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Once, when the Buddha was at Campā, on the
banks of Lake Gaggarā, he was visited by
Pessa, the elephant trainer's son, and
Kandaraka, the Wanderer. Pessa saluted the Buddha
and sat down, while Kandaraka, after his salutation, remained standing.
Surveying the assembly of monks gathered round the Buddha and observing their
great silence, Kandaraka expressed his admiration of the Buddha's training. The
Buddha explained that all Buddhas school their disciples in the four
satipatthānas. Pessa stated that
it was far more difficult to train men than animals. The Buddha agreed and
enumerated the four kinds of people in the world: those who torment themselves,
torment others, torment both themselves and others, and, lastly, those who
torment neither, dwelling beyond appetites, in bliss and holiness. Pessa stated
that he respected only the fourth class, and having given his reasons went away.
The Buddha expressed his regret that Pessa could not wait to hear the
differences between these four kinds of people; and at the request of the monks
the Buddha proceeded to describe them (M.i.339ff).

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