The Buddha teaches on ugly, presenting a fourfold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 4.163 Ugly

“Catasso imā, bhikkhave, paṭipadā. Katamā catasso?

Dukkhā paṭipadā dandhābhiññā,

dukkhā paṭipadā khippābhiññā,

sukhā paṭipadā dandhābhiññā,

sukhā paṭipadā khippābhiññā.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, dukkhā paṭipadā dandhābhiññā? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu asubhānupassī kāye viharati, āhāre paṭikūlasaññī, sabbaloke anabhiratisaññī, sabbasaṅkhāresu aniccānupassī; maraṇasaññā kho panassa ajjhattaṁ sūpaṭṭhitā hoti. So imāni pañca sekhabalāni upanissāya viharati saddhābalaṁ, hiribalaṁ, ottappabalaṁ, vīriyabalaṁ, paññābalaṁ. Tassimāni pañcindriyāni mudūni pātubhavanti saddhindriyaṁ, vīriyindriyaṁ, satindriyaṁ, samādhindriyaṁ, paññindriyaṁ. So imesaṁ pañcannaṁ indriyānaṁ muduttā dandhaṁ ānantariyaṁ pāpuṇāti āsavānaṁ khayāya. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, dukkhā paṭipadā dandhābhiññā.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, dukkhā paṭipadā khippābhiññā? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu asubhānupassī kāye viharati, āhāre paṭikūlasaññī, sabbaloke anabhiratisaññī, sabbasaṅkhāresu aniccānupassī; maraṇasaññā kho panassa ajjhattaṁ sūpaṭṭhitā hoti. So imāni pañca sekhabalāni upanissāya viharati saddhābalaṁ …pe… paññābalaṁ. Tassimāni pañcindriyāni adhimattāni pātubhavanti saddhindriyaṁ …pe… paññindriyaṁ. So imesaṁ pañcannaṁ indriyānaṁ adhimattattā khippaṁ ānantariyaṁ pāpuṇāti āsavānaṁ khayāya. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, dukkhā paṭipadā khippābhiññā.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, sukhā paṭipadā dandhābhiññā? Idha bhikkhave, bhikkhu vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṁ savicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati; vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā ajjhattaṁ sampasādanaṁ cetaso ekodibhāvaṁ avitakkaṁ avicāraṁ samādhijaṁ pītisukhaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati; pītiyā ca virāgā upekkhako ca viharati sato ca sampajāno sukhañca kāyena paṭisaṁvedeti yaṁ taṁ ariyā ācikkhanti: ‘upekkhako satimā sukhavihārī’ti tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati; sukhassa ca pahānā dukkhassa ca pahānā pubbeva somanassadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamā adukkhamasukhaṁ upekkhāsatipārisuddhiṁ catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. So imāni pañca sekhabalāni upanissāya viharati saddhābalaṁ …pe… paññābalaṁ. Tassimāni pañcindriyāni mudūni pātubhavanti saddhindriyaṁ …pe… paññindriyaṁ. So imesaṁ pañcannaṁ indriyānaṁ muduttā dandhaṁ ānantariyaṁ pāpuṇāti āsavānaṁ khayāya. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sukhā paṭipadā dandhābhiññā.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, sukhā paṭipadā khippābhiññā? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṁ savicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati …pe… dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ …pe… tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ …pe… catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. So imāni pañca sekhabalāni upanissāya viharati saddhābalaṁ, hiribalaṁ, ottappabalaṁ, vīriyabalaṁ, paññābalaṁ. Tassimāni pañcindriyāni adhimattāni pātubhavanti saddhindriyaṁ, vīriyindriyaṁ, satindriyaṁ, samādhindriyaṁ, paññindriyaṁ. So imesaṁ pañcannaṁ indriyānaṁ adhimattattā khippaṁ ānantariyaṁ pāpuṇāti āsavānaṁ khayāya. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sukhā paṭipadā khippābhiññā.

Imā kho, bhikkhave, catasso paṭipadā”ti.

Tatiyaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Catasso imā, bhikkhave, paṭipadā.

