The Buddha describes the four kinds of confidence—those who have confidence in the buddha have confidence in the best, having confidence in the best, and the result is the best.

AN 4.34 The Best Kinds of Confidence

“Cattārome, bhikkhave, aggappasādā. Katame cattāro?

Yāvatā, bhikkhave, sattā apadā dvipadā catuppadā bahuppadā rūpino arūpino saññino asaññino nevasaññināsaññino vā, tathāgato tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati arahaṁ sammāsambuddho. Ye, bhikkhave, buddhe pasannā, agge te pasannā. Agge kho pana pasannānaṁ aggo vipāko hoti.

Yāvatā, bhikkhave, dhammā saṅkhatā, ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati. Ye, bhikkhave, ariye aṭṭhaṅgike magge pasannā, agge te pasannā. Agge kho pana pasannānaṁ aggo vipāko hoti.

Yāvatā, bhikkhave, dhammā saṅkhatā asaṅkhatā vā, virāgo tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati, yadidaṁ madanimmadano pipāsavinayo ālayasamugghāto vaṭṭupacchedo taṇhākkhayo virāgo nirodho nibbānaṁ. Ye, bhikkhave, virāge dhamme pasannā, agge te pasannā. Agge kho pana pasannānaṁ aggo vipāko hoti.

Yāvatā, bhikkhave, saṅghā gaṇā vā, tathāgatasāvakasaṅgho tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati, yadidaṁ cattāri purisayugāni aṭṭha purisapuggalā esa bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho āhuneyyo pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo añjalikaraṇīyo anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassa. Ye, bhikkhave, saṅghe pasannā, agge te pasannā. Agge kho pana pasannānaṁ aggo vipāko hoti.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro aggappasādāti.

Aggato ve pasannānaṁ,
aggaṁ dhammaṁ vijānataṁ;
Agge buddhe pasannānaṁ,
dakkhiṇeyye anuttare.

Agge dhamme pasannānaṁ,
virāgūpasame sukhe;
Agge saṅghe pasannānaṁ,
puññakkhette anuttare.

Aggasmiṁ dānaṁ dadataṁ,
aggaṁ puññaṁ pavaḍḍhati;
Aggaṁ āyu ca vaṇṇo ca,
yaso kitti sukhaṁ balaṁ.

Aggassa dātā medhāvī,
aggadhammasamāhito;
Devabhūto manusso vā,
aggappatto pamodatī”ti.

Catutthaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Cattārome, bhikkhave, aggappasādā.

“Mendicants, these four kinds of confidence are the best.

Katame cattāro?

What four?

Yāvatā, bhikkhave, sattā apadā dvipadā catuppadā bahuppadā rūpino arūpino saññino asaññino nevasaññināsaññino vā, tathāgato tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati arahaṁ sammāsambuddho.

The Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha, is said to be the best of all sentient beings—be they footless, with two feet, four feet, or many feet; with form or formless; with perception or without perception or with neither perception nor non-perception.

Ye, bhikkhave, buddhe pasannā, agge te pasannā.

Those who have confidence in the Buddha have confidence in the best.

Agge kho pana pasannānaṁ aggo vipāko hoti.

Having confidence in the best, the result is the best.

Yāvatā, bhikkhave, dhammā saṅkhatā, ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati.

The noble eightfold path is said to be the best of all conditioned things.

Ye, bhikkhave, ariye aṭṭhaṅgike magge pasannā, agge te pasannā.

Those who have confidence in the noble eightfold path have confidence in the best.

Agge kho pana pasannānaṁ aggo vipāko hoti.

Having confidence in the best, the result is the best.

Yāvatā, bhikkhave, dhammā saṅkhatā asaṅkhatā vā, virāgo tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati, yadidaṁ madanimmadano pipāsavinayo ālayasamugghāto vaṭṭupacchedo taṇhākkhayo virāgo nirodho nibbānaṁ.

Fading away is said to be the best of all things whether conditioned or unconditioned. That is, the quelling of vanity, the removing of thirst, the abolishing of clinging, the breaking of the round, the ending of craving, fading away, cessation, extinguishment.

Ye, bhikkhave, virāge dhamme pasannā, agge te pasannā.

Those who have confidence in the teaching of fading away have confidence in the best.

Agge kho pana pasannānaṁ aggo vipāko hoti.

Having confidence in the best, the result is the best.

Yāvatā, bhikkhave, saṅghā gaṇā vā, tathāgatasāvakasaṅgho tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati, yadidaṁ cattāri purisayugāni aṭṭha purisapuggalā esa bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho āhuneyyo pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo añjalikaraṇīyo anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassa.

The Saṅgha of the Realized One’s disciples is said to be the best of all communities and groups. It consists of the four pairs, the eight individual persons. This is the Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples that is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of greeting with cupped palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.

Ye, bhikkhave, saṅghe pasannā, agge te pasannā.

Those who have confidence in the Saṅgha have confidence in the best.

Agge kho pana pasannānaṁ aggo vipāko hoti.

Having confidence in the best, the result is the best.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro aggappasādāti.

These are the four best kinds of confidence.

Aggato ve pasannānaṁ,

For those who, knowing the best teaching,

aggaṁ dhammaṁ vijānataṁ;

base their confidence on the best—

Agge buddhe pasannānaṁ,

confident in the best Awakened One,

dakkhiṇeyye anuttare.

supremely worthy of a religious donation;

Agge dhamme pasannānaṁ,

confident in the best teaching,

virāgūpasame sukhe;

the bliss of fading and stilling;

Agge saṅghe pasannānaṁ,

confident in the best Saṅgha,

puññakkhette anuttare.

the supreme field of merit—

Aggasmiṁ dānaṁ dadataṁ,

giving gifts to the best,

aggaṁ puññaṁ pavaḍḍhati;

the best of merit grows:

Aggaṁ āyu ca vaṇṇo ca,

the best lifespan, beauty,

yaso kitti sukhaṁ balaṁ.

fame, reputation, happiness, and strength.

Aggassa dātā medhāvī,

An intelligent person gives to the best,

aggadhammasamāhito;

settled on the best teaching.

Devabhūto manusso vā,

When they become a god or human,

aggappatto pamodatī”ti.

they rejoice at reaching the best.”

Catutthaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

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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Faith

Faith

Confidence in the Buddha's awakening and the efficacy of the path. It brightens and steadies the mind, removing doubt and inspiring energy toward wholesome practice. True faith rests on clarity and direct experience rather than mere belief.

Also known as: confidence, trust, belief, conviction, self-assurance
Pāli: saddha, pasanna
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Formless

Formless

A meditative domain that transcends all perception of material form, progressing through the bases of infinite space, infinite consciousness, nothingness, and neither-perception-nor-non-perception. These states represent refined levels of collectedness beyond attachment to physical phenomena.

Also known as: immaterial, surpassing forms
Pāli: arūpa
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Giving

Giving

The act of generosity, sharing, or offering to others without expecting anything in return. Giving is considered a foundational virtue in Buddhist practice, fostering selflessness and compassion.

Also known as: generosity, charity, donation, almsgiving, donating, philanthropy, providing with, gift with
Pāli: dāna
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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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Merit

Merit

Wholesome result of good conduct, generosity, and right intention. Merit brightens the mind and supports happiness and favorable conditions for practice.

Also known as: good deeds, spiritual wealth
Pāli: puñña, kalyāṇa
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Last updated on July 27, 2026