Aṇguttara Nikāya
Catukka Nipāta
XXVI: Abhiññā Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
The Book of the Fours
Chapter XXVI: Higher Knowledge
Sutta 252
Pariyesanā Suttaṃ
Quests[1]
Translated from the Pali by F. L. Woodward, M.A.
Copyright The Pali Text Society
Commercial Rights Reserved
For details see Terms of Use.
On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.
Then the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," they replied,
and the Exalted One said:
"Monks, there are these four un-Ariyan quests.
What four?
Herein, monks, a certain one,
being in himself subject to decay,
seeks after that of which the nature is decay.
Being in himself subject to disease,
he seeks after that of which the nature is death.
Being in himself subject to death,
he seeks after that of which the nature is death.
Being in himself subject to defilement,
he seeks after that of which the nature is defilement.
These are the four un-Ariyan quests.
§
Monks, there are these four Ariyan quests.
What four?
Herein, monks, a certain one,
being in himself subject to [253] decay,
seeing the disadvantage
of what is of a nature to decay,
seeks after the undecaying,
the unsurpassed rest after toil,
even Nibbāna.
Being in himself subject to disease,
seeing the disadvantage
in what is of a nature to be diseased,
he seeks after the unailing,
unsurpassed rest after toil,
even Nibbāna.
Being in himself subject to death,
seeing the disadvantage
in what is of a nature to die,
he seeks after the deathless,
unsurpassed rest after toil,
even Nibbāna.
Being in himself subject to defilement,
seeing the disadvantage
in what is of a nature to be defiled,
he seeks after the undefiled,
unsurpassed rest after toil,
even Nibbāna.
So these, monks, are the four Ariyan quests.'