“Mendicants, there are four ways of practice.

Katamā catasso?

What four?

Dukkhā paṭipadā dandhābhiññā,

Painful practice with slow insight,

dukkhā paṭipadā khippābhiññā,

painful practice with swift insight,

sukhā paṭipadā dandhābhiññā,

pleasant practice with slow insight, and

sukhā paṭipadā khippābhiññā.

pleasant practice with swift insight.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, dukkhā paṭipadā dandhābhiññā?

And what’s the painful practice with slow insight?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu asubhānupassī kāye viharati, āhāre paṭikūlasaññī, sabbaloke anabhiratisaññī, sabbasaṅkhāresu aniccānupassī;

It’s when a mendicant meditates observing the ugliness of the body, perceives the repulsiveness of food, perceives dissatisfaction with the whole world, observes the impermanence of all conditions,

maraṇasaññā kho panassa ajjhattaṁ sūpaṭṭhitā hoti.

and has well established the perception of their own death.

So imāni pañca sekhabalāni upanissāya viharati

They rely on these five powers of a trainee:

saddhābalaṁ, hiribalaṁ, ottappabalaṁ, vīriyabalaṁ, paññābalaṁ.

faith, conscience, prudence, energy, and wisdom.

Tassimāni pañcindriyāni mudūni pātubhavanti

But these five faculties manifest in them weakly:

saddhindriyaṁ, vīriyindriyaṁ, satindriyaṁ, samādhindriyaṁ, paññindriyaṁ.

faith, energy, mindfulness, immersion, and wisdom.

So imesaṁ pañcannaṁ indriyānaṁ muduttā dandhaṁ ānantariyaṁ pāpuṇāti āsavānaṁ khayāya.

Because of this, they only slowly attain the conditions for ending the defilements in the present life.

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, dukkhā paṭipadā dandhābhiññā.

This is called the painful practice with slow insight.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, dukkhā paṭipadā khippābhiññā?

And what’s the painful practice with swift insight?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu asubhānupassī kāye viharati, āhāre paṭikūlasaññī, sabbaloke anabhiratisaññī, sabbasaṅkhāresu aniccānupassī;

It’s when a mendicant meditates observing the ugliness of the body, perceives the repulsiveness of food, perceives dissatisfaction with the whole world, observes the impermanence of all conditions,

maraṇasaññā kho panassa ajjhattaṁ sūpaṭṭhitā hoti.

and has well established the perception of their own death.

So imāni pañca sekhabalāni upanissāya viharati

They rely on these five powers of a trainee:

saddhābalaṁ …pe… paññābalaṁ.

faith, conscience, prudence, energy, and wisdom.

Tassimāni pañcindriyāni adhimattāni pātubhavanti

And these five faculties manifest in them strongly:

saddhindriyaṁ …pe… paññindriyaṁ.

faith, energy, mindfulness, immersion, and wisdom.

So imesaṁ pañcannaṁ indriyānaṁ adhimattattā khippaṁ ānantariyaṁ pāpuṇāti āsavānaṁ khayāya.

Because of this, they swiftly attain the conditions for ending the defilements in the present life.

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, dukkhā paṭipadā khippābhiññā.

This is called the painful practice with swift insight.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, sukhā paṭipadā dandhābhiññā?

And what’s the pleasant practice with slow insight?

Idha bhikkhave, bhikkhu vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṁ savicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati;

It’s when a mendicant, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected.

vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā ajjhattaṁ sampasādanaṁ cetaso ekodibhāvaṁ avitakkaṁ avicāraṁ samādhijaṁ pītisukhaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati;

As the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, they enter and remain in the second absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of immersion, with internal clarity and mind at one, without placing the mind and keeping it connected.

pītiyā ca virāgā upekkhako ca viharati sato ca sampajāno sukhañca kāyena paṭisaṁvedeti yaṁ taṁ ariyā ācikkhanti: ‘upekkhako satimā sukhavihārī’ti tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati;

And with the fading away of rapture, they enter and remain in the third absorption, where they meditate with equanimity, mindful and aware, personally experiencing the bliss of which the noble ones declare, ‘Equanimous and mindful, one meditates in bliss.’

sukhassa ca pahānā dukkhassa ca pahānā pubbeva somanassadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamā adukkhamasukhaṁ upekkhāsatipārisuddhiṁ catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati.

