AN 4 The Book of the Fours – Catukkanipāta > AN 4.5 With the Stream

Numbered Discourses 4.5 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.5

1. At Bhaṇḍa Village – 1. Bhaṇḍagāmavagga

AN 4.5 With the Stream – Anusotasutta

1.1

“These four people are found in the world.

“Cattārome, bhikkhave, puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ.

1.2

What four?

Katame cattāro?

1.3

A person who goes with the stream; a person who goes against the stream; a steadfast person; and a brahmin who has crossed over and stands on the far shore.

Anusotagāmī puggalo, paṭisotagāmī puggalo, ṭhitatto puggalo, tiṇṇo pāraṅgato thale tiṭṭhati brāhmaṇo.

1.4

And who is the person who goes with the stream?

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, anusotagāmī puggalo?

1.5

It’s a person who takes part in sensual pleasures and does bad deeds.

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo kāme ca paṭisevati, pāpañca kammaṁ karoti.

1.6

This is called a person who goes with the stream.

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, anusotagāmī puggalo.

2.1

And who is the person who goes against the stream?

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, paṭisotagāmī puggalo?

2.2

It’s a person who doesn’t take part in sensual pleasures or do bad deeds. They live the full and pure spiritual life in pain and sadness, weeping, with tearful faces.

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo kāme ca nappaṭisevati, pāpañca kammaṁ na karoti, sahāpi dukkhena sahāpi domanassena assumukhopi rudamāno paripuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ carati.

2.3

This is called a person who goes against the stream.

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, paṭisotagāmī puggalo.

3.1

And who is the steadfast person?

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, ṭhitatto puggalo?

3.2

It’s a person who, with the ending of the five lower fetters, is reborn spontaneously. They’re extinguished there, and are not liable to return from that world.

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā opapātiko hoti, tattha parinibbāyī, anāvattidhammo tasmā lokā.

3.3

This is called a steadfast person.

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ṭhitatto puggalo.

4.1

And who is a brahmin who has crossed over and stands on the far shore?

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, puggalo tiṇṇo pāraṅgato thale tiṭṭhati brāhmaṇo?

4.2

It’s a person who realizes the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom in this very life. And they live having realized it with their own insight due to the ending of defilements.

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati.

4.3

This is called a brahmin who has crossed over and stands on the far shore.

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, puggalo tiṇṇo pāraṅgato thale tiṭṭhati brāhmaṇo.

4.4

These are the four people found in the world.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasminti.

5.1

All those people with unbridled sensuality,

Ye keci kāmesu asaññatā janā,

5.2

not free of lust, enjoying sensual pleasures in this life:

Avītarāgā idha kāmabhogino;

5.3

again and again, they return to birth and old age;

Punappunaṁ jātijarūpagāmi te,

5.4

those who go with the stream are sunk in craving.

Taṇhādhipannā anusotagāmino.

6.1

So a wise one in this life, with mindfulness established,

Tasmā hi dhīro idhupaṭṭhitassatī,

6.2

doesn’t take part in sensual pleasures and bad deeds.

Kāme ca pāpe ca asevamāno;

6.3

In pain they’d give up sensual pleasures:

Sahāpi dukkhena jaheyya kāme,

6.4

they call that person ‘one who goes against the stream’.

Paṭisotagāmīti tamāhu puggalaṁ.

7.1

Someone who’s given up five corruptions,

Yo ve kilesāni pahāya pañca,

7.2

a perfect trainee, not liable to decline,

Paripuṇṇasekho aparihānadhammo;

7.3

who’s mastered their mind, with faculties immersed in samādhi,

Cetovasippatto samāhitindriyo,

7.4

that’s called ‘a steadfast person’.

Sa ve ṭhitattoti naro pavuccati.

8.1

The sage who has comprehended all things, high and low,

Paroparā yassa samecca dhammā,

8.2

cleared them and ended them, so they are no more;

Vidhūpitā atthagatā na santi;

8.3

they’ve completed the spiritual journey, and gone to the end of the world,

Sa ve muni vusitabrahmacariyo,

8.4

they’re called ‘one who has gone beyond’.”

Lokantagū pāragatoti vuccatī”ti.

8.5

Pañcamaṁ.