Aṇguttara Nikāya
Catukka Nipāta
XI: Valāhaka Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
The Book of the Fours
Chapter XI: Rain-Cloud
Sutta 105
Dutiya Udakarahada Suttaṃ
Pools of Water (b)
Translated from the Pali by F. L. Woodward, M.A.
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[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 pools of water.
What four?
The shallow which looks deep,
the deep which looks shallow,
the shallow which looks shallow,
and the deep which looks deep.
These are the four pools of water.
In like manner, monks, there are these four persons resembling pools of water to be found existing in the world.
What four?
The shallow which looks deep,
the deep which looks shallow,
the shallow which looks shallow,
and the deep which looks deep.
■
Now, monks, how is a person shallow but look deep?
In this case the mien of a certain person
is charming,
whether he be departing or approaching,
looking forward or backward,
bending or unbending (his arm),
or bearing outer robe,
bowl
and (ordinary) robe.
Yet he understands not,
as it really is,
the meaning of:
'This is Ill.'
He understands not,
as it really is,
the meaning of:
'This is the arising of Ill.'
He understands not,
as it really is,
the meaning of:
'This is the ending of Ill.'
He understands not,
as it really is,
the meaning of:
'This is the practice going to the ending of Ill.'
Thus, monks, a person
is shallow but looks deep.
As is that pool of water is shallow but looks deep,
even so using this figure
do I speak of this person.
■
And how, monks, is a person
deep but look shallow?
In this case the mien of a certain person is not charming,
whether he be departing or approaching,
looking forward or backward,
bending or unbending (his arm),
or bearing outer robe,
bowl
and (ordinary) robe.
Yet he does understand,
as it really is,
the meaning of:
'This is Ill.'
He does understand,
as it really is,
the meaning of:
'This is the arising of Ill.'
He does understand,
as it really is,
the meaning of:
'This is the ending of Ill.'
He does understand,
as it really is,
the meaning of:
'This is the practice going to the ending of Ill.'
Thus a person is deep but looks shallow.
As is that pool of water is deep but looks shallow,
even so using this figure
do I speak of this person.
■
And how, monks, is a person shallow and looks shallow?
In this case the mien of a certain person is not charming,
whether he be departing or approaching,
looking forward or backward,
bending or unbending (his arm),
or bearing outer robe,
bowl
and (ordinary) robe.
And he does not understand,
as it really is,
the meaning of:
'This is Ill.'
He does not understand,
as it really is,
the meaning of:
'This is the arising of Ill.'
He does not understand,
as it really is,
the meaning of:
'This is the ending of Ill.'
He does not understand,
as it really is,
the meaning of:
'This is the practice going to the ending of Ill.'
Thus is a person shallow and looks shallow.
As is that pool of water is shallow and looks shallow,
even so using this figure
do I speak of this person.
■
And how, monks, is a person deep and looks deep?
In this case the mien of a certain person is charming,
whether he be departing or approaching,
looking forward or backward,
bending or unbending (his arm),
or bearing outer robe,
bowl
and (ordinary) robe.
And he does understand,
as it really is,
the meaning of:
'This is Ill.'
He does understand,
as it really is,
the meaning of:
'This is the arising of Ill.'
He does understand,
as it really is,
the meaning of:
'This is the ending of Ill.'
He does understand,
as it really is,
the meaning of:
'This is the practice going to the ending of Ill.'
Thus, monks, is a person deep and looks deep.
Just as that pool of water is deep and looks deep,
even so using this figure
do I speak of this person.
So these, monks, are the four persons found existing in the world.'
