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

AN 4.237 The Noble Path

“Cattārimāni, bhikkhave, kammāni mayā sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā paveditāni. Katamāni cattāri?

Atthi, bhikkhave, kammaṁ kaṇhaṁ kaṇhavipākaṁ;

atthi, bhikkhave, kammaṁ sukkaṁ sukkavipākaṁ;

atthi, bhikkhave, kammaṁ kaṇhasukkaṁ kaṇhasukkavipākaṁ;

atthi, bhikkhave, kammaṁ akaṇhaasukkaṁ akaṇhaasukkavipākaṁ kammakkhayāya saṁvattati.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, kammaṁ kaṇhaṁ kaṇhavipākaṁ? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco sabyābajjhaṁ kāyasaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkharoti …pe… idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kammaṁ kaṇhaṁ kaṇhavipākaṁ.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, kammaṁ sukkaṁ sukkavipākaṁ? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco abyābajjhaṁ kāyasaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkharoti …pe… idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kammaṁ sukkaṁ sukkavipākaṁ.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, kammaṁ kaṇhasukkaṁ kaṇhasukkavipākaṁ? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco sabyābajjhampi abyābajjhampi kāyasaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkharoti …pe… idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kammaṁ kaṇhasukkaṁ kaṇhasukkavipākaṁ.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, kammaṁ akaṇhaasukkaṁ akaṇhaasukkavipākaṁ kammakkhayāya saṁvattati? Sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kammaṁ akaṇhaasukkaṁ akaṇhaasukkavipākaṁ kammakkhayāya saṁvattati.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, cattāri kammāni mayā sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā paveditānī”ti.

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Cattārimāni, bhikkhave, kammāni mayā sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā paveditāni.

“Mendicants, I declare these four kinds of deeds, having realized them with my own insight.

Katamāni cattāri?

What four?

Atthi, bhikkhave, kammaṁ kaṇhaṁ kaṇhavipākaṁ;

There are dark deeds with dark results;

atthi, bhikkhave, kammaṁ sukkaṁ sukkavipākaṁ;

bright deeds with bright results;

atthi, bhikkhave, kammaṁ kaṇhasukkaṁ kaṇhasukkavipākaṁ;

dark and bright deeds with dark and bright results; and

atthi, bhikkhave, kammaṁ akaṇhaasukkaṁ akaṇhaasukkavipākaṁ kammakkhayāya saṁvattati.

neither dark nor bright deeds with neither dark nor bright results, which lead to the ending of deeds.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, kammaṁ kaṇhaṁ kaṇhavipākaṁ?

And what are dark deeds with dark results?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco sabyābajjhaṁ kāyasaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkharoti …pe… idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kammaṁ kaṇhaṁ kaṇhavipākaṁ.

It’s when someone makes hurtful choices by way of body, speech, and mind. These are called dark deeds with dark results.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, kammaṁ sukkaṁ sukkavipākaṁ?

And what are bright deeds with bright results?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco abyābajjhaṁ kāyasaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkharoti …pe… idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kammaṁ sukkaṁ sukkavipākaṁ.

It’s when someone makes pleasing choices by way of body, speech, and mind. These are called bright deeds with bright results.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, kammaṁ kaṇhasukkaṁ kaṇhasukkavipākaṁ?

And what are dark and bright deeds with dark and bright results?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco sabyābajjhampi abyābajjhampi kāyasaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkharoti …pe… idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kammaṁ kaṇhasukkaṁ kaṇhasukkavipākaṁ.

It’s when someone makes both hurtful and pleasing choices by way of body, speech, and mind. These are called dark and bright deeds with dark and bright results.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, kammaṁ akaṇhaasukkaṁ akaṇhaasukkavipākaṁ kammakkhayāya saṁvattati?

And what are neither dark nor bright deeds with neither dark nor bright results, which lead to the ending of deeds?

Sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi.

Right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kammaṁ akaṇhaasukkaṁ akaṇhaasukkavipākaṁ kammakkhayāya saṁvattati.

These are called neither dark nor bright deeds with neither dark nor bright results, which lead to the ending of deeds.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, cattāri kammāni mayā sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā paveditānī”ti.

These are the four kinds of deeds that I declare, having realized them with my own insight.”

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Qualities:

Dearness

Dearness

A mental quality of holding something or someone as 'dear' through attachment, which binds the mind with craving and possessiveness. It is the external fixation upon what the mind clings to, often giving rise to envy, quarrels, and sorrow.

Also known as: beloved, cherished, pleasing
Pāli: piya
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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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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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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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Right effort

Right effort

Energy and resolve directed toward preventing unwholesome states from arising, abandoning arisen unwholesome states, cultivating wholesome states, and maintaining arisen wholesome states; persistent application of the mind aligned with the path.

Also known as: right endeavor, right striving
Pāli: sammāvāyāma, padhāna
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Right livelihood

Right livelihood

Means of living that does not cause harm to others or oneself; earning a living ethically without deceit, exploitation, or violence.

Also known as: correct livelihood, right mode of earning a living
Pāli: sammāājīva
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Last updated on July 27, 2026