“Mendicants, there are these four kinds of mice. What four?
- One makes a hole but doesn’t live in it,
- one lives in a hole but doesn’t make it,
- one neither makes a hole nor lives in it, and
- one both makes a hole and lives in it.
These are the four kinds of mice. In the same way, these four individuals similar to mice are found in the world. What four?
- One makes a hole but doesn’t live in it,
- one lives in a hole but doesn’t make it,
- one neither makes a hole nor lives in it, and
- one both makes a hole and lives in it.
And how does an individual make a hole but not live in it? It’s when an individual memorizes the teaching—statements, mixed prose & verse, discussions, verses, inspired exclamations, legends, stories of past lives, amazing stories, and elaborations. But they don’t really 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 makes a hole but doesn’t live in it. That individual is like a mouse that makes a hole but doesn’t live in it, I say.
And how does an individual live in a hole but not make it? It’s when an individual doesn’t memorize the teaching … But they really understand: ‘This is suffering’ …
And how does an individual neither make a hole nor live in it? It’s when an individual doesn’t memorize the teaching … Nor do they really understand: ‘This is suffering’ …
And how does an individual both make a hole and live in it? It’s when an individual memorizes the teaching … And they really understand: ‘This is suffering’ …
These four individuals similar to mice are found in the world.”