The Buddha describes the four individuals—one individual has not fulfilled ethics, immersion, or wisdom, one individual has fulfilled ethics, but not immersion or wisdom, one individual has fulfilled ethics and immersion, and but not wisdom.

AN 4.136 Ethics (1st)

“Cattārome, bhikkhave, puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ. Katame cattāro? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo sīlesu na paripūrakārī hoti, samādhismiṁ na paripūrakārī, paññāya na paripūrakārī.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo sīlesu paripūrakārī hoti, samādhismiṁ na paripūrakārī, paññāya na paripūrakārī.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo sīlesu paripūrakārī hoti, samādhismiṁ paripūrakārī, paññāya na paripūrakārī.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo sīlesu paripūrakārī hoti, samādhismiṁ paripūrakārī, paññāya paripūrakārī.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmin”ti.

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Cattārome, bhikkhave, puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ.

“Mendicants, these four individuals are found in the world.

Katame cattāro?

What four?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo sīlesu na paripūrakārī hoti, samādhismiṁ na paripūrakārī, paññāya na paripūrakārī.

One individual has not fulfilled ethics, immersion, or wisdom.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo sīlesu paripūrakārī hoti, samādhismiṁ na paripūrakārī, paññāya na paripūrakārī.

One individual has fulfilled ethics, but not immersion or wisdom.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo sīlesu paripūrakārī hoti, samādhismiṁ paripūrakārī, paññāya na paripūrakārī.

One individual has fulfilled ethics and immersion, but not wisdom.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo sīlesu paripūrakārī hoti, samādhismiṁ paripūrakārī, paññāya paripūrakārī.

One individual has fulfilled ethics, immersion, and wisdom.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmin”ti.

These are the four individuals found in the world.”

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Collectedness

Collectedness

A mental quality of composure where awareness is gathered, steady, rather than scattered or tense. In such collectedness, supported by mindfulness and right view, experience is clearly known and can be wisely contemplated.

Also known as: mental composure, stability of mind, stillness of mind, concentration, undistracted awareness
Pāli: samādhi, samāhita, susamāhita, sammāsamādhi
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Quenching

Quenching

An experiential state of being “cooled,” where the burning fever of craving has subsided and the mind dwells in a peace free from the anxiety of needing to become something else.

Also known as: being cooled, desirelessness, free from hope, fulfilled, fully satiated, having attained emancipation
Pāli: nibbuta, nirāsa, parinibbāyati
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Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita, asammūḷha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026