9.
The Discourse on the Tree
109.
"Monks, there are these four trees.
Which four?
Softwood with a softwood retinue, softwood with a heartwood retinue, heartwood with a softwood retinue, heartwood with a heartwood retinue -
these, monks, are the four trees.
So too, monks, there are these four persons similar to trees existing and found in the world.
Which four?
Softwood with a softwood retinue, softwood with a heartwood retinue, heartwood with a softwood retinue, heartwood with a heartwood retinue.
"And how, monks, is a person softwood with a softwood retinue? Here, monks, a certain person is immoral, of bad character; and his assembly too is immoral, of bad character. Thus, monks, a person is softwood with a softwood retinue. Just as that tree, monks, is softwood with a softwood retinue; I say this person is similar to that, monks.
"And how, monks, is a person softwood with a heartwood retinue? Here, monks, a certain person is immoral, of bad character; but his assembly is virtuous, of good character. Thus, monks, a person is softwood with a heartwood retinue. Just as that tree, monks, is softwood with a heartwood retinue; I say this person is similar to that, monks.
"And how, monks, is a person heartwood with a softwood retinue? Here, monks, a certain person is virtuous, of good character; but his assembly is immoral, of bad character. Thus, monks, a person is heartwood with a softwood retinue. Just as that tree, monks, is heartwood with a softwood retinue; I say this person is similar to that, monks.
"And how, monks, is a person heartwood with a heartwood retinue? Here, monks, a certain person is virtuous, of good character; and his assembly too is virtuous, of good character. Thus, monks, a person is heartwood with a heartwood retinue. Just as that tree, monks, is heartwood with a heartwood retinue; I say this person is similar to that, monks. These, monks, are the four persons similar to trees existing and found in the world." The ninth.