Aṅguttara Nikāya
Catukka Nipāta
XIV: Puggala Vagga

The Book of the Fours

XIV: On Persons

Sutta 138

Nikaṭṭha Puggala Suttaṃ

Subdued

[140]

Thus have I heard:

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, these four persons are found existing in the world.

What four?

The subdued¹ in body
but not in mind;
the unsubdued in body
but subdued in mind;
he who is subdued in neither;
he who is subdued in both.

■

And how, monks, is a person
subdued in body
but not in mind?

In this case a certain person
makes his bed and lodging
in the lonely glades
and solitude of a forest,
but meanwhile thinks sensual thoughts,
malicious thoughts
and harmful thoughts.

Thus, monks, a person
is subdued in body
but unsubdued in mind.

■

And how is a person
unsubdued in body
but subdued in mind?

In this case a certain person
makes not his bed and lodging
in the lonely glades
and solitude of a forest,
yet meanwhile he thinks unworldly thoughts,
thoughts not malicious,
not harmful.

Thus a person
is unsubdued in body
but subdued in mind.

■

[141] And how is a person
subdued neither in body
nor in mind?

In this case a certain person
makes not his bed and lodging
in the lonely glades
and solitude of a forest,
yet meanwhile thinks sensual thoughts,
malicious thoughts
and harmful thoughts.

Thus a person
is subdued neither in body
nor in mind.

■

And how is a person
subdued both in body
and in mind?

In this case a certain person
makes his bed and lodging
in the lonely glades
and solitude of a forest,
and at the same time
he thinks unworldly thoughts,
thoughts not malicious,
not harmful thoughts.

Thus a person is subdued both in body and in mind.

So these four persons are found existing in the world.'