an.4.107 Aṅguttara Nikāya (Numbered Discourses)

Mice

“Mendicants, there are these four kinds of mice.
What four?
One makes a hole but doesn’t live in it,
one lives in a hole but doesn’t make it,
one neither makes a hole nor lives in it, and
one both makes a hole and lives in it.
These are the four kinds of mice.
In the same way, these four people similar to mice are found in the world.
What four?
One makes a hole but doesn’t live in it,
one lives in a hole but doesn’t make it,
one neither makes a hole nor lives in it, and
one both makes a hole and lives in it.
And how does a person make a hole but not live in it?
It’s when a person memorizes the teaching—
statements, songs, discussions, verses, inspired exclamations, legends, stories of past lives, amazing stories, and classifications.
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 a person makes a hole but doesn’t live in it.
That person is like a mouse that makes a hole but doesn’t live in it, I say.

And how does a person live in a hole but not make it?
It’s when a person doesn’t memorize the teaching …

But they really understand: ‘This is suffering’ …



And how does a person neither make a hole nor live in it?
It’s when a person doesn’t memorize the teaching …

Nor do they really understand: ‘This is suffering’ …



And how does a person both make a hole and live in it?
It’s when a person memorizes the teaching …

And they really understand: ‘This is suffering’ …



These four people similar to mice are found in the world.”