there, or Sineru, the king of mountains?"
"This alone is the greater, venerable sir, that is, Sineru, the king of mountains. The seven mung-bean-sized pebbles that have been placed there are trifling; compared with Sineru, the king of mountains, the seven mung-bean-sized pebbles that have been placed there do not amount to counting, do not amount to comparison, do not amount to even a fractional part."
"Even so, bhikkhus, for a noble disciple, a person accomplished in view who has made the breakthrough, this alone is the greater suffering (dukkha), namely, that which has been destroyed and exhausted; what remains is trifling: it does not amount to counting, does not amount to comparison, does not amount to even a fractional part when compared with the former mass of suffering that has been destroyed and exhausted — that is, [for one who has] at most seven more existences — for one who understands as it really is: 'This is suffering' … who understands as it really is: 'This is the way of practice leading to the cessation of suffering.'
Therefore, bhikkhus, an exertion should be made [to understand]: 'This is suffering' … an exertion should be made [to understand]: 'This is the way of practice leading to the cessation of suffering.'"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.