Lakes (AN4.104)

Numbered Discourses 4.104

11. Clouds

Lakes

“Mendicants, there are these four lakes.

What four?

One is shallow but appears deep,

one is deep but appears shallow,

one is shallow and appears shallow, and

one is deep and appears deep.

These are the four lakes.

In the same way, these four individuals similar to lakes are found in the world.

What four?

One is shallow but appears deep,

one is deep but appears shallow,

one is shallow and appears shallow, and

one is deep and appears deep.

And how is an individual shallow but appears deep?

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 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 is shallow but appears deep.

That individual is like a lake that’s shallow but appears deep, I say.

And how is an individual deep but appears shallow?

It’s when an individual is not impressive …

But they really understand: ‘This is suffering’ …

And how is an individual shallow and appears shallow?

It’s when an individual is not impressive …

Nor do they really understand: ‘This is suffering’ …

And how is an individual deep and appears deep?

It’s when an individual is impressive …

And they really understand: ‘This is suffering’ …

These four individuals similar to lakes are found in the world.”