[118] Even so, bhikkhus, in this Dhamma and Discipline (dhammavinaya) there are eight astounding and amazing qualities (acchariyā abbhūtadhammā), seeing which again and again bhikkhus delight in the Dhamma and Discipline. What are the eight?
1. Just as, bhikkhus, the great ocean slopes down gradually, inclines gradually, shelves gradually, with no abrupt drop-off like a precipice, even so, bhikkhus, in this Dhamma and Discipline there is gradual training, gradual activity, gradual practice; there is no abrupt penetration of final knowledge (aññā). That, bhikkhus, in this Dhamma and Discipline there is gradual training, gradual activity, gradual practice, with no abrupt penetration of final knowledge — this, bhikkhus, is the first astounding and amazing quality in this Dhamma and Discipline, seeing which again and again bhikkhus delight in this Dhamma and Discipline.
2. Just as, bhikkhus, the great ocean is stable in its nature and does not overflow its shore, even so, bhikkhus, whatever training rule (sikkhāpada) has been laid down by me for my disciples, that my disciples will not transgress even for the sake of life. That, bhikkhus, whatever training rule has been laid down by me for my disciples, that my disciples will not transgress even for the sake of life — this too, bhikkhus, is the second astounding and amazing quality in this Dhamma and Discipline, seeing which again and again bhikkhus delight in this Dhamma and Discipline.
3. Just as, bhikkhus, the great ocean does not abide with a dead corpse — whatever dead corpse there is in the great ocean, it quickly carries to the shore and casts up onto dry land — even so, bhikkhus, whatever person is immoral, of evil character, of impure and suspect conduct, secretive in his deeds, no ascetic though claiming to be an ascetic, not living the holy life though claiming to live the holy life, rotten within, corrupt, of vile nature: with him the Saṅgha does not abide; rather, assembling quickly, it suspends him; and though he may be seated in the midst of the Saṅgha of bhikkhus, yet he is far from the Saṅgha and the Saṅgha is far from him. That, bhikkhus, whatever person is immoral, of evil character, of impure and suspect conduct, secretive in his deeds, no ascetic though claiming to be an ascetic, not living the holy life though claiming to live the holy life, rotten within, corrupt, of vile nature — with him the Saṅgha does not abide, but, assembling quickly, suspends him, and though he may be seated in the midst of the Saṅgha of bhikkhus, yet he is far from the Saṅgha and the Saṅgha is far from him — this too, bhikkhus, is the third astounding and amazing quality in this Dhamma and Discipline, seeing which again and again bhikkhus delight in this Dhamma and Discipline.
4. Just as, bhikkhus, whatever great rivers there are — namely, the Gaṅgā, the Yamunā, the Aciravatī, the Sarabhū, and the Mahī — on reaching the great ocean give up their former names and clans and are reckoned simply as "the great ocean," even so, bhikkhus, the four castes — khattiyas, brahmins, vessas, and suddas — having gone forth from the household life into homelessness in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata, give up their former names and clans and are reckoned simply as "ascetics, sons of the Sakyan." That, bhikkhus, the four castes — khattiyas, brahmins, vessas, and suddas — having gone forth from the household life into homelessness in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata, give up their former names and clans and are reckoned simply as "ascetics, sons of the Sakyan" — this too, bhikkhus, is the fourth astounding and amazing quality in this Dhamma and Discipline, seeing which again and again bhikkhus delight in this Dhamma and Discipline.
5. Just as, bhikkhus, whatever streams in the world flow into the great ocean, and whatever showers fall from the sky, no lessening or filling up of the great ocean is discerned on that account, even so, bhikkhus, though many bhikkhus attain final Nibbāna by the Nibbāna element (nibbānadhātu) without residue remaining, no lessening or filling up of the Nibbāna element is discerned on that account. That, bhikkhus, though bhikkhus attain final Nibbāna by the Nibbāna element without residue remaining, no lessening or filling up of the Nibbāna element is discerned on that account — this too, bhikkhus, is the fifth astounding and amazing quality in this Dhamma and Discipline, seeing which again and again bhikkhus delight in this Dhamma and Discipline.
6. Just as, bhikkhus, the great ocean has but one taste, the taste of salt, even so, bhikkhus, this Dhamma and Discipline has but one taste, the taste of liberation (vimutti). That, bhikkhus, this Dhamma and Discipline has but one taste, the taste of liberation — this too, bhikkhus, is the sixth astounding and amazing quality in this Dhamma and Discipline, seeing which again and again bhikkhus delight in this Dhamma and Discipline.
7. Just as, bhikkhus, the great ocean contains many treasures, treasures of various kinds — therein are these treasures, namely: pearl, gem, beryl, conch, quartz, coral, silver, gold, ruby, and cat's-eye — even so, bhikkhus, this Dhamma and Discipline contains many treasures, treasures of various kinds; therein are these treasures, namely: the four establishments of mindfulness (satipaṭṭhāna), the four right exertions (sammappadhāna), the four bases of psychic power (iddhipāda), the five faculties (indriya), the five powers (bala), the seven factors of awakening (bojjhaṅga), and the Noble Eightfold Path. That, bhikkhus, this Dhamma and Discipline contains many treasures, treasures of various kinds — therein being these treasures, namely: the four establishments of mindfulness, the four right exertions, the four bases of psychic power, the five faculties, the five powers, the seven factors of awakening, and the Noble Eightfold Path — this too, bhikkhus, is the seventh astounding and amazing quality in this Dhamma and Discipline, seeing which again and again bhikkhus delight in this Dhamma and Discipline.
8. Just as, bhikkhus, the great ocean is the abode of great beings — therein are these beings: the timi, the timiṅgala, the timitimiṅgala, asuras, nāgas, and gandhabbas; and there are in the great ocean beings with bodies (attabhāva) one hundred yojanas in extent, beings with bodies two hundred yojanas in extent, beings with bodies three hundred yojanas in extent, beings with bodies four hundred yojanas in extent, and beings with bodies five hundred yojanas in extent — even so, bhikkhus, this Dhamma and Discipline is the abode of great beings; therein are these beings: the stream-enterer (sotāpanna) and the one practicing for the realization of the fruition of stream-entry; the once-returner (sakadāgāmī) and the one practicing for the realization of the fruition of once-returning; the non-returner (anāgāmī) and the one practicing for the realization of the fruition of non-returning; the arahant and the one practicing for arahantship. That, bhikkhus, this Dhamma and Discipline is the abode of great beings — therein being these beings: the stream-enterer and the one practicing for the realization of the fruition of stream-entry; the once-returner and the one practicing for the realization of the fruition of once-returning; the non-returner and the one practicing for the realization of the fruition of non-returning; the arahant and the one practicing for arahantship — this too, bhikkhus, is the eighth astounding and amazing quality in this Dhamma and Discipline, seeing which again and again bhikkhus delight in this Dhamma and Discipline.
These, bhikkhus, are the eight astounding and amazing qualities in this Dhamma and Discipline, seeing which again and again bhikkhus delight in this Dhamma and Discipline.
Then the Blessed One, having understood this matter, on that occasion uttered this inspired utterance (udāna):
The rain pours down on what is covered;
it does not pour down on what is open.
Therefore open up what is covered:
thus it will not pour down upon it.
The fifth [sutta].
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.