CHAPTER XI
ON CLOUDS
Different Kinds of Clouds* (a)
Thus have 1 heard. At one time the Exalted One stayed in Anāthapinika’s pleasure-grove in the Jeta Wood near Sāvatthi. Then the Exalted One addressed the brethren thus: "0 brethren!" They responded, "Yea, Lord!" and the Exalted One spake thus:
"Brethren, there are these four (kinds of) clouds. What four? That which produces thunder but not rain. That which produces rain but not thunder. That which produces neither thunder nor rain. And that which produces both thunder and rain. These, brethren, are the four clouds.
Likewise, brethren, there are to be found existing in the world these four persons who can be compared to these clouds. What four? He who produces thunder but not rain. He who produces rain but not thunder. He who produces neither thunder nor rain. And he who produces both thunder and rain.
Brethren, who is the person that produces thunder but not rain?’ Herein, brethren, a certain person is a talker
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Cf. Pugg., Paññ. IV, 8 (where Comy. says this section is spoken by a dāyaka.’)
xi. [108] On Clouds 135
but not a doer.*Indeed, brethren, this is the person who produces thunder but not rain. Just as, brethren, the cloud produces thunderbut not rain, so do I speak of this person in this simile of the cloud." [The rest of this discourse may be understood mutatis mutandis.]
(2) Clouds (b)
[Repeat the same as in the previous discourse and add:] Who is the person, brethren, that produces thunder but not rain? Herein, brethren, a certain person masters the Norm comprising sutaṃ, Geyyam. and so forth.* But he does not know, as they really are, Ill, the origin of Ill, the ceasing of Ill and the Path leading to the cessation of Ill. Indeed, brethren, this person produces thunder but not rain. Just as, brethren, the cloud produces thunder but not rain, I speak, brethren, of this person in this simile of the cloud.
[The rest of this discourse may be understood mutatis mutandis.]
(3) The Jars
Brethren, there are four (kinds of) jars. What four? The empty and closed, the full and open’ the empty and open, and the full and closed. These., brethren, are the four.
Likewise brethren, there are to be found existing in the world these four persons, who may be compared to these jars. What four? He who is empty and closed. He who
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1 Bhāsita na kattā.
2 See note to Discourse (6) of Chapter I.
136 The Numerical Sayings [TEXT ii, 105
is full and open, he who is empty and open and he who is full and closed.
Brethren, who is the person that is empty and closed?Herein, brethren, a certain person in going forward, coming backward, looking backward, drawing in and stretching out (his limbs), and in bearing alms-bowl and robes is (all) pleasant (to the sight) . But he does not know as they really are: This is Ill, this is the Origin of Ill, this is the ceasing of Ill, and this is the Path leading to the cessation of Ill." This indeed, brethren, is the person who is empty and closed. Just as, brethren, the jar is empty and closed, likewise, brethren, I speak of such a person in this simile.
[The rest of this discourse may be understood mutatiy mutandiv.]
(4) The Pools of Water (a)
Brethren, there are these four (kinds of) pools of water. What four? The shallow* but deep-seeming, the deep but shallow-seeming, the shallow and shallow-seeming, and the deep and deep-seeming.
Brethren, there are these four (kinds of) pools of water.*
(5) Pools of Water (b) .
[Repeat for the same four persons as in the above and continue:] There are indeed, brethren, these four persons
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1 Uttāno means ‘ clear,’ also shallow’. Here the context demands the latter meaning.
2 This discourse is not in any of the MSS. but the Uddāna shows there ought to be two discourses on‘ Pools of Water’. So P. T. 8. Ed. has included this discourse.
xi. [106] On Clouds 137
in the world who may be compared to these four pools of water. What four? [Repeat the same four persons.] Brethren, who is the person that is shallow but deepseeming? [Repeat the same explanation as in discourse (3) mutatis mutandis.]
(6) The Mangoes
Brethren, there are these four (kinds of) mangoes. What four? The unripe that looks ripe, the ripe that looks unripe, the unripe that looks unripe, and the ripe that looks ripe.
Brethren, these are the four (kinds, of) mangoes.’ Likewise, brethren, there are these four persons to be found existing in the world who may be compared to these mangoes. What four? The unripe that looks ripe, the ripe that looks unripe, the unripe that looks unripe and the ripe that looks ripe.
