The Buddha teaches the four factors of stream-entry—experiential confidence in the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha, and ethical conduct loved by the noble ones—showing how they protect a noble disciple from loss and lead to heaven, regarding in common with the gods.

SN 55.36 In Common With the Gods

“Catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgataṁ attamanā devā sabhāgataṁ kathenti. Katamehi catūhi? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti. devatā buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgatā ito cutā tatrūpapannā tāsaṁ evaṁ hoti: ‘yathārūpena kho mayaṁ buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgatā tato cutā idhūpapannā, ariyasāvakopi tathārūpena buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato ehīti devānaṁ santike’ti.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako dhamme …pe… saṅghe …pe… ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato hoti akhaṇḍehi …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikehi. devatā ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgatā ito cutā tatrūpapannā tāsaṁ evaṁ hoti: ‘yathārūpehi kho mayaṁ ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgatā tato cutā idhūpapannā, ariyasāvakopi tathārūpehi ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato ehīti devānaṁ santike’ti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi samannāgataṁ attamanā devā sabhāgataṁ kathentī”ti.

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgataṁ attamanā devā sabhāgataṁ kathenti.

“Mendicants, when someone has four things the gods are pleased and speak of what they have in common.

Katamehi catūhi?

What four?

Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti

Firstly, a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the Buddha …

itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti.

devatā buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgatā ito cutā tatrūpapannā tāsaṁ evaṁ hoti:

There are deities with experiential confidence in the Buddha who passed away from here and were reborn there. They think:

‘yathārūpena kho mayaṁ buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgatā tato cutā idhūpapannā, ariyasāvakopi tathārūpena buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato ehīti devānaṁ santike’ti.

‘Having such experiential confidence in the Buddha, we passed away from there and were reborn here. That noble disciple possesses the same kind of experiential confidence in the Buddha, so they will come into the presence of the gods.’

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako dhamme …pe…

Furthermore, a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the teaching …

saṅghe …pe…

the Saṅgha …

ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato hoti akhaṇḍehi …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikehi.

And they have the ethical conduct loved by the noble ones … leading to immersion.

devatā ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgatā ito cutā tatrūpapannā tāsaṁ evaṁ hoti:

There are deities with the ethical conduct loved by the noble ones who passed away from here and were reborn there. They think:

‘yathārūpehi kho mayaṁ ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgatā tato cutā idhūpapannā, ariyasāvakopi tathārūpehi ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato ehīti devānaṁ santike’ti.

‘Having such ethical conduct loved by the noble ones, we passed away from there and were reborn here. That noble disciple possesses the same kind of ethical conduct loved by the noble ones, so they will come into the presence of the gods.’

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi samannāgataṁ attamanā devā sabhāgataṁ kathentī”ti.

When someone has four things the gods are pleased and speak of what they have in common.”

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Collectedness

Collectedness

A mental quality of composure where awareness is gathered, steady, rather than scattered or tense. In such collectedness, supported by mindfulness and right view, experience is clearly known and can be wisely contemplated.

Also known as: mental composure, stability of mind, stillness of mind, concentration, undistracted awareness
Pāli: samādhi, samāhita, susamāhita, sammāsamādhi
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Ethical conduct

Ethical conduct

A disciplined way of living grounded in harmlessness and integrity. Ethical conduct restrains the body and speech from harm, purifies behavior, and forms the foundation for collectedness and wisdom.

Also known as: moral integrity, right action, virtue
Pāli: sīla, sammākammanta
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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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Mindfulness

Mindfulness

Active presence of mind and lucid retention; the faculty that remembers the Dhamma, anchors attention to the chosen object or present experience, and guards the mind against unwholesome states.

Also known as: recollecting, remembering, keeping in mind, presence, awareness
Pāli: sati, anussati
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Last updated on July 27, 2026