[162] Bhikkhus, there are these four modes of practice (paṭipadā). What four? The painful mode of practice with sluggish insight (dukkhā paṭipadā dandhābhiññā); the painful mode of practice with quick insight (dukkhā paṭipadā khippābhiññā); the pleasant mode of practice with sluggish insight (sukhā paṭipadā dandhābhiññā); the pleasant mode of practice with quick insight (sukhā paṭipadā khippābhiññā).
And what, bhikkhus, is the painful mode of practice with sluggish insight? Here, bhikkhus, a certain person is by nature strongly prone to lust (rāga), and he frequently experiences suffering (dukkha) and grief born of lust; he is by nature strongly prone to hatred, and he frequently experiences suffering and grief born of hatred; he is by nature strongly prone to delusion, and he frequently experiences suffering and grief born of delusion. In him these five faculties (indriya) manifest weakly: the faith faculty (saddhindriya), the energy faculty (viriyindriya), the mindfulness faculty (satindriya), the concentration faculty (samādhindriya), and the wisdom faculty (paññindriya). Because of the weakness of these five faculties, he attains only slowly the immediacy (anantariya) for the destruction of the taints (āsava). This, bhikkhus, is called the painful mode of practice with sluggish insight.
And what, bhikkhus, is the painful mode of practice with quick insight? Here, bhikkhus, a certain person is by nature strongly prone to lust, and he frequently experiences suffering and grief born of lust; he is by nature strongly prone to hatred, and he frequently experiences suffering and grief born of hatred; he is by nature strongly prone to delusion, and he frequently experiences suffering and grief born of delusion. In him these five faculties manifest strongly: the faith faculty, the energy faculty, the mindfulness faculty, the concentration faculty, and the wisdom faculty. Because of the strength of these five faculties, he attains quickly the immediacy for the destruction of the taints. This, bhikkhus, is called the painful mode of practice with quick insight.
And what, bhikkhus, is the pleasant mode of practice with sluggish insight? Here, bhikkhus, a certain person is by nature not strongly prone to lust, and he does not frequently experience suffering and grief born of lust; he is by nature not strongly prone to hatred, and he does not frequently experience suffering and grief born of hatred; he is by nature not strongly prone to delusion, and he does not frequently experience suffering and grief born of delusion. In him these five faculties manifest weakly: the faith faculty, the energy faculty, the mindfulness faculty, the concentration faculty, and the wisdom faculty. Because of the weakness of these five faculties, he attains only slowly the immediacy for the destruction of the taints. This, bhikkhus, is called the pleasant mode of practice with sluggish insight.
And what, bhikkhus, is the pleasant mode of practice with quick insight? Here, bhikkhus, a certain person is by nature not strongly prone to lust, and he does not frequently experience suffering and grief born of lust; he is by nature not strongly prone to hatred, and he does not frequently experience suffering and grief born of hatred; he is by nature not strongly prone to delusion, and he does not frequently experience suffering and grief born of delusion. In him these five faculties manifest strongly: the faith faculty, the energy faculty, the mindfulness faculty, the concentration faculty, and the wisdom faculty. Because of the strength of these five faculties, he attains quickly the immediacy for the destruction of the taints. This, bhikkhus, is called the pleasant mode of practice with quick insight.
These, bhikkhus, are the four modes of practice.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.