The Buddha teaches on living together (1st), presenting a fourfold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 4.53 Living Together (1st)

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā antarā ca madhuraṁ antarā ca verañjaṁ addhānamaggappaṭipanno hoti. Sambahulāpi kho gahapatī ca gahapatāniyo ca antarā ca madhuraṁ antarā ca verañjaṁ addhānamaggappaṭipannā honti. Atha kho bhagavā maggā okkamma aññatarasmiṁ rukkhamūle (…) nisīdi. Addasaṁsu kho gahapatī ca gahapatāniyo ca bhagavantaṁ aññatarasmiṁ rukkhamūle nisinnaṁ.

Disvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinne kho te gahapatī ca gahapatāniyo ca bhagavā etadavoca:

“Cattārome, gahapatayo, saṁvāsā. Katame cattāro?

Chavo chavāya saddhiṁ saṁvasati,

chavo deviyā saddhiṁ saṁvasati,

devo chavāya saddhiṁ saṁvasati,

devo deviyā saddhiṁ saṁvasati.

Kathañca, gahapatayo, chavo chavāya saddhiṁ saṁvasati? Idha, gahapatayo, sāmiko hoti pāṇātipātī adinnādāyī kāmesumicchācārī musāvādī surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhāyī dussīlo pāpadhammo maccheramalapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati akkosakaparibhāsako samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ; bhariyāpissa hoti pāṇātipātinī adinnādāyinī kāmesumicchācārinī musāvādinī surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhāyinī dussīlā pāpadhammā maccheramalapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati akkosikaparibhāsikā samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ. Evaṁ kho, gahapatayo, chavo chavāya saddhiṁ saṁvasati.

Kathañca, gahapatayo, chavo deviyā saddhiṁ saṁvasati? Idha, gahapatayo, sāmiko hoti pāṇātipātī adinnādāyī kāmesumicchācārī musāvādī surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhāyī dussīlo pāpadhammo maccheramalapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati akkosakaparibhāsako samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ; bhariyā khvassa hoti pāṇātipātā paṭiviratā adinnādānā paṭiviratā kāmesumicchācārā paṭiviratā musāvādā paṭiviratā surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭiviratā sīlavatī kalyāṇadhammā vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati anakkosikaparibhāsikā samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ. Evaṁ kho, gahapatayo, chavo deviyā saddhiṁ saṁvasati.

Kathañca, gahapatayo, devo chavāya saddhiṁ saṁvasati? Idha, gahapatayo, sāmiko hoti pāṇātipātā paṭivirato adinnādānā paṭivirato kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato musāvādā paṭivirato surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato sīlavā kalyāṇadhammo vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati anakkosakaparibhāsako samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ; bhariyā khvassa hoti pāṇātipātinī …pe… surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhāyinī dussīlā pāpadhammā maccheramalapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati akkosikaparibhāsikā samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ. Evaṁ kho, gahapatayo, devo chavāya saddhiṁ saṁvasati.

Kathañca, gahapatayo, devo deviyā saddhiṁ saṁvasati? Idha, gahapatayo, sāmiko hoti pāṇātipātā paṭivirato …pe… sīlavā kalyāṇadhammo vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati anakkosakaparibhāsako samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ; bhariyāpissa hoti pāṇātipātā paṭiviratā …pe… surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭiviratā sīlavatī kalyāṇadhammā vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati anakkosikaparibhāsikā samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ. Evaṁ kho, gahapatayo, devo deviyā saddhiṁ saṁvasati.

Ime kho, gahapatayo, cattāro saṁvāsāti.

Ubho ca honti dussīlā,
kadariyā paribhāsakā;
Te honti jānipatayo,
chavā saṁvāsamāgatā.

Sāmiko hoti dussīlo,
kadariyo paribhāsako;
Bhariyā sīlavatī hoti,
vadaññū vītamaccharā;
Sāpi devī saṁvasati,
chavena patinā saha.

Sāmiko sīlavā hoti,
vadaññū vītamaccharo;
Bhariyā hoti dussīlā,
kadariyā paribhāsikā;
Sāpi chavā saṁvasati,
devena patinā saha.

Ubho saddhā vadaññū ca,
saññatā dhammajīvino;
Te honti jānipatayo,
aññamaññaṁ piyaṁvadā.

