The Buddha describes the four kinds of subtlety—a mendicant has ultimate subtlety of form, they don’t see any other subtlety of form that’s better or finer than that,, and nor do they aim for it.

AN 4.16 Subtlety

“Cattārimāni, bhikkhave, sokhummāni. Katamāni cattāri?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu rūpasokhummena samannāgato hoti paramena; tena ca rūpasokhummena aññaṁ rūpasokhummaṁ uttaritaraṁ paṇītataraṁ na samanupassati; tena ca rūpasokhummena aññaṁ rūpasokhummaṁ uttaritaraṁ paṇītataraṁ na pattheti.

Vedanāsokhummena samannāgato hoti paramena; tena ca vedanāsokhummena aññaṁ vedanāsokhummaṁ uttaritaraṁ paṇītataraṁ na samanupassati; tena ca vedanāsokhummena aññaṁ vedanāsokhummaṁ uttaritaraṁ paṇītataraṁ na pattheti.

Saññāsokhummena samannāgato hoti paramena; tena ca saññāsokhummena aññaṁ saññāsokhummaṁ uttaritaraṁ paṇītataraṁ na samanupassati; tena ca saññāsokhummena aññaṁ saññāsokhummaṁ uttaritaraṁ paṇītataraṁ na pattheti.

Saṅkhārasokhummena samannāgato hoti paramena; tena ca saṅkhārasokhummena aññaṁ saṅkhārasokhummaṁ uttaritaraṁ paṇītataraṁ na samanupassati; tena ca saṅkhārasokhummena aññaṁ saṅkhārasokhummaṁ uttaritaraṁ paṇītataraṁ na pattheti.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, cattāri sokhummānīti.

Rūpasokhummataṁ ñatvā,
vedanānañca sambhavaṁ;
Saññā yato samudeti,
atthaṁ gacchati yattha ca;
Saṅkhāre parato ñatvā,
dukkhato no ca attato.

Sa ve sammaddaso bhikkhu,
santo santipade rato;
Dhāreti antimaṁ dehaṁ,
jetvā māraṁ savāhinin”ti.

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Cattārimāni, bhikkhave, sokhummāni.

“Mendicants, there are these four kinds of subtlety.

Katamāni cattāri?

What four?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu rūpasokhummena samannāgato hoti paramena;

A mendicant has ultimate subtlety of form.

tena ca rūpasokhummena aññaṁ rūpasokhummaṁ uttaritaraṁ paṇītataraṁ na samanupassati;

They don’t see any other subtlety of form that’s better or finer than that,

tena ca rūpasokhummena aññaṁ rūpasokhummaṁ uttaritaraṁ paṇītataraṁ na pattheti.

nor do they aim for it.

Vedanāsokhummena samannāgato hoti paramena;

A mendicant has ultimate subtlety of feeling.

tena ca vedanāsokhummena aññaṁ vedanāsokhummaṁ uttaritaraṁ paṇītataraṁ na samanupassati;

They don’t see any other subtlety of feeling that’s better or finer than that,

tena ca vedanāsokhummena aññaṁ vedanāsokhummaṁ uttaritaraṁ paṇītataraṁ na pattheti.

nor do they aim for it.

Saññāsokhummena samannāgato hoti paramena;

A mendicant has ultimate subtlety of perception.

tena ca saññāsokhummena aññaṁ saññāsokhummaṁ uttaritaraṁ paṇītataraṁ na samanupassati;

They don’t see any other subtlety of perception that’s better or finer than that,

tena ca saññāsokhummena aññaṁ saññāsokhummaṁ uttaritaraṁ paṇītataraṁ na pattheti.

nor do they aim for it.

Saṅkhārasokhummena samannāgato hoti paramena;

A mendicant has ultimate subtlety of choices.

tena ca saṅkhārasokhummena aññaṁ saṅkhārasokhummaṁ uttaritaraṁ paṇītataraṁ na samanupassati;

They don’t see any other subtlety of choices that’s better or finer than that,

tena ca saṅkhārasokhummena aññaṁ saṅkhārasokhummaṁ uttaritaraṁ paṇītataraṁ na pattheti.

nor do they aim for it.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, cattāri sokhummānīti.

These are the four kinds of subtlety.

Rūpasokhummataṁ ñatvā,

Knowing the subtlety of form,

vedanānañca sambhavaṁ;

the cause of feelings,

Saññā yato samudeti,

where perception comes from,

atthaṁ gacchati yattha ca;

and where it ends;

Saṅkhāre parato ñatvā,

and knowing choices as alien,

dukkhato no ca attato.

as suffering and as not-self,

Sa ve sammaddaso bhikkhu,

that mendicant sees rightly,

santo santipade rato;

peaceful, in love with the state of peace.

Dhāreti antimaṁ dehaṁ,

They bear their final body,

jetvā māraṁ savāhinin”ti.

having vanquished Māra with his legions.”

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Qualities:

Affection

Affection

A mental quality of tender affection and fond regard, often wholesome when rooted in kindness, which inclines the mind toward warmth and care. When unguarded, it may turn toward fixation upon what is 'dear,' leading the mind to attachment and the grief that follows separation from what has been clung to as 'dear'.

Also known as: fondness, love, tender regard
Pāli: pema
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Suffering

Suffering

Unpleasantness, discontentment, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, i.e. mild or intense suffering that is inherent in conditioned existence.

Also known as: discomfort, unpleasantness, discontentedness, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, distress, affliction
Pāli: dukkha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026