Pots

Bhikkhus, these four are pots. What four?

One empty and covered, another full and open, one empty and open and the other full and covered.

Bhikkhus, these four are pots.

Bhikkhus, there are four persons evident in the world, comparable to these four pots Which four?

One empty and covered, another full and manifest, one empty and manifest and the other full and covered.

Bhikkhus, which person is empty and covered?

Here, bhikkhus, a certain person, delights in approaching, receding, looking on, scrutinizing, bending, stretching forth and bearing the three robes and bowl. He does not know as it really is, this is unpleasant, this its arising, this its cessation and this is the path leading to its cessation. Bhikkhus, this person is empty and covered. Bhikkhus, I compare him to the pot which is empty and covered.

Bhikkhus, which person is full and manifest?

Here, bhikkhus, a certain person, does not delight in approaching, receding, looking on, scrutinizing, bending, stretching forth and bearing the three robes and bowl. He knows as it really is, this is unpleasant, this its arising, this its cessation and this is the path leading to its cessation. Bhikkhus, this person is full and manifest. Bhikkhus, I compare him to the pot which is full and open.

Bhikkhus, which person is empty and manifest?

Here, bhikkhus, a certain person, does not delight in approaching, receding, looking on, scrutinizing, bending, stretching forth and bearing the three robes and bowl. He does not know as it really is, this is unpleasant, this its arising, this its cessation and this is the path leading to its cessation. Bhikkhus, this person is empty and open. Bhikkhus, I compare him to the pot which is empty and open.

Bhikkhus, which person is full and covered?

Here, bhikkhus, a certain person, delights in approaching, receding, looking on, scrutinizing, bending, stretching forth and bearing the three robes and bowl. He knows as it really is, this is unpleasant, this its arising, this its cessation and this is the path leading to its cessation. Bhikkhus, this person is full and covered. Bhikkhus, I compare him to the pot which is full and covered.

Bhikkhus, these four persons comparable to the four pots are evident in the world.