How are
the 4 persons comparable to Trees?
There are these four kinds of trees:
One is itself rotten and weak, but is surrounded by strong hardwood
trees...
One is itself of strong hardwood, but is surrounded by rotten
and weak trees...
One is itself rotten and weak, and is also surrounded by rotten
and weak trees...
One is itself of strong hardwood, and is also surrounded by strong hardwood
trees...

Schiele: Four Trees
There are four types of persons similar to these four classes of trees:
A person is himself rotten and weak, but is surrounded by strong
and good persons!
A person is himself strong and good, but is surrounded by rotten
and weak persons!
A person is himself rotten and weak, and is also surrounded by rotten
and weak persons!
A person is himself strong and good, and is also surrounded by strong
and good persons!
How is the one himself rotten
and weak, but yet surrounded by the strong and
good?
Here one is immoral, and wicked, while his friends are moral men of lovely
nature...
Thus is a person, who himself is rotten and weak, surrounded by the strong
and
good,
just in the same way as a rotten and weak tree is surrounded by strong
and good
ones...
How is a person who himself is strong
and good, yet surrounded by the rotten and
weak?
Here one is moral, of lovely nature, but he has friends, who are immoral,
and
wicked...
Thus is a person, who is strong and good surrounded by the rotten
and weak, just
in the
same way as a strong and good tree, is surrounded by many rotten
and weak
ones...
How is a person who is rotten
and weak, and also surrounded by the rotten and
weak?
Here one is immoral, wicked and evil, who has friends who are immoral, wicked
and evil!
Thus is a person, who is rotten and weak, and also surrounded by those rotten
and
weak,
just in the same way as a rotten and weak tree, is surrounded by rotten
and weak
ones...
Finally: How is a person who is strong
and good surrounded by the strong and
good?
Here one is moral of lovely nature, who has similar moral friends of lovely
nature...
Thus is a person, who is strong and good surrounded by the strong
and good, just
in the
same way as a strong and good tree, is surrounded by strong and good hardcore
ones...
These are the four persons comparable to trees existing in
this world...
Comment:
Discrimination of
good and bad groups is a signature sign of genuine understanding!
The rotten and weak may take with them other
beings in their inevitable
fall...
The strong and good may take with them other beings in their inevitable
rise...
The wise therefore selects his fine friends like when picking
exquisite flowers. ;-)

Monet: Four
Trees
More on Buddhist
Personality Analysis:
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Human_Types.htm
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_7_Persons.htm
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Nine_Supremes.htm
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Four_Personalities.htm
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Ideal_Person.htm
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_9_Supremes_Explained.htm
Source:
The 4th Higher Science Abhidhamma Book:
The Personality Concept: Puggala-Paññatti.
https://store.pariyatti.org/Designation-of-Human-Types_p_1958.html