Deep Merit Is Steady and Solid; Shallow Merit Is Frivolous and Flighty

Before planting, seeds must first be soaked in water for a period of time before being planted in the soil. When seeds are pre-soaked with water, they sprout quickly once buried in the earth.

During the soaking, a layer of seeds will float on the surface of the water. These are the immature, unsound seeds—shrunken grains that cannot sprout and grow into crops and are unfit for use as seeds. Therefore, the seeds floating on the surface must be picked out and filtered away; only the solid, sinking ones that remain are planted in the soil. What does this metaphor illustrate?

A living person who jumps into the sea may be drowned by it, whereas a dead person in the sea will be lifted up by the water and float on its surface. What does this metaphor illustrate?

In autumn, in the sorghum fields, the ripe sorghum has full, plump grains that weigh the sorghum down until it bows its head, even bending the stalks; whereas the immature sorghum stands tall and straight, swaying and fluttering in the wind, showing off conspicuously. What does this metaphor illustrate?

Those with meager merit (alpa-puṇya) cannot suppress their impulsive habits. Those with meager merit can suppress nothing—all their afflictions and habitual tendencies will float to the surface. Why do people pretend to understand when they do not, and insist on pointing fingers and lecturing others? Why is there so much restless, frivolous talk every day? Those who are substantial and grounded never speak excessively or gossip.