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Four Horses

AN 4.113, the Patoda Sutta — set 2, The Basic Diagnosis and the Path

Reading time: about 5 min · 799 words

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Before you read

Four horses. The first responds to the shadow of the goad — it sees the trainer's stick move and that is enough. The second needs the goad to touch its hair, the third needs it to reach the hide, the fourth needs it to strike bone.

Then the same four, as people. What has to happen before you take your own life seriously? Hearing that someone somewhere has died? Seeing it? Someone close to you? Or does it have to be your own body, your own illness, before anything shifts?

It is a short text and it is not gentle. After three fairly calm readings it supplies something the others do not: a reason to start now rather than later.

Translation

The Four Thoroughbred Horses

"Bhikkhus, these four fine thoroughbreds are found in the world. What four?

Bhikkhus, a fine thoroughbred sees the shadow of the goad and is stirred to urgency. It thinks: 'What task will the horse trainer have me do today? How should I respond?' Some fine thoroughbreds are like that. This is the first kind of fine thoroughbred found in the world.

Bhikkhus, another fine thoroughbred is not stirred to urgency just by seeing the shadow of the goad. It is stirred only when the goad strikes its hair. It thinks: 'What task will the horse trainer have me do today? How should I respond?' Some fine thoroughbreds are like that. Bhikkhus, this is the second kind of fine thoroughbred found in the world.

Bhikkhus, another is not stirred by the shadow or when the goad strikes its hair. It is stirred only when the goad strikes its hide. It thinks: 'What task will the horse trainer have me do today? How should I respond?' Some fine thoroughbreds are like that. Bhikkhus, this is the third kind of fine thoroughbred found in the world.

Bhikkhus, another is not stirred by the shadow, by the hair, or by the hide. It is stirred only when the goad strikes to the bone. It thinks: 'What task will the horse trainer have me do today? How should I respond?' Some fine thoroughbreds are like that. Bhikkhus, this is the fourth kind of fine thoroughbred found in the world.

Bhikkhus, these are the four fine thoroughbreds found in the world.

The Four Thoroughbred Individuals

"Bhikkhus, in just the same way, these four fine thoroughbred individuals are found in the world. What four?

Bhikkhus, a fine thoroughbred individual hears that in such-and-such village or town a woman or man has come to suffering or has died. They are stirred by this and come to urgency. Gripped by urgency, they strive thoroughly. Applying themselves, they witness the ultimate truth with the body and see through it with discernment.

Just as that fine thoroughbred is stirred and comes to urgency on seeing the shadow of the goad — I say this fine thoroughbred individual is like that. Some fine thoroughbred individuals are like that. Bhikkhus, this is the first fine thoroughbred individual found in the world.

Bhikkhus, another fine thoroughbred individual does not hear that in such-and-such village or town a woman or man has come to suffering or has died, but they see it themselves — a woman or man who has come to suffering or has died. They are stirred by this and come to urgency. Gripped by urgency, they strive thoroughly. Applying themselves, they witness the ultimate truth with the body and see through it with discernment.

Just as that fine thoroughbred is stirred and comes to urgency when struck through the hairs — I say this fine thoroughbred individual is like that. Some fine thoroughbred individuals are like that. Bhikkhus, this is the second fine thoroughbred individual found in the world.

Bhikkhus, another fine thoroughbred individual does not hear that in such-and-such village or town a woman or man has come to suffering or has died, nor do they see it themselves — a woman or man who has come to suffering or has died — but it happens to their own relative or blood relation, who has come to suffering or has died. They are stirred by this and come to urgency. Gripped by urgency, they strive thoroughly. Applying themselves, they witness the ultimate truth with the body and see through it with discernment.

Just as that fine thoroughbred is stirred and comes to urgency when struck through the hide — I say this fine thoroughbred individual is like that. Some fine thoroughbred individuals are like that. Bhikkhus, this is the third fine thoroughbred individual found in the world.

Bhikkhus, another fine thoroughbred individual does not hear that in such-and-such village or town a woman or man has come to suffering or has died, nor do they see it themselves — a woman or man who has come to suffering or has died — nor does it happen to their own relative or blood relation, but they themselves are afflicted by bodily felt experiences that are painful, sharp, severe, acute, unpleasant, disagreeable, and life-threatening. They are stirred by this and come to urgency. Gripped by urgency, they strive thoroughly. Applying themselves, they witness the ultimate truth with the body and see through it with discernment.

Just as that fine thoroughbred is stirred and comes to urgency when struck to the bone — I say this fine thoroughbred individual is like that. Some fine thoroughbred individuals are like that. Bhikkhus, this is the fourth fine thoroughbred individual found in the world.

Bhikkhus, these are the four fine thoroughbred individuals found in the world."

The third discourse is finished.

Words used in this translation (3)
bhikkhus
Buddhist monks -- those who have left household life to practise full time. The Buddha's usual way of addressing the assembly, roughly "friends" in force.
body
The physical body, as distinct from speech and the mental side of experience.
world
A word whose scope shifts with the teaching. It can mean the lived world we build through the senses and the mind, or the wider physical cosmos. The surrounding passage shows which sense it has.
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