This is the 29th Sutta of the Majjhima Nikaya, The Mahāsāropama Sutta, which translates as “the longer simile of the Heartwood”. In this teaching, following an incident with Devadatta, the Buddha cautions the monks against becoming complacent with superficial benefits of spiritual life and points to liberation as the true heart of the teaching.

This translation of the Mahāsaropama Sutta is by Bhikkhu Sujato and was sourced from Sutta Central.

If you'd like to understand more about this sutta you could listen to a sutta study class led by Ajahn Hasapanna about this sutta.

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