Atthāsaṁ pacurā honti,
phāsukaṁ upajāyati;
Amittā dummanā honti,
ubhinnaṁ samasīlinaṁ.

Idha dhammaṁ caritvāna,
samasīlabbatā ubho;
Nandino devalokasmiṁ,
modanti kāmakāmino”ti.

Tatiyaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā antarā ca madhuraṁ antarā ca verañjaṁ addhānamaggappaṭipanno hoti.

At one time the Buddha was traveling along the road between Madhurā and Verañjā,

Sambahulāpi kho gahapatī ca gahapatāniyo ca antarā ca madhuraṁ antarā ca verañjaṁ addhānamaggappaṭipannā honti.

as were several householders, both women and men.

Atha kho bhagavā maggā okkamma aññatarasmiṁ rukkhamūle (…) nisīdi.

The Buddha left the road and sat at the root of a tree,

Addasaṁsu kho gahapatī ca gahapatāniyo ca bhagavantaṁ aññatarasmiṁ rukkhamūle nisinnaṁ.

where the householders saw him.

Disvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinne kho te gahapatī ca gahapatāniyo ca bhagavā etadavoca:

They went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to them:

“Cattārome, gahapatayo, saṁvāsā.

“Householders, there are four ways of living together.

Katame cattāro?

What four?

Chavo chavāya saddhiṁ saṁvasati,

A male zombie living with a female zombie;

chavo deviyā saddhiṁ saṁvasati,

a male zombie living with a goddess;

devo chavāya saddhiṁ saṁvasati,

a god living with a female zombie;

devo deviyā saddhiṁ saṁvasati.

a god living with a goddess.

Kathañca, gahapatayo, chavo chavāya saddhiṁ saṁvasati?

And how does a male zombie live with a female zombie?

Idha, gahapatayo, sāmiko hoti pāṇātipātī adinnādāyī kāmesumicchācārī musāvādī surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhāyī dussīlo pāpadhammo maccheramalapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati akkosakaparibhāsako samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ;

It’s when the husband kills living creatures, steals, commits sexual misconduct, lies, and consumes intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. He’s unethical, of bad character, living at home with his heart full of the stain of stinginess, abusing and insulting ascetics and brahmins.

bhariyāpissa hoti pāṇātipātinī adinnādāyinī kāmesumicchācārinī musāvādinī surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhāyinī dussīlā pāpadhammā maccheramalapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati akkosikaparibhāsikā samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ.

And the wife is also … unethical, of bad character …

Evaṁ kho, gahapatayo, chavo chavāya saddhiṁ saṁvasati.

That’s how a male zombie lives with a female zombie.

Kathañca, gahapatayo, chavo deviyā saddhiṁ saṁvasati?

And how does a male zombie live with a goddess?

Idha, gahapatayo, sāmiko hoti pāṇātipātī adinnādāyī kāmesumicchācārī musāvādī surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhāyī dussīlo pāpadhammo maccheramalapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati akkosakaparibhāsako samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ;

It’s when the husband … is unethical, of bad character …

bhariyā khvassa hoti pāṇātipātā paṭiviratā adinnādānā paṭiviratā kāmesumicchācārā paṭiviratā musāvādā paṭiviratā surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭiviratā sīlavatī kalyāṇadhammā vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati anakkosikaparibhāsikā samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ.

But the wife doesn’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. She’s ethical, of good character, living at home with her heart rid of the stain of stinginess, not abusing and insulting ascetics and brahmins.

Evaṁ kho, gahapatayo, chavo deviyā saddhiṁ saṁvasati.

That’s how a male zombie lives with a goddess.

Kathañca, gahapatayo, devo chavāya saddhiṁ saṁvasati?

And how does a god live with a female zombie?

Idha, gahapatayo, sāmiko hoti pāṇātipātā paṭivirato adinnādānā paṭivirato kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato musāvādā paṭivirato surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato sīlavā kalyāṇadhammo vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati anakkosakaparibhāsako samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ;

It’s when the husband … is ethical, of good character …

bhariyā khvassa hoti pāṇātipātinī …pe… surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhāyinī dussīlā pāpadhammā maccheramalapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati akkosikaparibhāsikā samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ.

But the wife … is unethical, of bad character …

Evaṁ kho, gahapatayo, devo chavāya saddhiṁ saṁvasati.

