The four kinds of clinging - 1) clinging to sensual pleasures, 2) clinging to views, 3) clinging to rules and observances, and 4) clinging to a doctrine of self - are described in brief. The Noble Eightfold Path is the way for direct knowledge, full understanding, complete exhaustion, and giving up of these four kinds of clinging.
“Cattārimāni, bhikkhave, upādānāni. Katamāni cattāri? Kāmupādānaṁ, diṭṭhupādānaṁ, sīlabbatupādānaṁ, attavādupādānaṁ—imāni kho, bhikkhave, cattāri upādānāni.
“Bhikkhus, there are these four kinds of |clinging::grasping, acquiring, appropriating, taking possession, identifying; fuel for fire; lit. taking near [upādāna]|. What four? 1) Clinging to sensual pleasures, 2) |clinging to views::clinging to beliefs [diṭṭhupādāna]|, 3) |clinging to rules and observances::grasping at precepts and practices, adherence to rites and rituals [sīlabbatupādāna]|, and 4) |clinging to a doctrine of self::grasping at a theory of self, attachment to a soul theory [attavādupādāna]|. These are the four kinds of clinging.
Imesaṁ kho, bhikkhave, catunnaṁ upādānānaṁ abhiññāya pariññāya parikkhayāya pahānāya …pe… ayaṁ ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo bhāvetabbo”ti.
Bhikkhus, for the |direct knowledge::experiential understanding [abhiññāya]|, |full understanding::complete comprehension [pariññāya]|, |complete exhaustion::gradual and complete wearing away [parikkhaya]|, and for |giving up::letting go, abandoning [pahāna]| of these four kinds of clinging, the Noble Eightfold Path |should be cultivated::should be developed [bhāvetabba]|.”
“Bhikkhus, there are these four kinds of |clinging::grasping, acquiring, appropriating, taking possession, identifying; fuel for fire; lit. taking near [upādāna]|. What four? 1) Clinging to sensual pleasures, 2) |clinging to views::clinging to beliefs [diṭṭhupādāna]|, 3) |clinging to rules and observances::grasping at precepts and practices, adherence to rites and rituals [sīlabbatupādāna]|, and 4) |clinging to a doctrine of self::grasping at a theory of self, attachment to a soul theory [attavādupādāna]|. These are the four kinds of clinging.
Bhikkhus, for the |direct knowledge::experiential understanding [abhiññāya]|, |full understanding::complete comprehension [pariññāya]|, |complete exhaustion::gradual and complete wearing away [parikkhaya]|, and for |giving up::letting go, abandoning [pahāna]| of these four kinds of clinging, the Noble Eightfold Path |should be cultivated::should be developed [bhāvetabba]|.”
“Cattārimāni, bhikkhave, upādānāni. Katamāni cattāri? Kāmupādānaṁ, diṭṭhupādānaṁ, sīlabbatupādānaṁ, attavādupādānaṁ—imāni kho, bhikkhave, cattāri upādānāni.
Imesaṁ kho, bhikkhave, catunnaṁ upādānānaṁ abhiññāya pariññāya parikkhayāya pahānāya …pe… ayaṁ ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo bhāvetabbo”ti.