Brethren, who is the person that is unripe but looks ripe? [Repeat mutatis mutandi.9 the same as in discourse (5) .]
(7) The Mice*
Brethren, there are these four kinds of mice. What four? The one that digs a hole but does not live in it, the one that lives without digging (its own hole), the one that neither digs: a hole nor lives in it, and the one that both digs a hole and lives in it. Indeed, brethren, there are
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1 Cf. Pugg. Paññatt. IV, 10.
2 Ibid. 1V, 9. 18
138 The Numerical Sayings [TFXT ii,109
these four (kinds of) mice. Likewise, brethren, there are these four (kinds of) persons to be seen existing in the world who may be compared to these mice. What four?[repeat the same mutatis mutandis as in discourse (2) .]
(8) The 0xen*
Brethren, there are these four (kinds of) oxen. What four? The one that is violent* against the cows of its own herd but not against the cows of another’s herd. The one that is violent against the cows of another’s herd but not against the cows of its own herd. The one that is violent against the cows of both herds. And the one that is not violent against the cows of either herd, Indeed, brethren, there are these four (kinds of) oxen.
Likewise, brethren, there are to he found existing in the world these four (kinds of) persons, who may be compared to these oxen. What four?. [Repeat the same as above]
Brethren, who is the person (called) the ox, that is violent against the cows of its own herd, but not against the cows of another’s herd? Heroin, brethren, a,certain person terrifies his own companions but not another’s companions. [-The rest may be understood mutatim mutanclis.]
(9) The Trees*
Brethren, there are theso four (kinds of) trees. What tour-.? The soft-wood tree enclosed by soft-wood, the
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1 Cf. Pugg. Paññatt. IV, 13.
2 Caṇḍo.
3 Sakaparisam (his own company) .
4 Cf. P.P.iv,21. [For Sorts of trees see Majjh. i, xxix pheggu is the interior wood round the ‘heart’ wood (sāra) . The best timber.
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soft-wood tree enclosed by heart-wood, the heart-wood tree enclosed by soft-wood, and the heart-wood tree enclosed by heart-wood. These indeed, brethren, are the four trees.
Likewise, brethren, there are to he found existing in the world four kinds of persons who may be compared to these trees. What four?
[Repeat the same four kinds of trees. The rest of the exposition is mutatis mutandis the same as in Chapter X (1) .]
(10) The Snakes*
Brethren, there are these four (kinds of) snakes, What four? The one possessed of poison.’ but not fierce,* the one that is fierce but not poisonous, the one that is poisonous and fierce, and the one that is neither poisonous nor fierce.
Brethren, indeed, there are these four (kinds of) snakes.
Likewise, brethren, there are to he seen existing in the world these four persons, who can be compared to these snakes. What four? [Repeat the same four.]
Brethren, who is the person possessed of poison but who is not fierce
Brethren, here a certain person often gets angry, his anger, however, does not last for a long time. This indeed, brethren, is the person possessed of poison but who is not fierce. Just as, brethren, a snake has poison but is not fierce, so do I speak of this person in terms of this simile.
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Is sāra sāra-parivāro, e.g., a plantain tree is pheggu pheggu parivāro, but a jak-tree is sāra sāra-parivāro.
1 Cf.. Pugg.P. iv, 14.
2 Āgata. come, entered on.
3 Ghora, terrible.
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140 The Numerical Sayings [TBXT ii, 111
Brethren, who is the person that is fierce but not poisonous?
Brethren, herein a certain person does not of ten get angry, his anger, however,’ lasts a long time. Just as, brethren, (.repeat) ..........of this simile.
Brethren, who is the person,that is both poisonous and fierce?
Brethren, herein a certain person often gets angry, also his anger lasts a long time ... (repeat) ... simile,
Brethren, who is the person that is neither poisonous nor fierce?
Brethren, herein a certain person does not often get angry, also his anger lasts not a long time. Just as (repeat) ... of this simile.
Brethren, these four persons, to be compared to these four (kinds of) snakes, are to be found existing in the world.
(CHAPTER XI:. ON CLOUDS ENDS)