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

AN 4.168 Sāriputta’s Practice

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

“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 katamaṁ te paṭipadaṁ āgamma anupādāya āsavehi cittaṁ vimuttan”ti?

“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 yāyaṁ paṭipadā sukhā khippābhiññā, imaṁ me paṭipadaṁ āgamma anupādāya āsavehi cittaṁ vimuttan”ti.

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

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

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

Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ etadavoca:

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

“Catasso imā, āvuso sāriputta, paṭipadā.

“Reverend Sāriputta, 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 moggallāna, paṭipadā.

“Reverend Moggallāna …

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 sukhā khippābhiññā, imaṁ me paṭipadaṁ āgamma anupādāya āsavehi cittaṁ vimuttan”ti.

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

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

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
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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
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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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Last updated on July 27, 2026