5.
The Discourse on the Diamond Simile
25.
"Monks, there are these three persons found existing in the world.
Which three?
The person with a mind like a sore, the person with a mind like lightning, the person with a mind like a diamond.
And what, monks, is the person with a mind like a sore?
Here, monks, a certain person is prone to wrath, abundantly given to anguish; even when spoken to a little, he becomes attached, becomes angry, is repelled, becomes obstinate, and manifests irritation, hate, and displeasure.
Just as, monks, a festering sore, when struck by a stick or a potsherd, discharges even more exceedingly;
so too, monks, here a certain person is prone to wrath, abundantly given to anguish; even when spoken to a little, he becomes attached, becomes angry, is repelled, becomes obstinate, and manifests irritation, hate, and displeasure.
This is called, monks, the person with a mind like a sore.
"And what, monks, is the person with a mind like lightning? Here, monks, a certain person understands as it really is: 'This is suffering'; he understands as it really is: 'This is the origin of suffering'; he understands as it really is: 'This is the cessation of suffering'; he understands as it really is: 'This is the practice leading to the cessation of suffering'. Just as, monks, a man with good eyesight in the darkness of the night might see visible forms by a flash of lightning; so too, monks, here a certain person understands as it really is: 'This is suffering', etc. he understands as it really is: 'This is the practice leading to the cessation of suffering.' This is called, monks, the person with a mind like lightning.
"And what, monks, is the person with a mind like a diamond? Here, monks, a certain person, through the elimination of the mental corruptions, realises by his own direct knowledge, in this very life, the liberation of mind and the liberation by wisdom that are free from mental corruptions and, having entered upon them, dwells in them. Just as, monks, there is nothing that a diamond cannot pierce, whether gem or stone, so too, monks, here a certain person, through the elimination of the mental corruptions... having entered upon them, dwells in them. This is called, monks, the person with a mind like a diamond. These, monks, are the three persons found existing in the world." The fifth.