And how is an individual covered and full? It’s when an individual is impressive … And they truly understand: ‘This is suffering’ … These four individuals similar to pots are found in the world.”

Numbered Discourses 4.104 11. Clouds Lakes

“Mendicants, there are these four lakes. What four? One is shallow but appears deep, one is deep but appears shallow, one is shallow and appears shallow, and one is deep and appears deep. These are the four lakes. In the same way, these four individuals similar to lakes are found in the world. What four? One is shallow but appears deep, one is deep but appears shallow, one is shallow and appears shallow, and one is deep and appears deep.

And how is an individual shallow but appears deep? It’s when an individual is impressive when going out and coming back, when looking ahead and aside, when bending and extending the limbs, and when bearing the outer robe, bowl and robes. But they don’t really understand: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’. That’s how an individual is shallow but appears deep. That individual is like a lake that’s shallow but appears deep, I say.