“Mendicants, there are these four kinds of tree. “Cattārome, bhikkhave, rukkhā. What four? Katame cattāro?

1. One is a softwood surrounded by softwoods, Pheggu phegguparivāro,
2. one is a softwood surrounded by hardwoods, pheggu sāraparivāro,
3. one is a hardwood surrounded by softwoods, and sāro phegguparivāro,
4. one is a hardwood surrounded by hardwoods. sāro sāraparivāro—

These are the four kinds of tree. Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro rukkhā. In the same way, these four individuals similar to trees are found in the world. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, cattāro rukkhūpamā puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ. What four? Katame cattāro?

1. One is a softwood surrounded by softwoods, Pheggu phegguparivāro,
2. one is a softwood surrounded by hardwoods, pheggu sāraparivāro,
3. one is a hardwood surrounded by softwoods, and sāro phegguparivāro,
4. one is a hardwood surrounded by hardwoods. sāro sāraparivāro.

And how is an individual a softwood surrounded by softwoods? Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo pheggu hoti phegguparivāro? It’s when an individual is unethical, of bad character, Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo dussīlo hoti pāpadhammo; and their followers are the same. parisāpissa hoti dussīlā pāpadhammā. That’s how an individual is a softwood surrounded by softwoods. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo pheggu hoti phegguparivāro. That individual is like a softwood tree that’s surrounded by softwoods, I say. Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, rukkho pheggu phegguparivāro; tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi.

And how is an individual a softwood surrounded by hardwoods? Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo pheggu hoti sāraparivāro? It’s when an individual is unethical, of bad character, Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo dussīlo hoti pāpadhammo; but their followers are ethical, of good character. … parisā ca khvassa hoti sīlavatī kalyāṇadhammā. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo pheggu hoti sāraparivāro. Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, rukkho pheggu sāraparivāro; tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi.

And how is an individual a hardwood surrounded by softwoods? Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo sāro hoti phegguparivāro? It’s when an individual is ethical, of good character, Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo sīlavā hoti kalyāṇadhammo; but their followers are unethical, of bad character. … parisā ca khvassa hoti dussīlā pāpadhammā. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo sāro hoti phegguparivāro. Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, rukkho sāro phegguparivāro; tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi.

And how is an individual a hardwood surrounded by hardwoods? Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo sāro hoti sāraparivāro? It’s when an individual is ethical, of good character, Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo sīlavā hoti kalyāṇadhammo; and their followers are the same. parisāpissa hoti sīlavatī kalyāṇadhammā. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo sāro hoti sāraparivāro. Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, rukkho sāro sāraparivāro; tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi.

These four individuals similar to trees are found in the world.” Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro rukkhūpamā puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmin”ti.

Navamaṁ.