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

AN 4.241 Ascetics

“‘Idheva, bhikkhave, paṭhamo samaṇo, idha dutiyo samaṇo, idha tatiyo samaṇo, idha catuttho samaṇo; suññā parappavādā samaṇehi aññehī’ti evametaṁ, bhikkhave, sammā sīhanādaṁ nadatha.

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, paṭhamo samaṇo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu tiṇṇaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā sotāpanno hoti avinipātadhammo niyato sambodhiparāyaṇo. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo samaṇo.

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, dutiyo samaṇo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu tiṇṇaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā rāgadosamohānaṁ tanuttā sakadāgāmī hoti, sakideva imaṁ lokaṁ āgantvā dukkhassantaṁ karoti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyo samaṇo.

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, tatiyo samaṇo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā opapātiko hoti tattha parinibbāyī anāvattidhammo tasmā lokā. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, tatiyo samaṇo.

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, catuttho samaṇo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, catuttho samaṇo.

‘Idheva, bhikkhave, paṭhamo samaṇo, idha dutiyo samaṇo, idha tatiyo samaṇo, idha catuttho samaṇo; suññā parappavādā samaṇebhi aññehī’ti evametaṁ, bhikkhave, sammā sīhanādaṁ nadathā”ti.

Dasamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“‘Idheva, bhikkhave, paṭhamo samaṇo, idha dutiyo samaṇo, idha tatiyo samaṇo, idha catuttho samaṇo;

“‘Only here is there a first ascetic, here a second ascetic, here a third ascetic, and here a fourth ascetic.

suññā parappavādā samaṇehi aññehī’ti

Other sects are empty of ascetics.’

evametaṁ, bhikkhave, sammā sīhanādaṁ nadatha.

This, mendicants, is how you should rightly roar your lion’s roar.

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, paṭhamo samaṇo?

And who is the first ascetic?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu tiṇṇaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā sotāpanno hoti avinipātadhammo niyato sambodhiparāyaṇo.

It’s a mendicant who—with the ending of three fetters—is a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo samaṇo.

This is the first ascetic.

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, dutiyo samaṇo?

And who is the second ascetic?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu tiṇṇaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā rāgadosamohānaṁ tanuttā sakadāgāmī hoti, sakideva imaṁ lokaṁ āgantvā dukkhassantaṁ karoti.

It’s a mendicant who—with the ending of three fetters, and the weakening of greed, hate, and delusion—is a once-returner. They come back to this world once only, then make an end of suffering.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyo samaṇo.

This is the second ascetic.

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, tatiyo samaṇo?

And who is the third ascetic?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā opapātiko hoti tattha parinibbāyī anāvattidhammo tasmā lokā.

It’s a mendicant who—with the ending of the five lower fetters—is reborn spontaneously. They’re extinguished there, and are not liable to return from that world.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, tatiyo samaṇo.

This is the third ascetic.

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, catuttho samaṇo?

And who is the fourth ascetic?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati.

It’s a mendicant who realizes the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom in this very life. And they live having realized it with their own insight due to the ending of defilements.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, catuttho samaṇo.

This is the fourth ascetic.

‘Idheva, bhikkhave, paṭhamo samaṇo, idha dutiyo samaṇo, idha tatiyo samaṇo, idha catuttho samaṇo;

‘Only here is there a first ascetic, here a second ascetic, here a third ascetic, and here a fourth ascetic.

suññā parappavādā samaṇebhi aññehī’ti

Other sects are empty of ascetics.’

evametaṁ, bhikkhave, sammā sīhanādaṁ nadathā”ti.

This, mendicants, is how you should rightly roar your lion’s roar.”

Dasamaṁ.

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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Greed

Greed

A grasping mental quality of craving, possessiveness, or lustful wanting that clings to objects or experiences; it fuels attachment and obstructs renunciation and contentment

Also known as: acquisitiveness, avarice, covetousness, rapacity, money grabbing, grabbiness
Pāli: lobha, gedha
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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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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