The Buddha teaches on moggallāna’s practice, presenting a fourfold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 4.167 Moggallāna’s Practice

Atha kho āyasmā sāriputto yenāyasmā mahāmoggallāno tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmatā mahāmoggallānena saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā sāriputto āyasmantaṁ mahāmoggallānaṁ etadavoca:

“Catasso imā, āvuso moggallāna, paṭipadā. Katamā catasso?

Dukkhā paṭipadā dandhābhiññā,

dukkhā paṭipadā khippābhiññā,

sukhā paṭipadā dandhābhiññā,

sukhā paṭipadā khippābhiññā.

Imā kho, āvuso, catasso paṭipadā. Imāsaṁ, āvuso, catunnaṁ paṭipadānaṁ katamaṁ te paṭipadaṁ āgamma anupādāya āsavehi cittaṁ vimuttan”ti?

“Catasso imā, āvuso sāriputta, paṭipadā. Katamā catasso? Dukkhā paṭipadā dandhābhiññā, dukkhā paṭipadā khippābhiññā, sukhā paṭipadā dandhābhiññā, sukhā paṭipadā khippābhiññā. Imā kho, āvuso, catasso paṭipadā. Imāsaṁ, āvuso, catunnaṁ paṭipadānaṁ yāyaṁ paṭipadā dukkhā khippābhiññā, imaṁ me paṭipadaṁ āgamma anupādāya āsavehi cittaṁ vimuttan”ti.

Sattamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Atha kho āyasmā sāriputto yenāyasmā mahāmoggallāno tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmatā mahāmoggallānena saddhiṁ sammodi.

Then Venerable Sāriputta went up to Venerable Mahāmoggallāna, and exchanged greetings with him.

Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā sāriputto āyasmantaṁ mahāmoggallānaṁ etadavoca:

When the greetings and polite conversation were over, Sāriputta sat down to one side and said to Mahāmoggallāna:

“Catasso imā, āvuso moggallāna, paṭipadā.

“Reverend Moggallāna, 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.

Imā kho, āvuso, catasso paṭipadā.

These are the four ways of practice.

Imāsaṁ, āvuso, catunnaṁ paṭipadānaṁ katamaṁ te paṭipadaṁ āgamma anupādāya āsavehi cittaṁ vimuttan”ti?

Which one of these four ways of practice did you rely on to free your mind from defilements by not grasping?”

“Catasso imā, āvuso sāriputta, paṭipadā.

“Reverend Sāriputta …

Katamā catasso?

Dukkhā paṭipadā dandhābhiññā, dukkhā paṭipadā khippābhiññā, sukhā paṭipadā dandhābhiññā, sukhā paṭipadā khippābhiññā.

Imā kho, āvuso, catasso paṭipadā.

Imāsaṁ, āvuso, catunnaṁ paṭipadānaṁ yāyaṁ paṭipadā dukkhā khippābhiññā, imaṁ me paṭipadaṁ āgamma anupādāya āsavehi cittaṁ vimuttan”ti.

I relied on the painful practice with swift insight to free my mind from defilements by not grasping.”

Sattamaṁ.

Qualities:

Attachment

Attachment

A mental fastening onto people, things, views, or states as “me” or “mine,” unwilling to release them. This clinging can give a sense of security and sweetness.

Also known as: acquisition, bond, clinging, grasping, holding on, possession, entanglement, bound, connected, taking as mine
Pāli: upadhi, upādāna, sakiñcana, mamatta
View all discourses →
Free from attachment

Free from attachment

Release from grasping, not taking anything as “me” or “mine,” ceasing to appropriate or identify with people, things, views, or experiences.

Also known as: free from grasping, not appropriating, not taking as mine, without acquisitions, not clinging, not grasping, not holding onto
Pāli: nirūpadhi, nānupādāya, asita, anuggaha
View all discourses →
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
View all discourses →

Last updated on July 27, 2026