Numbered Discourses 4.107
- Clouds
Mice
“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.”