The Buddha describes the four ignoble searches—someone liable to old age searches only for what grows old, someone liable to sickness searches only for what gets sick, and someone liable to death searches only for what dies.

AN 4.255 Searches

“Catasso imā, bhikkhave, anariyapariyesanā. Katamā catasso? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco attanā jarādhammo samāno jarādhammaṁyeva pariyesati; attanā byādhidhammo samāno byādhidhammaṁyeva pariyesati; attanā maraṇadhammo samāno maraṇadhammaṁyeva pariyesati; attanā saṅkilesadhammo samāno saṅkilesadhammaṁyeva pariyesati. Imā kho, bhikkhave, catasso anariyapariyesanā.

Catasso imā, bhikkhave, ariyapariyesanā. Katamā catasso? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco attanā jarādhammo samāno jarādhamme ādīnavaṁ viditvā ajaraṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nibbānaṁ pariyesati; attanā byādhidhammo samāno byādhidhamme ādīnavaṁ viditvā abyādhiṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nibbānaṁ pariyesati; attanā maraṇadhammo samāno maraṇadhamme ādīnavaṁ viditvā amataṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nibbānaṁ pariyesati; attanā saṅkilesadhammo samāno saṅkilesadhamme ādīnavaṁ viditvā asaṅkiliṭṭhaṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nibbānaṁ pariyesati. Imā kho, bhikkhave, catasso ariyapariyesanā”ti.

Dutiyaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Catasso imā, bhikkhave, anariyapariyesanā.

“Mendicants, there are these four ignoble searches.

Katamā catasso?

What four?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco attanā jarādhammo samāno jarādhammaṁyeva pariyesati;

Someone liable to old age searches only for what grows old.

attanā byādhidhammo samāno byādhidhammaṁyeva pariyesati;

Someone liable to sickness searches only for what gets sick.

attanā maraṇadhammo samāno maraṇadhammaṁyeva pariyesati;

Someone liable to death searches only for what dies.

attanā saṅkilesadhammo samāno saṅkilesadhammaṁyeva pariyesati.

Someone liable to become corrupted searches only for what is defiled.

Imā kho, bhikkhave, catasso anariyapariyesanā.

These are the four ignoble searches.

Catasso imā, bhikkhave, ariyapariyesanā.

There are these four noble searches.

Katamā catasso?

What four?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco attanā jarādhammo samāno jarādhamme ādīnavaṁ viditvā ajaraṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nibbānaṁ pariyesati;

Someone who is liable to grow old, knowing the drawback in what grows old, searches for that which is free of old age, the supreme sanctuary from the yoke, extinguishment.

attanā byādhidhammo samāno byādhidhamme ādīnavaṁ viditvā abyādhiṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nibbānaṁ pariyesati;

Someone who is liable to get sick, knowing the drawback in what gets sick, searches for that which is free of sickness, the supreme sanctuary from the yoke, extinguishment.

attanā maraṇadhammo samāno maraṇadhamme ādīnavaṁ viditvā amataṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nibbānaṁ pariyesati;

Someone who is liable to die, knowing the drawback in what dies, searches for that which is free of death, the supreme sanctuary from the yoke, extinguishment.

attanā saṅkilesadhammo samāno saṅkilesadhamme ādīnavaṁ viditvā asaṅkiliṭṭhaṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nibbānaṁ pariyesati.

Someone liable to become corrupted, knowing the drawback in what is defiled, searches for the undefiled supreme sanctuary from the yoke, extinguishment.

Imā kho, bhikkhave, catasso ariyapariyesanā”ti.

These are the four noble searches.”

Dutiyaṁ.

Qualities:

Safety

Safety

A state of complete security and refuge where there is no threat from defilements or the turbulence of becoming. It is the peace of one who has found shelter from the storms of craving and has nothing left to lose or fear.

Also known as: sanctuary, security, at peace, rest
Pāli: khema
View all discourses →
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
View all discourses →

Last updated on July 27, 2026