Nadisutta 1.1-24

Nadīsutta 1.1-24

Language: Pāli

“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, nadī pabbateyyā ohārinī dūraṅgamā sīghasotā. Tassā ubhosu tīresu kāsā cepi jātā assu, te naṃ ajjholambeyyuṃ; kusā cepi jātā assu, te naṃ ajjholambeyyuṃ; pabbajā cepi jātā assu, te naṃ ajjholambeyyuṃ; bīraṇā cepi jātā assu, te naṃ ajjholambeyyuṃ; rukkhā cepi jātā assu, te naṃ ajjholambeyyuṃ. Tassā puriso sotena vuyhamāno kāse cepi gaṇheyya, te palujjeyyuṃ. So tatonidānaṃ anayabyasanaṃ āpajjeyya. Kuse cepi gaṇheyya, pabbaje cepi gaṇheyya, bīraṇe cepi gaṇheyya, rukkhe cepi gaṇheyya, te palujjeyyuṃ. So tatonidānaṃ anayabyasanaṃ āpajjeyya.

“Suppose, mendicants, there was a mountain river that flowed swiftly, going far, carrying all before it. If wild sugarcane, kusa grass, reeds, vetiver, or trees grew on either bank, they’d overhang the river. And if a person who was being swept along by the current grabbed the wild sugarcane, kusa grass, reeds, vetiver, or trees, it’d fall apart, and they’d come to ruin because of that.
A River

1.3

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, assutavā puthujjano ariyānaṃ adassāvī ariyadhammassa akovido ariyadhamme avinīto, sappurisānaṃ adassāvī sappurisadhammassa akovido sappurisadhamme avinīto

In the same way, an unlearned ordinary person has not seen the noble ones, and is neither skilled nor trained in the teaching of the noble ones. They’ve not seen true persons, and are neither skilled nor trained in the teaching of the true persons.
A River