Searches (AN4.255)

Numbered Discourses 4.255

26. Insight

Searches

“Mendicants, there are these four ignoble searches.

What four?

Someone liable to old age searches only for what grows old.

Someone liable to sickness searches only for what gets sick.

Someone liable to death searches only for what dies.

Someone liable to become corrupted searches only for what is defiled.

These are the four ignoble searches.

There are these four noble searches.

What four?

Someone who is liable to grow old, knowing the drawback in what grows old, searches for that which is free of old age, the supreme sanctuary from the yoke, extinguishment.

Someone who is liable to get sick, knowing the drawback in what gets sick, searches for that which is free of sickness, the supreme sanctuary from the yoke, extinguishment.

Someone who is liable to die, knowing the drawback in what dies, searches for that which is free of death, the supreme sanctuary from the yoke, extinguishment.

Someone liable to become corrupted, knowing the drawback in what is defiled, searches for the undefiled supreme sanctuary from the yoke, extinguishment.

These are the four noble searches.”