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Aṅguttara Nikāya - The Numerical Discourses

4: The Book of the Fours

XIV. Persons — AN 4.138: Retreat

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


One is on retreat in body, but not mind;

one is on retreat in mind, but not body;

one is on retreat in neither body nor mind; and

one is on retreat in both body and mind.


2And how is a person on retreat in body, but not mind? It’s when a person frequents remote lodgings in the wilderness and the forest. But they think sensual, malicious, and cruel thoughts. That’s how a person is on retreat in body, but not mind.

3And how is a person on retreat in mind, but not body? It’s when a person doesn’t frequent remote lodgings in the wilderness and the forest. But they think thoughts of renunciation, good will, and harmlessness. That’s how a person is on retreat in mind, but not body.

4And how is a person on retreat in neither body nor mind? It’s when a person doesn’t frequent remote lodgings in the wilderness and the forest. And they think sensual, malicious, and cruel thoughts. That’s how a person is on retreat in neither body nor mind.

5And how is a person on retreat in both body and mind? It’s when a person frequents remote lodgings in the wilderness and the forest. And they think thoughts of renunciation, good will, and harmlessness. That’s how a person is on retreat in both body and mind.

These are the four people found in the world.”

1"Cattārome, bhikkhave, puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ. Katame cattāro?


Nikaṭṭhakāyo anikaṭṭhacitto,

anikaṭṭhakāyo nikaṭṭhacitto,

anikaṭṭhakāyo ca anikaṭṭhacitto ca,

nikaṭṭhakāyo ca nikaṭṭhacitto ca.


2Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo nikaṭṭhakāyo hoti anikaṭṭhacitto? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevati. So tattha kāmavitakkampi vitakketi byāpādavitakkampi vitakketi vihiṁsāvitakkampi vitakketi. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo nikaṭṭhakāyo hoti anikaṭṭhacitto.

3Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo anikaṭṭhakāyo hoti nikaṭṭhacitto? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo naheva kho araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevati. So tattha nekkhammavitakkampi vitakketi abyāpādavitakkampi vitakketi avihiṁsāvitakkampi vitakketi. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo anikaṭṭhakāyo hoti nikaṭṭhacitto.

4Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo anikaṭṭhakāyo ca hoti anikaṭṭhacitto ca? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo naheva kho araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevati. So tattha kāmavitakkampi vitakketi byāpādavitakkampi vitakketi vihiṁsāvitakkampi vitakketi. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo anikaṭṭhakāyo ca hoti anikaṭṭhacitto ca.

5Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo nikaṭṭhakāyo ca hoti nikaṭṭhacitto ca? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevati. So tattha nekkhammavitakkampi vitakketi abyāpādavitakkampi vitakketi avihiṁsāvitakkampi vitakketi. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo nikaṭṭhakāyo ca hoti nikaṭṭhacitto ca.


Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmin"ti.

Aṭṭhamaṁ.