The Buddha describes the four individuals—take a mendicant who enters and remains in a peaceful release of the heart, they focus on the cessation of substantial reality,, but on that their mind does not leap forth, gain confidence, settle down, and and become decided.

AN 4.178 Billabong

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

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aññataraṁ santaṁ cetovimuttiṁ upasampajja viharati. So sakkāyanirodhaṁ manasi karoti. Tassa sakkāyanirodhaṁ manasi karoto sakkāyanirodhe cittaṁ na pakkhandati nappasīdati na santiṭṭhati nādhimuccati. Tassa kho evaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno na sakkāyanirodho pāṭikaṅkho. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso lepagatena hatthena sākhaṁ gaṇheyya, tassa so hattho sajjeyyapi gaṇheyyapi bajjheyyapi; evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aññataraṁ santaṁ cetovimuttiṁ upasampajja viharati. So sakkāyanirodhaṁ manasi karoti. Tassa sakkāyanirodhaṁ manasi karoto sakkāyanirodhe cittaṁ na pakkhandati nappasīdati na santiṭṭhati nādhimuccati. Tassa kho evaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno na sakkāyanirodho pāṭikaṅkho.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aññataraṁ santaṁ cetovimuttiṁ upasampajja viharati. So sakkāyanirodhaṁ manasi karoti. Tassa sakkāyanirodhaṁ manasi karoto sakkāyanirodhe cittaṁ pakkhandati pasīdati santiṭṭhati adhimuccati. Tassa kho evaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno sakkāyanirodho pāṭikaṅkho. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso suddhena hatthena sākhaṁ gaṇheyya, tassa so hattho neva sajjeyya na gaṇheyya na bajjheyya; evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aññataraṁ santaṁ cetovimuttiṁ upasampajja viharati. So sakkāyanirodhaṁ manasi karoti. Tassa sakkāyanirodhaṁ manasi karoto sakkāyanirodhe cittaṁ pakkhandati pasīdati santiṭṭhati adhimuccati. Tassa kho evaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno sakkāyanirodho pāṭikaṅkho.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aññataraṁ santaṁ cetovimuttiṁ upasampajja viharati. So avijjāppabhedaṁ manasi karoti. Tassa avijjāppabhedaṁ manasi karoto avijjāppabhede cittaṁ na pakkhandati nappasīdati na santiṭṭhati nādhimuccati. Tassa kho evaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno na avijjāppabhedo pāṭikaṅkho. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, jambālī anekavassagaṇikā. Tassā puriso yāni ceva āyamukhāni tāni pidaheyya, yāni ca apāyamukhāni tāni vivareyya, devo ca na sammā dhāraṁ anuppaveccheyya. Evañhi tassā, bhikkhave, jambāliyā na āḷippabhedo pāṭikaṅkho. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aññataraṁ santaṁ cetovimuttiṁ upasampajja viharati. So avijjāppabhedaṁ manasi karoti. Tassa avijjāppabhedaṁ manasi karoto avijjāppabhede cittaṁ na pakkhandati nappasīdati na santiṭṭhati nādhimuccati. Tassa kho evaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno na avijjāppabhedo pāṭikaṅkho.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aññataraṁ santaṁ cetovimuttiṁ upasampajja viharati. So avijjāppabhedaṁ manasi karoti. Tassa avijjāppabhedaṁ manasi karoto avijjāppabhede cittaṁ pakkhandati pasīdati santiṭṭhati adhimuccati. Tassa kho evaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno avijjāppabhedo pāṭikaṅkho. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, jambālī anekavassagaṇikā. Tassā puriso yāni ceva āyamukhāni tāni vivareyya, yāni ca apāyamukhāni tāni pidaheyya, devo ca sammā dhāraṁ anuppaveccheyya. Evañhi tassā, bhikkhave, jambāliyā āḷippabhedo pāṭikaṅkho. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aññataraṁ santaṁ cetovimuttiṁ upasampajja viharati. So avijjāppabhedaṁ manasi karoti. Tassa avijjāppabhedaṁ manasi karoto avijjāppabhede cittaṁ pakkhandati pasīdati santiṭṭhati adhimuccati. Tassa kho evaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno avijjāppabhedo pāṭikaṅkho.

