The Buddha describes the four individuals—one is on retreat in body, but not mind;, one is on retreat in mind, but not body;, and one is on retreat in neither body nor mind; and.

AN 4.138 Retreat

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

Nikaṭṭhakāyo anikaṭṭhacitto,

anikaṭṭhakāyo nikaṭṭhacitto,

anikaṭṭhakāyo ca anikaṭṭhacitto ca,

nikaṭṭhakāyo ca nikaṭṭhacitto ca.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo nikaṭṭhakāyo hoti anikaṭṭhacitto? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevati. So tattha kāmavitakkampi vitakketi byāpādavitakkampi vitakketi vihiṁsāvitakkampi vitakketi. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo nikaṭṭhakāyo hoti anikaṭṭhacitto.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo anikaṭṭhakāyo hoti nikaṭṭhacitto? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo naheva kho araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevati. So tattha nekkhammavitakkampi vitakketi abyāpādavitakkampi vitakketi avihiṁsāvitakkampi vitakketi. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo anikaṭṭhakāyo hoti nikaṭṭhacitto.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo anikaṭṭhakāyo ca hoti anikaṭṭhacitto ca? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo naheva kho araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevati. So tattha kāmavitakkampi vitakketi byāpādavitakkampi vitakketi vihiṁsāvitakkampi vitakketi. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo anikaṭṭhakāyo ca hoti anikaṭṭhacitto ca.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo nikaṭṭhakāyo ca hoti nikaṭṭhacitto ca? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevati. So tattha nekkhammavitakkampi vitakketi abyāpādavitakkampi vitakketi avihiṁsāvitakkampi vitakketi. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo nikaṭṭhakāyo ca hoti nikaṭṭhacitto ca.

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

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

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?

Nikaṭṭhakāyo anikaṭṭhacitto,

One is on retreat in body, but not mind;

anikaṭṭhakāyo nikaṭṭhacitto,

one is on retreat in mind, but not body;

anikaṭṭhakāyo ca anikaṭṭhacitto ca,

one is on retreat in neither body nor mind; and

nikaṭṭhakāyo ca nikaṭṭhacitto ca.

one is on retreat in both body and mind.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo nikaṭṭhakāyo hoti anikaṭṭhacitto?

And how is an individual on retreat in body, but not mind?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevati.

It’s when an individual frequents remote lodgings in the wilderness and the forest.

So tattha kāmavitakkampi vitakketi byāpādavitakkampi vitakketi vihiṁsāvitakkampi vitakketi.

But they think sensual, malicious, and cruel thoughts.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo nikaṭṭhakāyo hoti anikaṭṭhacitto.

That’s how an individual is on retreat in body, but not mind.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo anikaṭṭhakāyo hoti nikaṭṭhacitto?

And how is an individual on retreat in mind, but not body?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo naheva kho araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevati.

It’s when an individual doesn’t frequent remote lodgings in the wilderness and the forest.

So tattha nekkhammavitakkampi vitakketi abyāpādavitakkampi vitakketi avihiṁsāvitakkampi vitakketi.

But they think thoughts of renunciation, good will, and harmlessness.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo anikaṭṭhakāyo hoti nikaṭṭhacitto.

That’s how an individual is on retreat in mind, but not body.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo anikaṭṭhakāyo ca hoti anikaṭṭhacitto ca?

And how is an individual on retreat in neither body nor mind?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo naheva kho araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevati.

It’s when an individual doesn’t frequent remote lodgings in the wilderness and the forest.

So tattha kāmavitakkampi vitakketi byāpādavitakkampi vitakketi vihiṁsāvitakkampi vitakketi.

And they think sensual, malicious, and cruel thoughts.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo anikaṭṭhakāyo ca hoti anikaṭṭhacitto ca.

That’s how an individual is on retreat in neither body nor mind.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo nikaṭṭhakāyo ca hoti nikaṭṭhacitto ca?

And how is an individual on retreat in both body and mind?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevati.

It’s when an individual frequents remote lodgings in the wilderness and the forest.

So tattha nekkhammavitakkampi vitakketi abyāpādavitakkampi vitakketi avihiṁsāvitakkampi vitakketi.

And they think thoughts of renunciation, good will, and harmlessness.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo nikaṭṭhakāyo ca hoti nikaṭṭhacitto ca.

That’s how an individual is on retreat in both body and mind.

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

These are the four individuals found in the world.”

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Qualities:

Giving up

Giving up

The mental quality of renunciation and release from attachment. It delights in simplicity and freedom rather than in sensual pleasure. Giving up is not loss but the joyful abandoning of burden, opening the way to peace and insight.

Also known as: renunciation, relinquishment, letting go, abandonment
Pāli: nekkhamma
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Harm

Harm

Intention or action that causes injury or suffering to oneself or others. It arises from aversion and heedlessness and destroys trust and safety. The opposite of non-harm, it obscures compassion and leads to regret.

Also known as: injury causing behavior, destructiveness, bad, evil
Pāli: pāpaka
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Non-harm

Non-harm

The intention of harmlessness, rooted in the understanding that all beings tremble at violence and fear death.

Also known as: non-violence, non-injury, harmlessness, non-killing, non-hurting
Pāli: avihiṃsā, ahiṁsa
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Wholesome

Wholesome

Conducive to or suggestive of good health and mental well-being.

Also known as: blameless, skillful, beneficial, good, useful, healthy, nourishing, sustaining
Pāli: kusala
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Last updated on July 27, 2026