“Mendicants, there are these four kinds of clouds. What four? ~One thunders but doesn’t rain, ~one rains but doesn’t thunder, ~one neither thunders nor rains, and ~one both rains and thunders. These are the four kinds of clouds. In the same way, these four people similar to clouds are found in the world. What four? ~One thunders but doesn’t rain, ~one rains but doesn’t thunder, ~one neither thunders nor rains, and ~one both rains and thunders.

And how does a person thunder but not rain? It’s when a person memorizes the teaching— statements, songs, discussions, verses, inspired sayings, legends, stories of past lives, amazing stories, and analyses. But they don’t truly 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 thunders but doesn’t rain. That person is like a cloud that thunders but doesn’t rain, I say.

And how does a person rain but not thunder? It’s when a person doesn’t memorize the teaching … But they truly understand: ‘This is suffering’ …

And how does a person neither thunder nor rain? It’s when a person doesn’t memorize the teaching … Nor do they truly understand: ‘This is suffering’ …

And how does a person both thunder and rain? It’s when a person memorizes the teaching … And they truly understand: ‘This is suffering’ … These four people similar to clouds are found in the world.”