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?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aññataraṁ santaṁ cetovimuttiṁ upasampajja viharati.

Take a mendicant who enters and remains in a peaceful release of the heart.

So sakkāyanirodhaṁ manasi karoti.

They focus on the cessation of substantial reality,

Tassa sakkāyanirodhaṁ manasi karoto sakkāyanirodhe cittaṁ na pakkhandati nappasīdati na santiṭṭhati nādhimuccati.

but on that their mind does not leap forth, gain confidence, settle down, and become decided.

Tassa kho evaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno na sakkāyanirodho pāṭikaṅkho.

You wouldn’t expect that mendicant to realize the cessation of substantial reality.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso lepagatena hatthena sākhaṁ gaṇheyya, tassa so hattho sajjeyyapi gaṇheyyapi bajjheyyapi;

Suppose a person were to grab a branch with a glue-smeared hand. Their hand would stick, hold, and bind to it.

evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aññataraṁ santaṁ cetovimuttiṁ upasampajja viharati.

In the same way, take a mendicant who enters and remains in a peaceful release of the heart.

So sakkāyanirodhaṁ manasi karoti.

They focus on the cessation of substantial reality,

Tassa sakkāyanirodhaṁ manasi karoto sakkāyanirodhe cittaṁ na pakkhandati nappasīdati na santiṭṭhati nādhimuccati.

but on that their mind does not leap forth, gain confidence, settle down, and become decided.

Tassa kho evaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno na sakkāyanirodho pāṭikaṅkho.

You wouldn’t expect that mendicant to realize the cessation of substantial reality.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aññataraṁ santaṁ cetovimuttiṁ upasampajja viharati.

Next, take a mendicant who enters and remains in a peaceful release of the heart.

So sakkāyanirodhaṁ manasi karoti.

They focus on the cessation of substantial reality,

Tassa sakkāyanirodhaṁ manasi karoto sakkāyanirodhe cittaṁ pakkhandati pasīdati santiṭṭhati adhimuccati.

and on that their mind leaps forth, gains confidence, settles down, and becomes decided.

Tassa kho evaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno sakkāyanirodho pāṭikaṅkho.

You would expect that mendicant to realize the cessation of substantial reality.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso suddhena hatthena sākhaṁ gaṇheyya, tassa so hattho neva sajjeyya na gaṇheyya na bajjheyya;

Suppose a person were to grab a branch with a clean hand. Their hand wouldn’t stick, hold, or bind to it.

evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aññataraṁ santaṁ cetovimuttiṁ upasampajja viharati.

In the same way, take a mendicant who enters and remains in a peaceful release of the heart.

So sakkāyanirodhaṁ manasi karoti.

They focus on the cessation of substantial reality,

Tassa sakkāyanirodhaṁ manasi karoto sakkāyanirodhe cittaṁ pakkhandati pasīdati santiṭṭhati adhimuccati.

and on that their mind leaps forth, gains confidence, settles down, and becomes decided.

Tassa kho evaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno sakkāyanirodho pāṭikaṅkho.

You would expect that mendicant to realize the cessation of substantial reality.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aññataraṁ santaṁ cetovimuttiṁ upasampajja viharati.

Next, take a mendicant who enters and remains in a peaceful release of the heart.

So avijjāppabhedaṁ manasi karoti.

They focus on smashing ignorance,

Tassa avijjāppabhedaṁ manasi karoto avijjāppabhede cittaṁ na pakkhandati nappasīdati na santiṭṭhati nādhimuccati.

but on that their mind does not leap forth, gain confidence, settle down, and become decided.

Tassa kho evaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno na avijjāppabhedo pāṭikaṅkho.

You wouldn’t expect that mendicant to smash ignorance.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, jambālī anekavassagaṇikā.

Suppose there was a billabong that had been stagnant for many years.

Tassā puriso yāni ceva āyamukhāni tāni pidaheyya, yāni ca apāyamukhāni tāni vivareyya, devo ca na sammā dhāraṁ anuppaveccheyya.