That’s how a god lives with a female zombie.

Kathañca, gahapatayo, devo deviyā saddhiṁ saṁvasati?

And how does a god live with a goddess?

Idha, gahapatayo, sāmiko hoti pāṇātipātā paṭivirato …pe… sīlavā kalyāṇadhammo vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati anakkosakaparibhāsako samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ;

It’s when the husband … is ethical, of good character …

bhariyāpissa hoti pāṇātipātā paṭiviratā …pe… surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭiviratā sīlavatī kalyāṇadhammā vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati anakkosikaparibhāsikā samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ.

And the wife is also … ethical, of good character …

Evaṁ kho, gahapatayo, devo deviyā saddhiṁ saṁvasati.

That’s how a god lives with a goddess.

Ime kho, gahapatayo, cattāro saṁvāsāti.

These are the four ways of living together.

Ubho ca honti dussīlā,

When both are unethical,

kadariyā paribhāsakā;

miserly and abusive,

Te honti jānipatayo,

then wife and husband

chavā saṁvāsamāgatā.

live together as zombies.

Sāmiko hoti dussīlo,

When the husband is unethical,

kadariyo paribhāsako;

miserly and abusive,

Bhariyā sīlavatī hoti,

but the wife is ethical,

vadaññū vītamaccharā;

bountiful, rid of stinginess,

Sāpi devī saṁvasati,

she’s a goddess living

chavena patinā saha.

with a zombie for a husband.

Sāmiko sīlavā hoti,

When the husband is ethical,

vadaññū vītamaccharo;

bountiful, rid of stinginess,

Bhariyā hoti dussīlā,

but the wife is unethical,

kadariyā paribhāsikā;

miserly and abusive,

Sāpi chavā saṁvasati,

she’s a zombie living

devena patinā saha.

with a god for a husband.

Ubho saddhā vadaññū ca,

When both are faithful and bountiful,

saññatā dhammajīvino;

disciplined, living righteously,

Te honti jānipatayo,

then wife and husband

aññamaññaṁ piyaṁvadā.

say nice things to each other.

Atthāsaṁ pacurā honti,

Their needs are amply satisfied,

phāsukaṁ upajāyati;

so they live at ease.

Amittā dummanā honti,

Their enemies are downhearted,

ubhinnaṁ samasīlinaṁ.

when both are equal in ethics.

Idha dhammaṁ caritvāna,

Having practiced the teaching here,

samasīlabbatā ubho;

both equal in precepts and observances,

Nandino devalokasmiṁ,

they delight in the heavenly realm,

modanti kāmakāmino”ti.

enjoying all the pleasures they desire.”

Tatiyaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Delight

Delight

A mental quality of relishing and taking pleasure in what is experienced—especially in sensuality or the prospect of continued becoming. When it fastens onto gratification, it nourishes craving and keeps the mind circling around what it wants to experience again.

Also known as: relishing, enjoyment, taking pleasure
Pāli: nandi, ārāmatā
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Desire

Desire

A wholesome motivation, interest, or objective that acts as the starting point for effort and application of will.

Also known as: aspiration, interest, wish, having an objective, intention, impulse
Pāli: chanda
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Harm

Harm

Intention or action that causes injury or suffering to oneself or others. It arises from aversion and heedlessness and destroys trust and safety. The opposite of non-harm, it obscures compassion and leads to regret.

Also known as: injury causing behavior, destructiveness, bad, evil
Pāli: pāpaka
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Sexual misconduct

Sexual misconduct

Transgression of boundaries in intimate relations—acting on desire in ways that betray trust, cause harm, or violate the commitments of oneself or others.

Also known as: crossing boundaries, infidelity, inappropriate sexual behavior, unfaithfulness to one's partner
Pāli: kāmesumicchācāra
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Stinginess

Stinginess

A contracted, possessive refusal to share what one has—whether material goods, knowledge, or status. It clings tightly to what is “mine,” fearing loss and closing the hand against generosity.

Also known as: miserliness, meanness, tight-fistedness
Pāli: macchariya
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Wholesome

Wholesome

Conducive to or suggestive of good health and mental well-being.

Also known as: blameless, skillful, beneficial, good, useful, healthy, nourishing, sustaining
Pāli: kusala
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Last updated on July 27, 2026