The Buddha describes the four individuals.

AN 4.65 Appearance

“Cattārome, bhikkhave, puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ. Katame cattāro? Rūpappamāṇo rūpappasanno, ghosappamāṇo ghosappasanno, lūkhappamāṇo lūkhappasanno, dhammappamāṇo dhammappasanno

Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasminti.

Ye ca rūpe pamāṇiṁsu,
ye ca ghosena anvagū;
Chandarāgavasūpetā,
nābhijānanti te janā.

Ajjhattañca na jānāti,
bahiddhā ca na passati;
Samantāvaraṇo bālo,
sa ve ghosena vuyhati.

Ajjhattañca na jānāti,
bahiddhā ca vipassati;
Bahiddhā phaladassāvī,
sopi ghosena vuyhati.

Ajjhattañca pajānāti,
bahiddhā ca vipassati;
Vinīvaraṇadassāvī,
na so ghosena vuyhatī”ti.

Pañcamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Cattārome, bhikkhave, puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ.

“Mendicants, these four individuals are found in the world.

Katame cattāro?

What four?

Rūpappamāṇo rūpappasanno, ghosappamāṇo ghosappasanno, lūkhappamāṇo lūkhappasanno, dhammappamāṇo dhammappasanno

There are those whose estimation of and confidence in others is based on their appearance, on their voice, on their mortification, and on principle.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasminti.

These are the four individuals found in the world.

Ye ca rūpe pamāṇiṁsu,

Those who judge on appearance,

ye ca ghosena anvagū;

and those swayed by a voice,

Chandarāgavasūpetā,

are full of desire and greed;

nābhijānanti te janā.

those people just don’t understand.

Ajjhattañca na jānāti,

Not knowing what’s inside,

bahiddhā ca na passati;

nor seeing what’s outside,

Samantāvaraṇo bālo,

the fool shut in on every side,

sa ve ghosena vuyhati.

gets carried away by a voice.

Ajjhattañca na jānāti,

Not knowing what’s inside,

bahiddhā ca vipassati;

but discerning what’s outside,

Bahiddhā phaladassāvī,

seeing the fruit outside,

sopi ghosena vuyhati.

they’re also carried away by a voice.

Ajjhattañca pajānāti,

Understanding what’s inside,

bahiddhā ca vipassati;

and discerning what’s outside,

Vinīvaraṇadassāvī,

seeing without hindrances,

na so ghosena vuyhatī”ti.

they don’t get carried away by a voice.”

Pañcamaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Craving

Craving

A driving ‘thirst’ that reaches out toward experiences, identities, or outcomes as the place to find satisfaction—“if only I had that.” It spins stories of lack, binds the mind to becoming, and invariably leads to suffering.

Also known as: wanting, yearning, longing, lit. thirst
Pāli: taṇha, abhijjhā
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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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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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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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Last updated on July 27, 2026