9.
The Discourse on With Activity
169.
"Monks, there are these four persons existing and found in the world.
Which four?
Here, monks, a certain person is an attainer of final nibbāna through exertion in this very life.
Here again, monks, a certain person is an attainer of final nibbāna through exertion upon the collapse of the body.
Here again, monks, a certain person is an attainer of final nibbāna without exertion in this very life.
Here again, monks, a certain person is an attainer of final nibbāna without exertion upon the collapse of the body.
"And how, monks, is a person an attainer of final nibbāna through exertion in this very life? Here, monks, a monk dwells observing foulness in the body, perceiving repulsiveness in food, perceiving discontent in the whole world, observing impermanence in all activities. And the perception of death is well established internally for him. He dwells in dependence on these five powers of a trainee - the power of faith, the power of shame, the power of moral fear, the power of energy, the power of wisdom. For him these five faculties become manifest as exceeding - the faith faculty, the energy faculty, the mindfulness faculty, the concentration faculty, the wisdom faculty. He, due to the exceeding nature of these five faculties, is an attainer of final nibbāna through exertion in this very life. Thus, monks, a person is an attainer of final nibbāna through exertion in this very life.
"And how, monks, is a person an attainer of final nibbāna through exertion upon the collapse of the body? Here, monks, a monk dwells observing foulness in the body, perceiving repulsiveness in food, perceiving discontent in the whole world, observing impermanence in all activities. And the perception of death is well established internally for him. He dwells in dependence on these five powers of a trainee - the power of faith, the power of shame, the power of moral fear, the power of energy, the power of wisdom. For him these five faculties become manifest as soft - the faith faculty, the energy faculty, the mindfulness faculty, the concentration faculty, the wisdom faculty. He, due to the softness of these five faculties, is an attainer of final nibbāna through exertion upon the collapse of the body. Thus, monks, a person is an attainer of final nibbāna through exertion upon the collapse of the body.
"And how, monks, is a person an attainer of final nibbāna without exertion in this very life? Here, monks, a monk, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, etc. the first meditative absorption, etc. the second meditative absorption, etc. the third meditative absorption... etc. he enters and dwells in the fourth meditative absorption. He dwells in dependence on these five powers of a trainee - the power of faith, etc. the power of wisdom. For him these five faculties become manifest as exceeding - the faith faculty, etc. the wisdom faculty. He, due to the exceeding nature of these five faculties, is an attainer of final nibbāna without exertion in this very life. Thus, monks, a person is an attainer of final nibbāna without exertion in this very life.
"And how, monks, is a person an attainer of final nibbāna without exertion upon the collapse of the body? Here, monks, a monk, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, etc. the first meditative absorption, etc. the second meditative absorption, etc. the third meditative absorption... etc. he enters and dwells in the fourth meditative absorption. He dwells in dependence on these five powers of a trainee - the power of faith, the power of shame, the power of moral fear, the power of energy, the power of wisdom. For him these five faculties... etc. the wisdom faculty. He, due to the softness of these five faculties, upon the collapse of the body, becomes an attainer of final nibbāna without exertion. Thus, monks, a person is an attainer of final nibbāna without exertion upon the collapse of the body. These, monks, are the four persons existing and found in the world." The ninth.