And someone was to close off the inlets and open up the drains, and the heavens didn’t provide enough rain.

Evañhi tassā, bhikkhave, jambāliyā na āḷippabhedo pāṭikaṅkho.

You wouldn’t expect that billabong to break its banks.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aññataraṁ santaṁ cetovimuttiṁ upasampajja viharati.

In the same way, take a mendicant who enters and remains in a certain peaceful release of the heart.

So avijjāppabhedaṁ manasi karoti.

They focus on smashing ignorance,

Tassa avijjāppabhedaṁ manasi karoto avijjāppabhede cittaṁ na pakkhandati nappasīdati na santiṭṭhati nādhimuccati.

but on that their mind does not leap forth, gain confidence, settle down, and become decided.

Tassa kho evaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno na avijjāppabhedo pāṭikaṅkho.

You wouldn’t expect that mendicant to smash ignorance.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aññataraṁ santaṁ cetovimuttiṁ upasampajja viharati.

Next, take a mendicant who enters and remains in a peaceful release of the heart.

So avijjāppabhedaṁ manasi karoti.

They focus on smashing ignorance,

Tassa avijjāppabhedaṁ manasi karoto avijjāppabhede cittaṁ pakkhandati pasīdati santiṭṭhati adhimuccati.

and on that their mind leaps forth, gains confidence, settles down, and becomes decided.

Tassa kho evaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno avijjāppabhedo pāṭikaṅkho.

You would expect that mendicant to smash ignorance.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, jambālī anekavassagaṇikā.

Suppose there was a billabong that had been stagnant for many years.

Tassā puriso yāni ceva āyamukhāni tāni vivareyya, yāni ca apāyamukhāni tāni pidaheyya, devo ca sammā dhāraṁ anuppaveccheyya.

And someone was to open up the inlets and close off the drains, and the heavens provided plenty of rain.

Evañhi tassā, bhikkhave, jambāliyā āḷippabhedo pāṭikaṅkho.

You would expect that billabong to break its banks.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aññataraṁ santaṁ cetovimuttiṁ upasampajja viharati.

In the same way, take a mendicant who enters and remains in a certain peaceful release of the heart.

So avijjāppabhedaṁ manasi karoti.

They focus on smashing ignorance,

Tassa avijjāppabhedaṁ manasi karoto avijjāppabhede cittaṁ pakkhandati pasīdati santiṭṭhati adhimuccati.

and on that their mind leaps forth, gains confidence, settles down, and becomes decided.

Tassa kho evaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno avijjāppabhedo pāṭikaṅkho.

You would expect that mendicant to smash ignorance.

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

These are the four individuals found in the world.”

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Delusion

Delusion

A fundamental distortion of reality that sustains confusion, clouds discernment, and fuels further doubt.

Also known as: illusion, hallucination, misapprehension, distorted view
Pāli: moha, micchāñāṇa
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Ending

Ending

The complete exhaustion and ending of craving, aversion, and delusion—the three roots of suffering. It refers to both the gradual wearing away of defilements through practice and the final cessation that constitutes Nibbāna.

Also known as: cessation, exhaustion, gradual ending, wearing away
Pāli: khaya, khīṇa, nirodha
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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
View all discourses →
Ignorance

Ignorance

A fundamental blindness to the true nature of reality. It is not merely a lack of information, but an active misperception that views the transient as permanent and the unsatisfactory as a source of happiness, thereby fueling the cycle of suffering.

Also known as: illusion of knowing, fundamental unawareness of the true nature of reality, misunderstanding of how things have come to be, not knowing the four noble truths
Pāli: avijjā
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Liberation

Liberation

Liberation can imply a temporary release of the mind, i.e. liberated from certain unwholesome mental qualities or complete liberation from all unwholesome qualities of the mind, i.e. Nibbāna.

Also known as: freedom, release, emancipation, deliverance
Pāli: vimutti, vimokkha, cetovimutti, paññāvimutti, akuppā cetovimutti
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Last updated on July 27, 2026