5.
The Discourse on the Firebrand from a Pyre
95.
"Monks, there are these four persons existing and found in the world.
Which four?
One practising neither for personal welfare nor for the welfare of others, one practising for the welfare of others but not for personal welfare, one practising for personal welfare but not for the welfare of others, one practising both for personal welfare and for the welfare of others.
Just as, monks, a firebrand from a funeral pyre, burning at both ends, smeared with dung in the middle, serves neither as firewood in the village nor in the forest; I say this person is similar to that, monks, that person who is practising neither for personal welfare nor for the welfare of others.
Therein, monks, that person who is practising for the welfare of others but not for personal welfare, this one of these two persons is more brilliant and more sublime. Therein, monks, that person who is practising for personal welfare but not for the welfare of others, this one of these three persons is more brilliant and more sublime. Therein, monks, that person who is practising both for personal welfare and for the welfare of others, this one of these four persons is the foremost and the best and the chief and the highest and the most excellent.
Just as, monks, from a cow comes milk, from milk comes curds, from curds comes butter, from butter comes ghee, from ghee comes the cream of ghee, and therein the cream of ghee is declared the foremost; so too, monks, that person who is practising both for personal welfare and for the welfare of others, this one of these four persons is the foremost and the best and the chief and the highest and the most excellent. These, monks, are the four persons existing and found in the world." The fifth.