PotsKumbhasutta

“Mendicants, there are these four pots.“Cattārome, bhikkhave, kumbhā. What four?Katame cattāro?

1. Covered but hollow,Tuccho pihito,
2. uncovered but full,pūro vivaṭo,
3. uncovered and hollow, andtuccho vivaṭo,
4. covered and full.pūro pihito—

These are the four pots.Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro kumbhā. In the same way, these four individuals similar to pots are found in the world.Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, cattāro kumbhūpamā puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ. What four?Katame cattāro?

1. Covered but hollow,Tuccho pihito,
2. uncovered but full,pūro vivaṭo,
3. uncovered and hollow, andtuccho vivaṭo,
4. covered and full.pūro pihito.

And how is an individual covered but hollow?Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo tuccho hoti pihito? It’s when an individual 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. 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. That’s how an individual is covered but hollow.Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo tuccho hoti pihito. That individual is like a pot that’s covered but hollow, I say.Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, kumbho tuccho pihito;

And how is an individual uncovered but full?Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo pūro hoti vivaṭo? It’s when an individual is not impressive …Idha, bhikkhave, ekaccassa puggalassa na pāsādikaṁ hoti abhikkantaṁ paṭikkantaṁ ālokitaṁ vilokitaṁ samiñjitaṁ pasāritaṁ saṅghāṭipattacīvaradhāraṇaṁ. But they truly understand: ‘This is suffering’ …So ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti.

And how is an individual uncovered and hollow?Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo tuccho hoti vivaṭo? It’s when an individual is not impressive …Idha, bhikkhave, ekaccassa puggalassa na pāsādikaṁ hoti abhikkantaṁ paṭikkantaṁ ālokitaṁ vilokitaṁ samiñjitaṁ pasāritaṁ saṅghāṭipattacīvaradhāraṇaṁ. Nor do they truly understand: ‘This is suffering’ …So ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti.

And how is an individual covered and full?Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo pūro hoti pihito? It’s when an individual is impressive …Idha, bhikkhave, ekaccassa puggalassa pāsādikaṁ hoti abhikkantaṁ paṭikkantaṁ ālokitaṁ vilokitaṁ samiñjitaṁ pasāritaṁ saṅghāṭipattacīvaradhāraṇaṁ. And they truly understand: ‘This is suffering’ …So ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti.

These four individuals similar to pots are found in the world.”Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro kumbhūpamā puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmin”ti.