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