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- Anguttara Nikaya III.133
- Lekha Sutta
- Inscriptions
- For free distribution only, as a gift of Dhamma
"Monks, there are these three types of individuals to be found existing in the
world. Which three? An individual like an inscription in rock, an individual like an
inscription in soil, and an individual like an inscription in water.
"And how is an individual like an inscription in rock? There is the case where a
certain individual is often angered, and his anger stays with him a long time. Just as an
inscription in rock is not quickly effaced by wind or water and lasts a long time, in the
same way a certain individual is often angered, and his anger stays with him a long time.
This is called an individual like an inscription in rock.
"And how is an individual like an inscription in soil? There is the case where a
certain individual is often angered, but his anger doesn't stay with him a long time. Just
as an inscription in soil is quickly effaced by wind or water and doesn't last a long
time, in the same way a certain individual is often angered, but his anger doesn't stay
with him a long time. This is called an individual like an inscription in soil.
"And how is an individual like an inscription in water? There is the case where a
certain individual -- when spoken to roughly, spoken to harshly, spoken to in an
unpleasing way -- is nevertheless congenial, companionable, & courteous. Just as an
inscription in water immediately disappears and doesn't last a long time, in the same way
a certain individual -- when spoken to roughly, spoken to harshly, spoken to in an
unpleasing way -- is nevertheless congenial, companionable, & courteous. This is
called an individual like an inscription in water.
"These are the three types of individuals to be found existing in the world."