The Buddha describes the four individuals—one individual doesn’t value or submit to ethics, immersion, or wisdom, one individual values and submits to ethics, but not to immersion or wisdom, one individual values and submits to ethics and immersion, and but not wisdom.

AN 4.137 Ethics (2nd)

“Cattārome, bhikkhave, puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ. Katame cattāro?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo na sīlagaru hoti na sīlādhipateyyo, na samādhigaru hoti na samādhādhipateyyo, na paññāgaru hoti na paññādhipateyyo.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo sīlagaru hoti sīlādhipateyyo, na samādhigaru hoti na samādhādhipateyyo, na paññāgaru hoti na paññādhipateyyo.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo sīlagaru hoti sīlādhipateyyo, samādhigaru hoti samādhādhipateyyo, na paññāgaru hoti na paññādhipateyyo.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo sīlagaru hoti sīlādhipateyyo, samādhigaru hoti samādhādhipateyyo, paññāgaru hoti paññādhipateyyo.

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

Sattamaṁ.

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 na sīlagaru hoti na sīlādhipateyyo, na samādhigaru hoti na samādhādhipateyyo, na paññāgaru hoti na paññādhipateyyo.

One individual doesn’t value or submit to ethics, immersion, or wisdom.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo sīlagaru hoti sīlādhipateyyo, na samādhigaru hoti na samādhādhipateyyo, na paññāgaru hoti na paññādhipateyyo.

One individual values and submits to ethics, but not to immersion or wisdom.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo sīlagaru hoti sīlādhipateyyo, samādhigaru hoti samādhādhipateyyo, na paññāgaru hoti na paññādhipateyyo.

One individual values and submits to ethics and immersion, but not wisdom.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo sīlagaru hoti sīlādhipateyyo, samādhigaru hoti samādhādhipateyyo, paññāgaru hoti paññādhipateyyo.

One individual values and submits to ethics, immersion, and wisdom.

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

These are the four individuals found in the world.”

Sattamaṁ.

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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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