This episode is the 30th Sutta of the Majjhima Nikaya, The Cūḷasāropama Sutta, which translates as “the shorter 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 Culasaropama 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 Brahm about this sutta.

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