Rain-Cloud (a)

Translated from the Pali by F. L. Woodward, M.A.

[1] Thus have I heard:

On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī at Jeta Grove in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.

Then the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted ONe.

The Exalted One said this:

"Monks, there are these four rain-clouds.

What four?

The thunderer not the rainer.

The rainer not the thunderer.

The neither thunderer nor rainer.

The both thunderer and rainer.

These are the four.

[110] In like manner, monks, these four persons resembling rain-clouds
are to be found existing in the world.

What four?

The thunderer not the rainer.

The rainer not the thunderer.

The neither thunderer nor rainer.

The both thunderer and rainer.

Now, monks, how is a person
a thunderer but no rainer?

In this case, monks, a person
speaks but acts not.

Thus he is one who thunders but rains not.

Just as that cloud thunders but rains not,
so using this figure
do I speak of this person.

And how, monks, is a person
a rainer but no thunderer?

In this case, monks, a person is one who acts but speaks not.

Thus he is one who rains but thunders not.

Just as that cloud rains but thunders not,
so using this figure
do I speak of this person.

And how, monks, is a person
one who is neither thunderer nor rainer?

In this case a person neither speaks nor acts.

Thus he is one who neither thunders nor rains.

Just as that cloud neither thunders nor rains,
so using this figure
do I speak of this person.

And how, monks, is a person
both thunderer and rainer?

In this case a person both speaks and acts.

Thus he is one who thunders and rains.

Just as that cloud both thunders and rains,
so using this figure
do I speak of this person.

So these are the four persons found existing in the world.

^[1] This chapter may be compared with K.S. iii, pp. 192, 200 [Ed. but ?] for subject. The sutta also occurs at Pugg. 42.