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Aṅguttara Nikāya - The Numerical Discourses

4: The Book of the Fours

IV. Situations — AN 4.34: The Best Kinds of Confidence

1“Mendicants, these four kinds of confidence are the best. What four?

The Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha, is said to be the best of all sentient beings — be they footless, with two feet, four feet, or many feet; with form or formless; with perception or without perception or with neither perception nor non-perception. Those who have confidence in the Buddha have confidence in the best. Having confidence in the best, the result is the best.

2The noble eightfold path is said to be the best of all conditioned things. Those who have confidence in the noble eightfold path have confidence in the best. Having confidence in the best, the result is the best.

3Fading away is said to be the best of all things whether conditioned or unconditioned. That is, the quelling of vanity, the removing of thirst, the abolishing of clinging, the breaking of the round, the ending of craving, fading away, cessation, extinguishment. Those who have confidence in the teaching of fading away have confidence in the best. Having confidence in the best, the result is the best.

4The Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples is said to be the best of all communities and groups, namely the four pairs, the eight individuals. This is the Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples that is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of greeting with joined palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world. Those who have confidence in the Saṅgha have confidence in the best. Having confidence in the best, the result is the best.


These are the four best kinds of confidence.

5For those who, knowing the best teaching,
base their confidence on the best —
confident in the best Awakened One,
supremely worthy of a religious donation;

6confident in the best teaching,
the bliss of fading and stilling;
confident in the best Saṅgha,
the supreme field of merit —

7giving gifts to the best,
the best of merit grows:
the best lifespan, beauty,
fame, reputation, happiness, and strength.

8An intelligent person gives to the best,
settled on the best teaching.
When they become a god or human,
they rejoice at reaching the best.”

1"Cattārome, bhikkhave, aggappasādā. Katame cattāro?

Yāvatā, bhikkhave, sattā apadā vā dvipadā vā catuppadā vā bahuppadā vā rūpino vā arūpino vā saññino vā asaññino vā nevasaññināsaññino vā, tathāgato tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati arahaṁ sammāsambuddho. Ye, bhikkhave, buddhe pasannā, agge te pasannā. Agge kho pana pasannānaṁ aggo vipāko hoti.

2Yāvatā, bhikkhave, dhammā saṅkhatā, ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati. Ye, bhikkhave, ariye aṭṭhaṅgike magge pasannā, agge te pasannā. Agge kho pana pasannānaṁ aggo vipāko hoti.

3Yāvatā, bhikkhave, dhammā saṅkhatā vā asaṅkhatā vā, virāgo tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati, yadidaṁ madanimmadano pipāsavinayo ālayasamugghāto vaṭṭupacchedo taṇhākkhayo virāgo nirodho nibbānaṁ. Ye, bhikkhave, virāge dhamme pasannā, agge te pasannā. Agge kho pana pasannānaṁ aggo vipāko hoti.

4Yāvatā, bhikkhave, saṅghā vā gaṇā vā, tathāgatasāvakasaṅgho tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati, yadidaṁ cattāri purisayugāni aṭṭha purisapuggalā esa bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho āhuneyyo pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo añjalikaraṇīyo anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassa. Ye, bhikkhave, saṅghe pasannā, agge te pasannā. Agge kho pana pasannānaṁ aggo vipāko hoti.


Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro aggappasādāti.

5Aggato ve pasannānaṁ,
aggaṁ dhammaṁ vijānataṁ;
Agge buddhe pasannānaṁ,
dakkhiṇeyye anuttare.

6Agge dhamme pasannānaṁ,
virāgūpasame sukhe;
Agge saṅghe pasannānaṁ,
puññakkhette anuttare.

7Aggasmiṁ dānaṁ dadataṁ,
aggaṁ puññaṁ pavaḍḍhati;
Aggaṁ āyu ca vaṇṇo ca,
yaso kitti sukhaṁ balaṁ.

8Aggassa dātā medhāvī,
aggadhammasamāhito;
Devabhūto manusso vā,
aggappatto pamodatī"ti.

Catutthaṁ.