The Buddha explains that one without noble ethics, immersion, wisdom, and freedom is said to have fallen from this teaching and training, while one complete in them is secure.

AN 4.2 Fallen

“Catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi asamannāgato ‘imasmā dhammavinayā papatito’ti vuccati. Katamehi catūhi? Ariyena, bhikkhave, sīlena asamannāgato ‘imasmā dhammavinayā papatito’ti vuccati. Ariyena, bhikkhave, samādhinā asamannāgato ‘imasmā dhammavinayā papatito’ti vuccati. Ariyāya, bhikkhave, paññāya asamannāgato ‘imasmā dhammavinayā papatito’ti vuccati. Ariyāya, bhikkhave, vimuttiyā asamannāgato ‘imasmā dhammavinayā papatito’ti vuccati. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi asamannāgato ‘imasmā dhammavinayā papatito’ti vuccati.

Catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato ‘imasmā dhammavinayā apapatito’ti vuccati. Katamehi catūhi? Ariyena, bhikkhave, sīlena samannāgato ‘imasmā dhammavinayā apapatito’ti vuccati. Ariyena, bhikkhave, samādhinā samannāgato ‘imasmā dhammavinayā apapatito’ti vuccati. Ariyāya, bhikkhave, paññāya samannāgato ‘imasmā dhammavinayā apapatito’ti vuccati. Ariyāya, bhikkhave, vimuttiyā samannāgato ‘imasmā dhammavinayā apapatito’ti vuccati. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato ‘imasmā dhammavinayā apapatito’ti vuccatīti.

Cutā patanti patitā,
giddhā ca punarāgatā;
Kataṁ kiccaṁ rataṁ rammaṁ,
sukhenānvāgataṁ sukhan”ti.

Dutiyaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi asamannāgato ‘imasmā dhammavinayā papatito’ti vuccati.

“Someone without four things is said to have ‘fallen from this teaching and training’.

Katamehi catūhi?

What four?

Ariyena, bhikkhave, sīlena asamannāgato ‘imasmā dhammavinayā papatito’ti vuccati.

Noble ethics,

Ariyena, bhikkhave, samādhinā asamannāgato ‘imasmā dhammavinayā papatito’ti vuccati.

immersion,

Ariyāya, bhikkhave, paññāya asamannāgato ‘imasmā dhammavinayā papatito’ti vuccati.

wisdom,

Ariyāya, bhikkhave, vimuttiyā asamannāgato ‘imasmā dhammavinayā papatito’ti vuccati.

and freedom.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi asamannāgato ‘imasmā dhammavinayā papatito’ti vuccati.

Someone without these four things is said to have ‘fallen from this teaching and training’.

Catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato ‘imasmā dhammavinayā apapatito’ti vuccati.

Someone with four things is said to be ‘secure in this teaching and training’.

Katamehi catūhi?

What four?

Ariyena, bhikkhave, sīlena samannāgato ‘imasmā dhammavinayā apapatito’ti vuccati.

Noble ethics,

Ariyena, bhikkhave, samādhinā samannāgato ‘imasmā dhammavinayā apapatito’ti vuccati.

immersion,

Ariyāya, bhikkhave, paññāya samannāgato ‘imasmā dhammavinayā apapatito’ti vuccati.

wisdom,

Ariyāya, bhikkhave, vimuttiyā samannāgato ‘imasmā dhammavinayā apapatito’ti vuccati.

and freedom.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato ‘imasmā dhammavinayā apapatito’ti vuccatīti.

Someone with these four things is said to be ‘secure in this teaching and training’.

Cutā patanti patitā,

They fall, collapsed and fallen;

giddhā ca punarāgatā;

greedy, they return.

Kataṁ kiccaṁ rataṁ rammaṁ,

The work is done, the joyful is enjoyed,

sukhenānvāgataṁ sukhan”ti.

happiness is found through happiness.”

Dutiyaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Collectedness

Collectedness

A mental quality of composure where awareness is gathered, steady, rather than scattered or tense. In such collectedness, supported by mindfulness and right view, experience is clearly known and can be wisely contemplated.

Also known as: mental composure, stability of mind, stillness of mind, concentration, undistracted awareness
Pāli: samādhi, samāhita, susamāhita, sammāsamādhi
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Craving

Craving

A driving ‘thirst’ that reaches out toward experiences, identities, or outcomes as the place to find satisfaction—“if only I had that.” It spins stories of lack, binds the mind to becoming, and invariably leads to suffering.

Also known as: wanting, yearning, longing, lit. thirst
Pāli: taṇha, abhijjhā
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Ethical conduct

Ethical conduct

A disciplined way of living grounded in harmlessness and integrity. Ethical conduct restrains the body and speech from harm, purifies behavior, and forms the foundation for collectedness and wisdom.

Also known as: moral integrity, right action, virtue
Pāli: sīla, sammākammanta
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Happiness

Happiness

Bodily ease and comfort; a pleasant feeling experienced with the body. In the third jhāna, one dwells experiencing this pleasure with the body. It is abandoned, along with bodily pain, for the fourth jhāna to arise.

Also known as: pleasant abiding, positive state of mind, sense of ease
Pāli: sukha
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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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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