This chapter contains discourses that explore sets of four qualities, concepts, or principles essential to the Buddha's teachings. Each sutta examines groups such as the four foundations of mindfulness, the four types of noble disciples, or the four aspects of right effort. These teachings emphasize the interconnectedness of these elements and their collective significance in the practice of the Dhamma. The "Book of Fours" provides a deeper understanding of how these grouped qualities contribute to spiritual development and insight on the way of practice to enlightenment.
The Book of the Fours
The Buddha explains how misunderstanding and not penetrating four principles - 1) ethical conduct, 2) collectedness, 3) wisdom, and 4) liberation - has led to wandering on in cyclic existence for a long time.
The Buddha describes the four kinds of persons found existing in the world - those who go with the current, those who go against the current, those who are steady, and those who have crossed over, standing on the firm ground, arahants.
The Buddha describes the four kinds of persons found existing in the world - those with little learning who are not accomplished by that learning, those with little learning who are accomplished by that learning, those with much learning who are not accomplished by that learning, and those with much learning who are accomplished by that learning.
The Buddha describes the four confidences possessed by the Tathāgata.
The Buddha describes two types of bhikkhus based on how they deal with thoughts of sensuality, ill-will, and harming while walking, standing, sitting, and lying down, and which one is capable of reaching the highest awakening.
The Buddha describes the four right efforts concisely and precisely.
The Buddha reflects on who he should honor and respect after his full awakening. Brahmā Sahampati encourages him to honor and respect the Dhamma.
The Buddha explains why he is called the Tathāgata, the one who has fully comprehended the world, its arising, cessation, and the way of practice leading to its cessation.
The Buddha does not cling to anything so when he sees, hears, senses, or cognizes, he does not formulate the seen, the unseen, what can be seen, or one who sees. He does not formulate the heard, the unheard, what can be heard, or one who hears. He does not formulate the sensed, the unsensed, what can be sensed, or one who senses. He does not formulate the cognized, the uncognized, what can be cognized, or one who cognizes.
The spiritual life is not lived for the purpose of deceiving people, nor for the purpose of winning favor with people, nor for the sake of acquisitions, respect and popularity, nor for the thought 'Let people know me.'
The Buddha explains the four Dhamma principles that are foremost, ancient, rooted in tradition, timeless, and pure.
The Buddha explains the four bases of a supportive relationship.
The Buddha shares the four kinds of persons found existing in the world - those who value anger, contempt, gain, and honor, and those who value the good Dhamma instead.
The Buddha shares the four unwholesome practices of valuing anger, contempt, gain, and honor, and the four wholesome practices of valuing the good Dhamma instead.
If both husband and wife wish to see one another in this very life and also to meet one another again in the next life, both should be alike in faith, ethical conduct, giving, and wisdom.
If both husband and wife wish to see one another in this very life and also to meet one another again in the next life, both should be alike in faith, ethical conduct, giving, and wisdom.
The Buddha explains the four kinds of happiness that are attainable by a lay person who enjoys sensual pleasures.
The domain of wisdom of the Buddhas, on one in jhānas, the result of kamma, and speculation about the world are inconceivable and shouldn't be speculated over or thought about.
The Buddha describes the cause and condition for why a trade, once undertaken, leads to loss, fails to meet its intended aim, succeeds as intended, or surpasses even its intended aim.
The Buddha describes the cause and condition for why a woman neither sits in public assemblies, nor pursues occupations, nor journeys to Kamboja.
The Buddha describes the four kinds of persons found existing in the world.
The Buddha describes the four kinds of persons found existing in the world and how they can develop both tranquility and insight.
To develop tranquility and insight, one should ask experienced practitioners.
The Buddha explains the four kinds of persons found existing in the world.
The Buddha shares with Potaliya, the wanderer, the four kinds of persons found existing in the world - 1) one who criticizes the blameworthy, 2) who praises the praiseworthy, 3) who neither criticizes nor praises, and 4) who criticizes the blameworthy and praises the praiseworthy.
The Buddha describes four kinds of people based on their ethical conduct and the qualities of their associates, comparing them to trees made of softwood or heartwood and surrounded by softwood or heartwood trees.
The Buddha describes four noble thoroughbred horses, each stirred and driven to urgency by progressively stronger stimuli. He draws a parallel to four noble thoroughbred persons, who likewise respond to increasingly intense circumstances with urgency and determination, leading them to the highest truth.
The Buddha describes four cases of deeds, and how an immature person and a wise person are to be understood by their responses to deeds that are disagreeable but lead to benefit and deeds that are agreeable but lead to harm.
Diligence should be practiced in four areas - in abandoning bodily, verbal, and mental misconduct, and wrong view.
The Buddha describes four perils that can be encountered by those who have gone forth into homelessness, drawing an analogy to the dangers faced when entering water. These perils are anger and |irritation::waves|, |gluttony::crocodiles|, sensual |pleasures::whirlpools|, and |lust::carnivorous fish|.
The four types of people found in the world based on the presence or absence of rational and spontaneous eloquence.
The Buddha shares in brief the four illuminations - 1) the moon, 2) the sun, 3) fire, and 4) wisdom.
The Buddha shares in brief the four kinds of verbal misconduct - 1) lying, 2) divisive speech, 3) harsh speech, and 4) frivolous chatter.
The Buddha shares in brief the four kinds of verbal good conduct - 1) truthful speech, 2) non-divisive speech, 3) gentle speech, and 4) wise counsel.
The Buddha describes four ways to attain final Nibbāna with or without exertion.
The Venerable Ānanda explains the four paths to arahantship.
Venerable Sāriputta describes the four analytical knowledges he realized a half-month after his full ordination.
The Buddha teaches the four great references that should be kept in mind to determine the authenticity of the Dhamma, Vinaya, and the teacher's instruction.
A bhikkhu asks the Buddha about the nature of the world, the mind, and wisdom.
The eighteen ways of craving pertaining to the internal bases, and the eighteen ways of craving pertaining to the external bases.
The four verbal misconducts and the four good verbal conducts.
The four things that lead to the growth of wisdom.
The four things that should be fully comprehended, abandoned, developed, and personally realized by direct knowing.
The four bases of psychic abilities that should be developed for the full understanding of passion, desire, and attachment.