Mice

Bhikkhus, these four are mice. Which four? Bores holes does not live in holes. Lives does not bore holes. Does not bore holes or ever live in holes. Bores holes and lives in holes.

Bhikkhus, there are four persons evident in the world, comparable to these four mice. Which four? The one boring holes and not living in them. The one living not boring holes. The one neither boring holes nor ever living in holes. The one boring holes and living in holes.

Here, bhikkhus, a certain person learns the Teaching, the discourses, prose and verse sections, answers and explanations, verses, solemn utterances, Thus said sayings, birth stories, wonderful things and series of questions and answers. He does not know this is unpleasant, this its arising, this its cessation and this is the path leading to its cessation. Bhikkhus, this person bores holes does not live in them. I compare him to the mouse that bores holes and does not live in them.

Bhikkhus, which person lives not boring holes?

Here, bhikkhus, a certain person does not learn the Teaching, the discourses, prose and verse sections, answers and explanations, verses, solemn utterances, Thus said sayings, birth stories, wonderful things and series of questions and answers. He knows this is unpleasant, this its arising, this its cessation and this the path leading to its cessation. Bhikkhus, this person lives not boring holes. I compare him to the mouse that lives not boring holes.

Bhikkhus, which person neither bores holes nor lives in them?

Here, bhikkhus, a certain person does not learn the Teaching, the discourses, prose and verse sections, answers and explanations, verses, solemn utterances, Thus said sayings, birth stories, wonderful things and series of questions and answers. He does not know this is unpleasant, this its arising, this its cessation and this the path leading to its cessation. Bhikkhus, this person neither bores holes nor lives in holes. I compare him to the mouse that neither bores holes or ever lives in holes .

Bhikkhus, which person bores holes and lives in holes?

Here, bhikkhus, a certain person learns the Teaching, the discourses, prose and verse sections, answers and explanations, verses, solemn utterances, Thus said sayings, birth stories, wonderful things and series of questions and answers. He knows this is unpleasant, this its arising, this its cessation and this the path leading to its cessation. Bhikkhus, this person bores holes and lives in them. I compare him to the mouse that bores holes and lives in them.

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