[276] Setting at Sāvatthī. "Bhikkhus, suppose a tree were slanting toward the east, sloping toward the east, inclining toward the east: when it is cut at the root, it will fall in whatever direction it slants, in whatever direction it slopes, in whatever direction it inclines. In just the same way, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu developing the noble eightfold path (ariya aṭṭhaṅgika magga), cultivating the noble eightfold path, slants toward Nibbāna, slopes toward Nibbāna, inclines toward Nibbāna."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.