Kumbhasutta

“Cattārome, bhikkhave, kumbhā. Katame cattāro? Tuccho pihito, pūro vivaṭo, tuccho vivaṭo, pūro pihito— Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro kumbhā. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, cattāro kumbhūpamā puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ. Katame cattāro? Tuccho pihito, pūro vivaṭo, tuccho vivaṭo, pūro pihito.

“Mendicants, there are these four pots. What four? Covered but hollow, uncovered but full, uncovered and hollow, and covered and full. These are the four pots. In the same way, these four individuals similar to pots are found in the world. What four? Covered but hollow, uncovered but full, uncovered and hollow, and covered and full.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo tuccho hoti pihito? Idha, bhikkhave, ekaccassa puggalassa pāsādikaṁ hoti abhikkantaṁ paṭikkantaṁ ālokitaṁ vilokitaṁ samiñjitaṁ pasāritaṁ saṅghāṭipattacīvaradhāraṇaṁ. So ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo tuccho hoti pihito. Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, kumbho tuccho pihito; tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi.

And how is an individual covered but hollow? 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. 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’. That’s how an individual is covered but hollow. That individual is like a pot that’s covered but hollow, I say.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo pūro hoti vivaṭo? Idha, bhikkhave, ekaccassa puggalassa na pāsādikaṁ hoti abhikkantaṁ paṭikkantaṁ ālokitaṁ vilokitaṁ samiñjitaṁ pasāritaṁ saṅghāṭipattacīvaradhāraṇaṁ. So ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo pūro hoti vivaṭo. Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, kumbho pūro vivaṭo; tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi.

And how is an individual uncovered but full? It’s when an individual is not impressive … But they truly understand: ‘This is suffering’ …

Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo tuccho hoti vivaṭo? Idha, bhikkhave, ekaccassa puggalassa na pāsādikaṁ hoti abhikkantaṁ paṭikkantaṁ ālokitaṁ vilokitaṁ samiñjitaṁ pasāritaṁ saṅghāṭipattacīvaradhāraṇaṁ. So ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo tuccho hoti vivaṭo. Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, kumbho tuccho vivaṭo; tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi.

And how is an individual uncovered and hollow? It’s when an individual is not impressive … Nor do they truly understand: ‘This is suffering’ …

Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo pūro hoti pihito? Idha, bhikkhave, ekaccassa puggalassa pāsādikaṁ hoti abhikkantaṁ paṭikkantaṁ ālokitaṁ vilokitaṁ samiñjitaṁ pasāritaṁ saṅghāṭipattacīvaradhāraṇaṁ. So ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo pūro hoti pihito. Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, kumbho pūro pihito; tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi. Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro kumbhūpamā puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmin”ti. Tatiyaṁ.

And how is an individual covered and full? It’s when an individual is impressive … And they truly understand: ‘This is suffering’ … These four individuals similar to pots are found in the world.”