“Monks, there are these three types of
individuals to be found existing in the world.
Which Three? An individual
like an inscription in rock, an individual like an inscription in soil, and an
individual like an inscription in water.
“And how is an individual like an
inscription on rock? There is the
case where a certain individual is often angered, and his anger stays with him a
long time. Just as an inscription
like an inscription in rock is not quickly effaced by wind or water and lasts a
long time, in the same way an individual is often angered, and his anger stays
with him a long time. This is
called an individual like an inscription on rock.
“And how is an individual like an
inscription in soil? There is the
case where a certain individual is often angered, but his anger doesn’t stay
with him for a long time. Just as
an inscription in soil is quickly effaced by wind and water and doesn’t last a
long time, in the same way an individual is often angered, but his anger
doesn’t stay with him for a long time. This
is called an individual like an inscription in soil
“ And how is an individual like an
inscription in water? There is the
case where a certain individual—when spoken to roughly, spoken to harshly,
spoken to in an unpleasing way—is nevertheless congenial, companionable, and
courteous. Just as an inscription
in water disappears immediately, and doesn’t last a long time, in the same way
a certain individual—when spoken to roughly, spoken to harshly, spoken to in
an unpleasing way—is nevertheless congenial, companionable, and courteous.
This is called an individual like an inscription in water.
“These are the three types of
individuals to be found existing in the world.”