AN 4 The Book of the Fours – Catukkanipāta > AN 4.103 Pots

Numbered Discourses 4.103 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.103

11. Clouds – 11. Valāhakavagga

AN 4.103 Pots – Kumbhasutta

1.1

“Bhikkhū, there are these four pots.

“Cattārome, bhikkhave, kumbhā.

1.2

What four?

Katame cattāro?

1.3

Covered but hollow,

Tuccho pihito,

1.4

uncovered but full,

pūro vivaṭo,

1.5

uncovered and hollow, and

tuccho vivaṭo,

1.6

covered and full.

pūro pihito—

1.7

These are the four pots.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro kumbhā.

1.8

In the same way, these four people similar to pots are found in the world.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, cattāro kumbhūpamā puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ.

1.9

What four?

Katame cattāro?

1.10

Covered but hollow,

Tuccho pihito,

1.11

uncovered but full,

pūro vivaṭo,

1.12

uncovered and hollow, and

tuccho vivaṭo,

1.13

covered and full.

pūro pihito.

2.1

And how is a person covered but hollow?

Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo tuccho hoti pihito?

2.2

It’s when a person is impressive when going out and coming back, when looking ahead and aside, when bending and extending the limbs, and when bearing the outer robe, bowl and robes.

Idha, bhikkhave, ekaccassa puggalassa pāsādikaṁ hoti abhikkantaṁ paṭikkantaṁ ālokitaṁ vilokitaṁ samiñjitaṁ pasāritaṁ saṅghāṭipattacīvaradhāraṇaṁ.

2.3

But they don’t truly understand: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’.

So ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti.

2.4

That’s how a person is covered but hollow.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo tuccho hoti pihito.

2.5

That person is like a pot that’s covered but hollow, I say.

Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, kumbho tuccho pihito;

2.6

tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi.

3.1

And how is a person uncovered but full?

Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo pūro hoti vivaṭo?

3.2

It’s when a person is not impressive …

Idha, bhikkhave, ekaccassa puggalassa na pāsādikaṁ hoti abhikkantaṁ paṭikkantaṁ ālokitaṁ vilokitaṁ samiñjitaṁ pasāritaṁ saṅghāṭipattacīvaradhāraṇaṁ.

3.3

But they truly understand: ‘This is suffering’ …

So ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti.

3.4

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo pūro hoti vivaṭo.

3.5

Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, kumbho pūro vivaṭo;

3.6

tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi.

4.1

And how is a person uncovered and hollow?

Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo tuccho hoti vivaṭo?

4.2

It’s when a person is not impressive …

Idha, bhikkhave, ekaccassa puggalassa na pāsādikaṁ hoti abhikkantaṁ paṭikkantaṁ ālokitaṁ vilokitaṁ samiñjitaṁ pasāritaṁ saṅghāṭipattacīvaradhāraṇaṁ.

4.3

Nor do they truly understand: ‘This is suffering’ …

So ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti.

4.4

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo tuccho hoti vivaṭo.

4.5

Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, kumbho tuccho vivaṭo;

4.6

tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi.

5.1

And how is a person covered and full?

Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo pūro hoti pihito?

5.2

It’s when a person is impressive …

Idha, bhikkhave, ekaccassa puggalassa pāsādikaṁ hoti abhikkantaṁ paṭikkantaṁ ālokitaṁ vilokitaṁ samiñjitaṁ pasāritaṁ saṅghāṭipattacīvaradhāraṇaṁ.

5.3

And they truly understand: ‘This is suffering’ …

So ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti.

5.4

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo pūro hoti pihito.

5.5

Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, kumbho pūro pihito;

5.6

tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi.

5.7

These four people similar to pots are found in the world.”

Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro kumbhūpamā puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmin”ti.

5.8

Tatiyaṁ.