The Benefit of These Four Things

Monks, these four things, when developed and cultivated, lead to the realization of the fruit of Stream-Entry.

What four?

1. Association with wholesome persons,

2. Hearing the true Teachings,

3. Careful attention,

4. Practice in accordance with The Teachings.

These four things, when developed and cultivated, lead to the realization of the fruit of Stream-Entry.

Monks, these four things, when developed and cultivated, lead to the realization of the fruit of Once-Returner.

Monks, these four things, when developed and cultivated, lead to the realization of the fruit of Non-Returner.

Monks, these four things, when developed and cultivated, lead to the realization of the fruit of Arahantship.

Monks, these four things, when developed and cultivated, lead to the obtaining of wisdom.

Monks, these four things, when developed and cultivated, lead to the growth of wisdom.

Monks, these four things, when developed and cultivated, lead to the expansion of wisdom.

Monks, these four things, when developed and cultivated, lead to the greatness of wisdom.

Monks, these four things, when developed and cultivated, lead to the extensiveness of wisdom.

Monks, these four things, when developed and cultivated, lead to the vastness of wisdom.

Monks, these four things, when developed and cultivated, lead to the depth of wisdom.

Monks, these four things, when developed and cultivated, lead to the state of unequalled of wisdom.

Monks, these four things, when developed and cultivated, lead to the state of breadth of wisdom.

Monks, these four things, when developed and cultivated, lead to the state of abundance of wisdom.

Monks, these four things, when developed and cultivated, lead to the state of quickness of wisdom.

Monks, these four things, when developed and cultivated, lead to the state of buoyancy of wisdom.

Monks, these four things, when developed and cultivated, lead to the state of joyousness of wisdom.

Monks, these four things, when developed and cultivated, lead to the state of swiftness of wisdom.

Monks, these four things, when developed and cultivated, lead to the state of sharpness of wisdom.

Monks, these four things, when developed and cultivated, lead to penetrativeness of wisdom.

What four?

1. Association with wholesome persons,

2. Hearing the true Teachings,

3. Careful attention,

4. Practice in accordance with The Teachings.

These four things, when developed and cultivated, lead to penetrativeness of wisdom. 

(Reference: SN 55.55)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares additional factors for attaining the first Stage of Enlightenment as a Stream-Enterer and that lead to penetrative wisdom. This Teaching is similar to the one found in Chapter 45 with the added content explaining that “these four things, when developed and cultivated, lead to penetrativeness of wisdom”. 

The Buddha explains that these four things not only lead to wisdom and the attainment of the first Stage of Enlightenment as a Stream-Enterer but also, that they lead to all the other Stages of Enlightenment as a Once-Returner, Non-Returner, and Arahant. These attainments represent the second, third, and fourth Stages of Enlightenment.

Detailed explanation of “these four things” is available in this same book found in Chapter 45.