The Water Simile

Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
Proofed against and modified in accordance with the revised edition at dhammatalks.org
Provenance, terms and conditons

[1][pts] "Monks, seven types of individuals
are to be found existing in the world.|| ||

Which seven?

"There is the case where an individual
sinks down once and stays sunk.

■

There is the case where an individual,
on coming to the surface,
sinks down again.

■

There is the case where an individual,
on coming to the surface,
stays there.

■

There is the case where an individual,
on coming to the surface,
opens his eyes and looks around.

■

There is the case where an individual,
on coming to the surface,
heads across.

■

There is the case where an individual,
on coming to the surface,
gains a foothold.

■

Then there is the case where an individual,
on coming to the surface,
crosses over,
reaches the far shore,
stands on high ground,
a brahman.

"And how does an individual
sink down once and stay sunk?

There is the case where an individual
is endowed with exclusively dark,
unskillful qualities.

That's how an individual sinks down once and stays sunk.

■

"And how does an individual,
on coming to the surface,
sink down again?

There is the case where an individual comes to the surface, [seeing,]
'Conviction in skillful qualities is good,
a sense of shame is good,
a sense of compunction (over the results of actions) is good,
persistence is good,
discernment with regard to skillful qualities is good.'|| ||

But his conviction neither remains nor grows,
but simply wanes away.|| ||

His sense of shame,
his sense of compunction,
his persistence,
his discernment
neither remain nor grow,
but simply wane away.

That's how an individual,
on coming to the surface,
sinks down again.

■

"And how does an individual,
on coming to the surface,
stay there?

His conviction doesn't wane,
but instead develops and remains.
His sense of shame,
his sense of compunction,
his persistence,
his discernment don't wane,
but instead develop and remain.

That's how an individual,
on coming to the surface,
stays there.

■

"And how does an individual,
on coming to the surface,
open his eyes and look around?

There is the case where an individual
comes to the surface, [seeing,]
'Conviction in skillful qualities is good,
sense of shame is good,
sense of compunction (over the results of actions) is good,
persistence is good,
discernment with regard to skillful qualities is good.'
With the total ending
of [the first] three fetters,
he becomes a stream-winner,
steadfast,
never again destined for states of woe,
headed for self-awakening.

That's how an individual,
on coming to the surface,
opens his eyes and looks around.

■

"And how does an individual,
on coming to the surface,
head across?

There is the case where an individual
comes to the surface, [seeing,]
'Conviction in skillful qualities is good,
sense of shame is good,
sense of compunction (over the results of actions) is good,
persistence is good,
discernment with regard to skillful qualities is good.'
With the total ending
of [the first] three fetters,
and with the attenuation
of passion, aversion, and delusion,
he becomes a once-returner, who
— on returning only one more time to this world —
will make an ending to stress.

That's how an individual,
on coming to the surface,
heads across.

■

"And how does an individual,
on coming to the surface,
gain a foothold?

There is the case where an individual
comes to the surface, [seeing,]
'Conviction in skillful qualities is good,
sense of shame is good,
sense of compunction (over the results of actions) is good,
persistence is good,
discernment with regard to skillful qualities is good.'
With the total ending
of the five lower fetters,
he is due to be reborn [in the Pure Abodes],
there to be totally unbound,
never again to return from that world.

That's how an individual,
on coming to the surface,
gains a foothold.

■

"And how does an individual,
on coming to the surface,
cross over,
reach the far shore,
stand on high ground,
a brahman?

There is the case where an individual
comes to the surface, [seeing,]
'Conviction in skillful qualities is good,
sense of shame is good,
sense of compunction (over the results of actions) is good,
persistence is good,
discernment with regard to skillful qualities is good.'
With the ending of the mental effluents,
he enters and remains
in the effluent-free awareness-release
and discernment-release,
having directly known and realized them for himself
right in the here and now.

That's how an individual,
on coming to the surface,
crosses over,
reaches the far shore,
stands on high ground,
a brahman.

"These are the seven types of individuals
to be found existing in the world."

References:

Aṇguttara Nikāya Sattaka Nipāta 2. Anusaya Vagga

Sutta 15

Udak'ūpama-Puggala Suttaṃ

The Water Simile

Aṇguttara Nikāya
Sattaka Nipāta
2. Anusaya Vagga