1.
The First Discourse on Clouds
101.
Thus have I heard -
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's park.
There the Blessed One addressed the monks thus:
"Monks."
"Venerable sir," those monks assented to the Blessed One.
The Blessed One said this:
"Monks, there are these four rain clouds. Which four? One that thunders but does not rain, one that rains but does not thunder, one that neither thunders nor rains, and one that both thunders and rains. These, monks, are the four rain clouds. So too, monks, there are these four persons similar to rain clouds existing and found in the world. Which four? One that thunders but does not rain, one that rains but does not thunder, one that neither thunders nor rains, and one that both thunders and rains.
And how, monks, is a person one who thunders but does not rain? Here, monks, a certain person is a speaker but not a doer. Thus, monks, a person is one who thunders but does not rain. Just as that rain cloud, monks, thunders but does not rain; I say this person is similar to that, monks.
And how, monks, is a person one who rains but does not thunder? Here, monks, a certain person is a doer but not a speaker. Thus, monks, a person is one who rains but does not thunder. Just as that rain cloud, monks, rains but does not thunder; I say this person is similar to that, monks.
And how, monks, is a person one who neither thunders nor rains? Here, monks, a certain person is neither a speaker nor a doer. Thus, monks, a person is one who neither thunders nor rains. Just as that rain cloud, monks, neither thunders nor rains; I say this person is similar to that, monks.
And how, monks, is a person one who both thunders and rains? Here, monks, a certain person is both a speaker and a doer. Thus, monks, a person is one who both thunders and rains. Just as that rain cloud, monks, both thunders and rains; I say this person is similar to that, monks. These, monks, are the four persons similar to rain clouds existing and found in the world." The first.