With the giving up of pleasure and pain and the disappearance of former happiness and sadness, they enter and remain in the fourth absorption, without pleasure or pain, with pure equanimity and mindfulness.

So imāni pañca sekhabalāni upanissāya viharati

They rely on these five powers of a trainee:

saddhābalaṁ …pe… paññābalaṁ.

faith, conscience, prudence, energy, and wisdom.

Tassimāni pañcindriyāni mudūni pātubhavanti

But these five faculties manifest in them weakly:

saddhindriyaṁ …pe… paññindriyaṁ.

faith, energy, mindfulness, immersion, and wisdom.

So imesaṁ pañcannaṁ indriyānaṁ muduttā dandhaṁ ānantariyaṁ pāpuṇāti āsavānaṁ khayāya.

Because of this, they only slowly attain the conditions for ending the defilements in the present life.

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sukhā paṭipadā dandhābhiññā.

This is called the pleasant practice with slow insight.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, sukhā paṭipadā khippābhiññā?

And what’s the pleasant practice with swift insight?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṁ savicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati …pe… dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ …pe… tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ …pe… catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati.

It’s when a mendicant … enters and remains in the first absorption … second absorption … third absorption … fourth absorption …

So imāni pañca sekhabalāni upanissāya viharati

They rely on these five powers of a trainee:

saddhābalaṁ, hiribalaṁ, ottappabalaṁ, vīriyabalaṁ, paññābalaṁ.

faith, conscience, prudence, energy, and wisdom.

Tassimāni pañcindriyāni adhimattāni pātubhavanti

And these five faculties manifest in them strongly:

saddhindriyaṁ, vīriyindriyaṁ, satindriyaṁ, samādhindriyaṁ, paññindriyaṁ.

faith, energy, mindfulness, immersion, and wisdom.

So imesaṁ pañcannaṁ indriyānaṁ adhimattattā khippaṁ ānantariyaṁ pāpuṇāti āsavānaṁ khayāya.

Because of this, they swiftly attain the conditions for ending the defilements in the present life.

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sukhā paṭipadā khippābhiññā.

This is called the pleasant practice with swift insight.

Imā kho, bhikkhave, catasso paṭipadā”ti.

These are the four ways of practice.”

Tatiyaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Faith

Faith

Confidence in the Buddha's awakening and the efficacy of the path. It brightens and steadies the mind, removing doubt and inspiring energy toward wholesome practice. True faith rests on clarity and direct experience rather than mere belief.

Also known as: confidence, trust, belief, conviction, self-assurance
Pāli: saddha, pasanna
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Insight

Insight

Insight is deep, intuitive realization that transforms understanding and guides practice.

Also known as: having insight, with understanding, right knowledge
Pāli: ñāṇa, sammāñāṇa
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Jhana

Jhana

An abiding with a steady, collected awareness that is attained through seclusion from the five hindrances and unwholesome mental states. When supported by right view, a jhāna can be a basis for the wearing away of taints and directing the mind toward the vision of Nibbāna.

Also known as: meditation, undistracted awareness, absorption, mental absorption
Pāli: jhāna, samāhita, susamāhita, sammāsamādhi
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Mindfulness

Mindfulness

Active presence of mind and lucid retention; the faculty that remembers the Dhamma, anchors attention to the chosen object or present experience, and guards the mind against unwholesome states.

Also known as: recollecting, remembering, keeping in mind, presence, awareness
Pāli: sati, anussati
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Vigour

Vigour

Energetic effort and resilience in practice. It is the refusal to shrink back, the 'uphill' force that initiates and sustains wholesome actions against the gravity of habit.

Also known as: energy, effort, enthusiasm, zeal, application of will, persistence
Pāli: vīriya
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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