[169] Bhikkhus, these four persons are found existing in the world. Which four? Here, bhikkhus, a certain person is an attainer of Nibbāna with exertion (sasaṅkhāraparinibbāyī) in this very life. Here again, bhikkhus, a certain person is an attainer of Nibbāna with exertion with the breakup of the body. Here again, bhikkhus, a certain person is an attainer of Nibbāna without exertion (asaṅkhāraparinibbāyī) in this very life. Here again, bhikkhus, a certain person is an attainer of Nibbāna without exertion with the breakup of the body.
And how, bhikkhus, is a person an attainer of Nibbāna with exertion in this very life? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu dwells contemplating foulness (asubha) in the body, percipient of repulsiveness in food, percipient of non-delight in the entire world, contemplating impermanence in all conditioned formations (saṅkhārā); and the perception of death is well established within him. He dwells in dependence on these five powers of a trainee (sekhabala): the power of faith, the power of moral shame (hirī), the power of moral dread (ottappa), the power of energy, and the power of wisdom. These five faculties (indriya) manifest in him in a superior degree: the faculty of faith, the faculty of energy, the faculty of mindfulness, the faculty of concentration (samādhi), and the faculty of wisdom. Because these five faculties are of a superior degree, he is an attainer of Nibbāna with exertion in this very life. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a person is an attainer of Nibbāna with exertion in this very life.
And how, bhikkhus, is a person an attainer of Nibbāna with exertion with the breakup of the body? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu dwells contemplating foulness in the body, percipient of repulsiveness in food, percipient of non-delight in the entire world, contemplating impermanence in all conditioned formations; and the perception of death is well established within him. He dwells in dependence on these five powers of a trainee: the power of faith, the power of moral shame, the power of moral dread, the power of energy, and the power of wisdom. These five faculties manifest in him feebly: the faculty of faith, the faculty of energy, the faculty of mindfulness, the faculty of concentration, and the faculty of wisdom. Because these five faculties are feeble, he is an attainer of Nibbāna with exertion with the breakup of the body. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a person is an attainer of Nibbāna with exertion with the breakup of the body.
And how, bhikkhus, is a person an attainer of Nibbāna without exertion in this very life? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu, secluded from sensual pleasures … enters and dwells in the first jhāna; with the subsiding of thought and examination … he enters and dwells in the second jhāna; with the fading away of rapture (pīti) … he enters and dwells in the third jhāna; with the abandoning of pleasure and the abandoning of pain … he enters and dwells in the fourth jhāna. He dwells in dependence on these five powers of a trainee: the power of faith, the power of moral shame, the power of moral dread, the power of energy, and the power of wisdom. These five faculties manifest in him in a superior degree: the faculty of faith, the faculty of energy, the faculty of mindfulness, the faculty of concentration, and the faculty of wisdom. Because these five faculties are of a superior degree, he is an attainer of Nibbāna without exertion in this very life. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a person is an attainer of Nibbāna without exertion in this very life.
And how, bhikkhus, is a person an attainer of Nibbāna without exertion with the breakup of the body? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu, secluded from sensual pleasures … enters and dwells in the first jhāna; with the subsiding of thought and examination … he enters and dwells in the second jhāna; with the fading away of rapture … he enters and dwells in the third jhāna; with the abandoning of pleasure and the abandoning of pain … he enters and dwells in the fourth jhāna. He dwells in dependence on these five powers of a trainee: the power of faith, the power of moral shame, the power of moral dread, the power of energy, and the power of wisdom. These five faculties manifest in him feebly: the faculty of faith, the faculty of energy, the faculty of mindfulness, the faculty of concentration, and the faculty of wisdom. Because these five faculties are feeble, he is an attainer of Nibbāna without exertion with the breakup of the body. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a person is an attainer of Nibbāna without exertion with the breakup of the body.
These, bhikkhus, are the four persons found existing in the world.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.