The four things that should be fully comprehended, abandoned, developed, and personally realized by directly knowing.

AN 4.254  Abhiññā sutta - directly knowing

“Cattārome, bhikkhave, dhammā. Katame cattāro? Atthi, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā pariññeyyā; atthi, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā pahātabbā; atthi, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā bhāvetabbā; atthi, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā sacchikātabbā.

“Bhikkhus, these are the four things. What four? There are, bhikkhus, things that should be fully comprehended by directly knowing; there are, bhikkhus, things that should be abandoned by directly knowing; there are, bhikkhus, things that should be developed by directly knowing; there are, bhikkhus, things that should be personally realized by directly knowing.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā pariññeyyā? Pañcupādānakkhandhāime vuccanti, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā pariññeyyā.

And what, bhikkhus, are the things that should be fully comprehended by directly knowing? The five aggregates subject to clinging — these are called, bhikkhus, the things that should be fully comprehended by directly knowing.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā pahātabbā? Avijjā ca bhavataṇhā caime vuccanti, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā pahātabbā.

And what, bhikkhus, are the things that should be abandoned by directly knowing? |Ignorance::fundamental unawareness or misunderstanding of the true nature of reality, not experientially understanding the four noble truths [avijjā]| and craving for |existence::being, becoming; continued conditional existence, the karmically conditioned mode of being that leads to future rebirth [bhava]| — these are called, bhikkhus, the things that should be abandoned by directly knowing.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā bhāvetabbā? Samatho ca vipassanā caime vuccanti, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā bhāvetabbā.

And what, bhikkhus, are the things that should be developed by directly knowing? Tranquility and insight — these are called, bhikkhus, the things that should be developed by directly knowing.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā sacchikātabbā? Vijjā ca vimutti caime vuccanti, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā sacchikātabbā.

And what, bhikkhus, are the things that should be personally realized by directly knowing? Wisdom and liberation — these are called, bhikkhus, the things that should be realized by directly knowing.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro dhammā”ti.

These, indeed, bhikkhus, are the four things.”

Last updated on June 7, 2026