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an.4.255 Aṅguttara Nikāya (Numbered Discourses)

Searches

“Monks, these four are ignoble searches. Which four? There is the case where a person, being subject himself to aging, seeks [happiness in] what is subject to aging. Being subject himself to illness, he seeks [happiness in] what is subject to illness. Being subject himself to death, he seeks [happiness in] what is subject to death. Being subject himself to defilement, he seeks [happiness in] what is subject to defilement. These are four ignoble searches.

“Now, these four are noble searches. Which four? There is the case where a person, being subject himself to aging, realizing the drawbacks of what is subject to aging, seeks the unaging, unsurpassed rest from the yoke: Unbinding. Being subject himself to illness, realizing the drawbacks of what is subject to illness, he seeks the unailing, unsurpassed rest from the yoke: Unbinding. Being subject himself to death, realizing the drawbacks of what is subject to death, he seeks the undying, unsurpassed rest from the yoke: Unbinding. Being subject himself to defilement, realizing the drawbacks of what is subject to defilement, he seeks the undefiled, unsurpassed rest from the yoke: Unbinding.

“These are four noble searches.”

- Translator: Thanissaro Bhikkhu

- Editor: Gabriel Laera


Searches

“Mendicants, there are these four ignoble searches.
What four?
Someone liable to old age searches only for what grows old.
Someone liable to sickness searches only for what gets sick.
Someone liable to death searches only for what dies.
Someone whose nature is defiled searches only for what is defiled.
These are the four ignoble searches.
There are these four noble searches.
What four?
Someone who is liable to grow old, knowing the drawback in what grows old, searches for the unaging supreme sanctuary, extinguishment.
Someone who is liable to get sick, knowing the drawback in what gets sick, searches for the sickness-free supreme sanctuary, extinguishment.
Someone who is liable to die, knowing the drawback in what dies, searches for the deathless supreme sanctuary, extinguishment.
Someone whose nature is defiled, knowing the drawback in what is defiled, searches for the undefiled supreme sanctuary, extinguishment.
These are the four noble searches.”