Sutta 10: The Four Kinds of Clouds and People

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0877b04] Thus I have heard:

At one time, the Buddha (佛 [fu]) was in Śrāvastī (舍衛國 [she wei guo]), dwelling in the Jetavana Anāthapiṇḍada Garden (祇樹給孤獨園 [qi shu gei gu du yuan]). The Buddha (佛 [fu]) told the bhikkhus (比丘 [bi qiu]): "There are four kinds of clouds (四輩雲 [si bei yun]). The first only has thunder but no rain (但有雷無有雨 [dan you lei wu you yu]). The second only has rain but no thunder (但有雨無有雷 [dan you yu wu you lei]). The third has neither rain nor thunder (亦無雨亦無雷 [yi wu yu yi wu lei]). The fourth has both rain and thunder (亦有雨亦有雷 [yi you yu yi you lei]). Just as with clouds, there are also four kinds of people. The first kind of person only has thunder but no rain. The second only has rain but no thunder. The third has neither thunder nor rain. The fourth has both thunder and rain. What kind of person has thunder but no rain? This is a bhikkhu (比丘 [bi qiu]) who only preaches scriptures (說經 [shuo jing]), speaking well at the beginning, well in the middle, and well at the end. They have analytical skill (行分別 [xing fen bie]), but only superficially know the core meaning (要具行見要 [yao ju xing jian yao]). They do not know the Dharma (法 [fa]) themselves, nor do they know how to practice the Dharma (法法如行 [fa fa ru xing]). This person is called one who only has thunder but no rain. What kind of person has only rain but no thunder? This is someone who does not preach the scriptures, does not speak well at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end. They also have no analytical skill, nor do they know the core meaning of practice (要具行不見要 [yao ju xing bu jian yao]). However, their mind is set on practicing the Dharma (法中行 [fa zhong xing]) with harmony and benefit (和利行 [he li xing]). They also act in accordance with the Dharma (如法 [ru fa]), accept the practice of the Dharma (受法法行 [shou fa fa xing]), and follow the Dharma (同行隨法 [tong xing sui fa]). This person is called one who only has rain but no thunder. What kind of person has neither rain nor thunder? This is someone who does not preach scriptures, does not speak well at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end. They also do not speak analytically, nor do they speak of the core meaning of good practice (善要具行 [shan yao ju xing]). They do not understand the good Dharma (善法 [shan fa]), nor do they practice the Dharma (到法 [dao fa]). This person is called one who has neither rain nor thunder. What kind of person has both rain and thunder? This is someone who preaches the scriptures and the Dharma (經法 [jing fa]), speaks well at the beginning, in the middle, and at the end. They also speak analytically and explain the core meaning of practice (要具行 [yao ju xing]). They understand the Dharma (法 [fa]), know the Dharma (到法法 [dao fa fa]), and practice it. They also speak well and understand the Dharma (法中解 [fa zhong jie]) freely. They know and understand the practice of the Dharma (到法法行 [dao fa fa xing]) themselves. This person is called one who has both rain and thunder."

[0877b04] wén rú shì:

yī shí, fú zài shě wèi guó, xíng zài qí shù gěi gū dú yuán. fú gào bǐ qiū: “yǒu sì bèi yún, dì yī dàn yǒu léi wú yǒu yǔ. dì èr dàn yǒu yǔ wú yǒu léi. dì sān yì wú yǔ yì wú léi. dì sì yì yǒu yǔ yì yǒu léi. pì yù rú yún, rén yì yǒu sì bèi, yī zhě rén dàn yǒu léi wú yǒu yǔ. èr zhě dàn yǒu yǔ wú yǒu léi. sān zhě wú yǒu léi wú yǒu yǔ. sì zhě yì yǒu léi yì yǒu yǔ. hé děng rén wèi yǒu léi wú yǒu yǔ? shì jiān bǐ qiū yī rén dàn shuō jīng, shàng yì shuō shàn, zhōng yì shuō shàn, yào yì shuō shàn, yǒu xíng fēn bié, dàn yào jù xíng jiàn yào, yì zì bù zhī fǎ, yì bù zhī fǎ fǎ rú xíng, shì rén míng wèi dàn yǒu léi wú yǒu yǔ. hé děng wèi dàn yǒu yǔ wú yǒu léi? shì jiān yǒu rén yì bù shuō fǎ jīng, shàng yì bù shuō shàn, zhōng yì bù shuō shàn, yào yì bù shuō shàn, yì wú yǒu xíng fēn bié, yì bù yào jù xíng bù jiàn yào, dàn yì zài fǎ zhōng xíng hé lì xíng, yì rú fǎ, yì shòu fǎ fǎ xíng, yì tóng xíng suí fǎ, shì rén wèi dàn yǒu yǔ wú yǒu léi. hé děng wèi wú yǒu yǔ yì wú yǒu léi? wèi bù shuō jīng, shàng yì bù shuō shàn, zhōng yì bù shuō shàn, yào yì bù shuō shàn, fēn bié yì bù shuō, shàn yào jù xíng yì bù shuō, shàn fǎ yì zì bù jiě, dào fǎ yì zì bù xíng, shì rén míng wèi wú yǒu yǔ wú yǒu léi. hé děng wèi yì yǒu yǔ yì yǒu léi? shì jiān yǒu rén shuō jīng fǎ, shàng yì shuō shàn, zhōng yì shuō shàn, yào yì shuō shàn, fēn bié yì shuō shàn, yào jù xíng yì zì jiě, fǎ dào fǎ fǎ yì zhī, xíng yì shuō, shàn yì zì zài fǎ zhōng jiě, dào fǎ fǎ xíng yì zì zhī jiě, shì rén wèi yì yǒu yǔ yì yǒu léi.”

[0877b04] wen ru shi:

yi shi, fu zai she wei guo, xing zai qi shu gei gu du yuan. fu gao bi qiu: "you si bei yun, di yi dan you lei wu you yu. di er dan you yu wu you lei. di san yi wu yu yi wu lei. di si yi you yu yi you lei. pi yu ru yun, ren yi you si bei, yi zhe ren dan you lei wu you yu. er zhe dan you yu wu you lei. san zhe wu you lei wu you yu. si zhe yi you lei yi you yu. he deng ren wei you lei wu you yu? shi jian bi qiu yi ren dan shuo jing, shang yi shuo shan, zhong yi shuo shan, yao yi shuo shan, you xing fen bie, dan yao ju xing jian yao, yi zi bu zhi fa, yi bu zhi fa fa ru xing, shi ren ming wei dan you lei wu you yu. he deng wei dan you yu wu you lei? shi jian you ren yi bu shuo fa jing, shang yi bu shuo shan, zhong yi bu shuo shan, yao yi bu shuo shan, yi wu you xing fen bie, yi bu yao ju xing bu jian yao, dan yi zai fa zhong xing he li xing, yi ru fa, yi shou fa fa xing, yi tong xing sui fa, shi ren wei dan you yu wu you lei. he deng wei wu you yu yi wu you lei? wei bu shuo jing, shang yi bu shuo shan, zhong yi bu shuo shan, yao yi bu shuo shan, fen bie yi bu shuo, shan yao ju xing yi bu shuo, shan fa yi zi bu jie, dao fa yi zi bu xing, shi ren ming wei wu you yu wu you lei. he deng wei yi you yu yi you lei? shi jian you ren shuo jing fa, shang yi shuo shan, zhong yi shuo shan, yao yi shuo shan, fen bie yi shuo shan, yao ju xing yi zi jie, fa dao fa fa yi zhi, xing yi shuo, shan yi zi zai fa zhong jie, dao fa fa xing yi zi zhi jie, shi ren wei yi you yu yi you lei."

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0877b26] The Buddha (佛 [fu]) said this.

[0877b26] fú shuō rú shì.

[0877b26] fu shuo ru shi.