Aggregates (AN4.90)

Numbered Discourses 4.90

9. Confirmed

Aggregates

“Mendicants, these four individuals are found in the world.

What four?

The confirmed ascetic, the white lotus ascetic, the pink lotus ascetic, and the delicate ascetic of ascetics.

And how is an individual a confirmed ascetic?

It’s when a mendicant is a trainee who hasn’t achieved their heart’s desire, but lives aspiring to the supreme sanctuary from the yoke.

That’s how an individual is a confirmed ascetic.

And how is an individual a white lotus ascetic?

It’s when a mendicant meditates observing rise and fall in the five grasping aggregates.

‘Such is form, such is the origin of form, such is the disappearance of form.

Such is feeling …

Such is perception …

Such are choices …

Such is consciousness, such is the origin of consciousness, such is the disappearance of consciousness.’

But they don’t have direct meditative experience of the eight liberations.

That’s how an individual is a white lotus ascetic.

And how is an individual a pink lotus ascetic?

It’s when a mendicant meditates observing rise and fall in the five grasping aggregates.

‘Such is form, such is the origin of form, such is the disappearance of form.

Such is feeling …

Such is perception …

Such are choices …

Such is consciousness, such is the origin of consciousness, such is the disappearance of consciousness.’

And they have direct meditative experience of the eight liberations.

That’s how an individual is a pink lotus ascetic.

And how is an individual a delicate ascetic of ascetics?

It’s when a mendicant usually uses only what they’ve been invited to accept … And if anyone should be rightly called a delicate ascetic of ascetics, it’s me.

These are the four individuals found in the world.”