“Mendicants, these seven individuals found in the world are like those in water.
What seven? One individual sinks under once and stays under. One individual rises up then sinks under. One individual rises up then stays put. One individual rises up then sees and discerns. One individual rises up then crosses over. One individual rises up then finds a foothold. One individual has risen up, crossed over, and gone to the far shore, a brahmin who stands on solid ground.
And what kind of individual sinks under once and stays under? It’s the kind of individual who has absolutely dark, unskillful qualities. This kind of individual sinks under once and stays under.
And what kind of individual rises up then sinks under? It’s the kind of individual who, rising up, thinks: ‘It’s good to have faith, conscience, prudence, energy, and wisdom regarding skillful qualities.’ However their faith, conscience, prudence, energy, and wisdom don’t last or grow, but dwindle away. This kind of individual rises up then sinks under.
And what kind of individual rises up then stays put? It’s the kind of individual who, rising up, thinks: ‘It’s good to have faith, conscience, prudence, energy, and wisdom regarding skillful qualities.’ And their faith, conscience, prudence, energy, and wisdom lasts, neither dwindling nor growing. This kind of individual rises up then stays put.
And what kind of individual rises up then sees and discerns? It’s the kind of individual who, rising up, thinks: ‘It’s good to have faith, conscience, prudence, energy, and wisdom regarding skillful qualities.’ With the ending of three fetters they’re a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening. This kind of individual rises up then sees and discerns.
And what kind of individual rises up then crosses over? It’s the kind of individual who, rising up, thinks: ‘It’s good to have faith, conscience, prudence, energy, and wisdom regarding skillful qualities.’ With the ending of three fetters, and the weakening of greed, hate, and delusion, they’re a once-returner. They come back to this world once only, then make an end of suffering. This kind of individual rises up then crosses over.
And what kind of individual rises up then finds a foothold? It’s the kind of individual who, rising up, thinks: ‘It’s good to have faith, conscience, prudence, energy, and wisdom regarding skillful qualities.’ With the ending of the five lower fetters they’re reborn spontaneously. They are extinguished there, and are not liable to return from that world. This kind of individual rises up then finds a foothold.
And what kind of individual has risen up, crossed over, and gone to the far shore, a brahmin who stands on solid ground? It’s the kind of individual who, rising up, thinks: ‘It’s good to have faith, conscience, prudence, energy, and wisdom regarding skillful qualities.’ They realize the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom. And they live having realized it with their own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements. This kind of individual has risen up, crossed over, and gone to the far shore, a brahmin who stands on solid ground.
These seven individuals found in the world are like those in water.”