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← Aṅguttara Nikāya

Extra Effort

AN 4.169 · Sasaṅkhārasutta

A still pool reflects willow branches within a dry stony streambed.

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

  1. One individual is fully extinguished in this very life by making extra effort.
  2. One individual is fully extinguished when the body breaks up by making extra effort.
  3. One individual is fully extinguished in this very life without making extra effort.
  4. One individual is fully extinguished when the body breaks up without making extra effort.

And how is an individual fully extinguished in this very life by making extra effort? It’s when a mendicant meditates observing the ugliness of the body, perceives the repulsiveness of food, perceives dissatisfaction with the whole world, observes the impermanence of all conditions, and has well established the perception of their own death. They rely on these five powers of a trainee: faith, conscience, prudence, energy, and wisdom. And these five faculties manifest in them strongly: faith, energy, mindfulness, immersion, and wisdom. Because of the strength of the five faculties, they are fully extinguished in this very life by making extra effort. That’s how an individual is fully extinguished in this very life by making extra effort.

How is an individual fully extinguished when the body breaks up by making extra effort? It’s when a mendicant meditates observing the ugliness of the body, perceives the repulsiveness of food, perceives dissatisfaction with the whole world, observes the impermanence of all conditions, and has well established the perception of their own death. They rely on these five powers of a trainee: faith, conscience, prudence, energy, and wisdom. But these five faculties manifest in them weakly: faith, energy, mindfulness, immersion, and wisdom. Because of the weakness of the five faculties, they are fully extinguished when the body breaks up by making extra effort. That’s how an individual is fully extinguished when the body breaks up by making extra effort.

And how is an individual fully extinguished in this very life without making extra effort? It’s when a mendicant … enters and remains in the first absorption … second absorption … third absorption … fourth absorption … They rely on these five powers of a trainee: faith, conscience, prudence, energy, and wisdom. And these five faculties manifest in them strongly: faith, energy, mindfulness, immersion, and wisdom. Because of the strength of the five faculties, they are fully extinguished in this very life without making extra effort. That’s how an individual is fully extinguished in this very life without making extra effort.

And how is an individual fully extinguished when the body breaks up without making extra effort? It’s when a mendicant … enters and remains in the first absorption … second absorption … third absorption … fourth absorption … They rely on these five powers of a trainee: faith, conscience, prudence, energy, and wisdom. But these five faculties manifest in them weakly: faith, energy, mindfulness, immersion, and wisdom. Because of the weakness of the five faculties, they are fully extinguished when the body breaks up without making extra effort. That’s how an individual is fully extinguished when the body breaks up without making extra effort.

These are the four individuals found in the world.”

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Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato · SuttaCentral · CC0

This translation is an expression of an ancient spiritual text that has been passed down by the Buddhist tradition for the benefit of all sentient beings. It is dedicated to the public domain via Creative Commons Zero (CC0). You are encouraged to copy, reproduce, adapt, alter, or otherwise make use of this translation. The translator respectfully requests that any use be in accordance with the values and principles of the Buddhist community. In particular, please do not use this work in AI training datasets, for the development of any AI model or algorithm, or in any AI-derived technologies.

Published source. Translation wording and order are preserved; source headings and notes are retained, with navigation and formatting adapted for this reader.

The opening image is AI-generated nature artwork for Buddhist Atlas, an evocative companion rather than a historical depiction.