[87] Bhikkhus, these four persons are found existing in the world. Which four? The unshakable ascetic (samaṇamacala), the white-lotus ascetic (samaṇapuṇḍarīka), the pink-lotus ascetic (samaṇapaduma), and the delicate ascetic among ascetics (samaṇasukhumāla).
And how, bhikkhus, is a person an unshakable ascetic? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu is a trainee (sekha), one practicing the way, who dwells aspiring to the unsurpassed security from bondage (yogakkhema). Just as, bhikkhus, the eldest son of a head-anointed khattiya king — one due to be anointed but not yet anointed — has attained the unshakable state, even so, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu is a trainee, one practicing the way, who dwells aspiring to the unsurpassed security from bondage. It is thus, bhikkhus, that a person is an unshakable ascetic.
And how, bhikkhus, is a person a white-lotus ascetic? Here, bhikkhus, with the destruction of the taints (āsava), a bhikkhu realizes for himself with direct knowledge, in this very life, the taintless liberation of mind (cetovimutti) and liberation by wisdom (paññāvimutti), and having entered upon it, he dwells therein; but he does not dwell having contacted the eight liberations (vimokkha) with the body. It is thus, bhikkhus, that a person is a white-lotus ascetic.
And how, bhikkhus, is a person a pink-lotus ascetic? Here, bhikkhus, with the destruction of the taints, a bhikkhu realizes for himself with direct knowledge, in this very life, the taintless liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom, and having entered upon it, he dwells therein; and he dwells having contacted the eight liberations with the body. It is thus, bhikkhus, that a person is a pink-lotus ascetic.
And how, bhikkhus, is a person a delicate ascetic among ascetics? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu mostly uses robes only when invited to accept them, rarely when uninvited; he mostly uses almsfood only when invited, rarely when uninvited; he mostly uses lodgings only when invited, rarely when uninvited; he mostly uses medicinal requisites for the sick only when invited, rarely when uninvited. And those companions in the holy life with whom he dwells mostly behave toward him with agreeable bodily action, rarely with disagreeable; they mostly behave toward him with agreeable verbal action, rarely with disagreeable; they mostly behave toward him with agreeable mental action, rarely with disagreeable; they present him only with what is agreeable, rarely with what is disagreeable. Moreover, those feelings (vedanā) which arise from bile, or arise from phlegm, or arise from wind, or arise from their combination, or are born of change of climate, or born of careless conduct, or brought about by assault, or born of the ripening of kamma — these do not arise in him much: he is one of little illness. He gains at will, without trouble, without difficulty, the four jhānas that pertain to the higher mind and are pleasant dwellings in this very life; and with the destruction of the taints, he realizes for himself with direct knowledge, in this very life, the taintless liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom, and having entered upon it, he dwells therein. It is thus, bhikkhus, that a person is a delicate ascetic among ascetics.
Bhikkhus, if one were to speak rightly of anyone, saying: "He is a delicate ascetic among ascetics," it is of me indeed, bhikkhus, that one speaking rightly would say: "He is a delicate ascetic among ascetics." For I, bhikkhus, mostly use robes only when invited, rarely when uninvited; I mostly use almsfood only when invited, rarely when uninvited; I mostly use lodgings only when invited, rarely when uninvited; I mostly use medicinal requisites for the sick only when invited, rarely when uninvited. And those bhikkhus with whom I dwell mostly behave toward me with agreeable bodily action, rarely with disagreeable; they mostly behave toward me with agreeable verbal action, rarely with disagreeable; they mostly behave toward me with agreeable mental action, rarely with disagreeable; they present me only with what is agreeable, rarely with what is disagreeable. Moreover, those feelings which arise from bile, or arise from phlegm, or arise from wind, or arise from their combination, or are born of change of climate, or born of careless conduct, or brought about by assault, or born of the ripening of kamma — these do not arise in me much: I am one of little illness. I gain at will, without trouble, without difficulty, the four jhānas that pertain to the higher mind and are pleasant dwellings in this very life; and with the destruction of the taints, I realize for myself with direct knowledge, in this very life, the taintless liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom, and having entered upon it, I dwell therein. If, bhikkhus, one were to speak rightly of anyone, saying: "He is a delicate ascetic among ascetics," it is of me indeed, bhikkhus, that one speaking rightly would say: "He is a delicate ascetic among ascetics."
These, bhikkhus, are the four persons found existing in the world.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.