The Difference Between the Instructed Noble Disciple and Uninstructed Worldling

Monks, there are these four kinds of persons found existing in the world.

What four?

(1) Here, Monks, distant from sense-desires, distant from unwholesome mental states, enters and resides in the first Jhāna, which is with thinking and pondering, based in seclusion, filled with excitement and joy. He enjoys it, motivated towards it, and finds satisfaction in it. If he is firm in it, focused on it, often resides in it, and has not lost it when he dies, he is reborn in companionship with the heavenly beings of Brahmā’s (God’s) company.

The life span of the heavenly beings of Brahmā’s (God’s) company is an eon (indescribable period of time). The worldling remains there all his life, and when he has completed the entire life span of those heavenly beings, he goes to hell, to the animal realm, or to the realm of afflicted spirits. But The Perfectly Enlightened One’s disciple remains there all his life, and when he has completed the entire life span of those heavenly beings, he attains Final Nibbāna (Final Enlightenment) in that very same state of existence.

This is the distinction, the disparity, the difference between the instructed Noble Disciple and the uninstructed worldling, that is, when there is future destination and rebirth.

(2) Again, some person, with the subsiding of thinking and pondering, by gaining inner tranquility and oneness of mind, he enters and resides in the second Jhāna, which is without thinking and pondering, based in concentration, filled with excitement and joy. He enjoys it, motivated towards it, and finds satisfaction in it. If he is firm in it, focused on it, often resides in it, and has not lost it when he dies, he is reborn in companionship with the heavenly beings of streaming radiance.

The life span of the heavenly beings of streaming radiance is two eons. The worldling remains there all his life, and when he has completed the entire life span of those heavenly beings, he goes to hell, to the animal realm, or to the realm of afflicted spirits. But The Perfectly Enlightened One’s disciple remains there all his life, and when he has completed the entire life span of those heavenly beings, he attains Final Nibbāna (Final Enlightenment) in that very same state of existence.

This is the distinction, the disparity, the difference between the instructed Noble Disciple and the uninstructed worldling, that is, when there is future destination and rebirth.

(3) Again, some person, with the fading away of excitement, remaining imperturbable (unable to be upset or excited; calm; serene), mindful and clearly aware, he experiences in himself the joy of which the Noble Ones say: 'Peaceful is he who resides with equanimity and mindfulness', he enters the third Jhāna. He enjoys it, motivated towards it, and finds satisfaction in it. If he is firm in it, focused on it, often resides in it, and has not lost it when he dies, he is reborn in companionship with the heavenly beings of refulgent glory.

The life span of the heavenly beings of refulgent glory is four eons. The worldling remains there all his life, and when he has completed the entire life span of those heavenly beings, he goes to hell, to the animal realm, or to the realm of afflicted spirits. But The Perfectly Enlightened One’s disciple remains there all his life, and when he has completed the entire life span of those heavenly beings, he attains Final Nibbāna (Final Enlightenment) in that very same state of existence.

This is the distinction, the disparity, the difference between the instructed Noble Disciple and the uninstructed worldling, that is, when there is future destination and rebirth.

(4) Again, some person, having given up pleasure and pain, and with the fading away of former gladness and sadness, he enters and resides in the fourth Jhāna, which is beyond pleasure and pain, and purified by equanimity and mindfulness. He enjoys it, motivated towards it, and finds satisfaction in it. If he is firm in it, focused on it, often resides in it, and has not lost it when he dies, he is reborn in companionship with the heavenly beings of great fruit.

The life span of the heavenly beings of great fruit is five hundred eons. The worldling remains there all his life, and when he has completed the entire life span of those heavenly beings, he goes to hell, to the animal realm, or to the realm of afflicted spirits. But The Perfectly Enlightened One’s disciple remains there all his life, and when he has completed the entire life span of those heavenly beings, he attains Final Nibbāna (Final Enlightenment) in that very same state of existence.

This is the distinction, the disparity, the difference between the instructed Noble Disciple and the uninstructed worldling, that is, when there is future destination and rebirth.

These, Monks, are the four kinds of persons found existing in the world.

(Reference: AN 4.123)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares the four kinds of persons found existing in the world.

While The Buddha shares this Teaching in this unique way, this is not the only Teaching he taught related to “The Four Kinds of Persons Found Existing in The World”. He is not sharing this as, these are the “only” four kinds of persons found existing in the world. Instead, these are four types of people found existing in the world.

The Buddha shares the difference between an uninstructed worldling and an instructed Noble Disciple as they enter and reside in the Jhānas.

An uninstructed worldling is a person who is not learning, reflecting, and practicing these Teachings to train the mind on The Path to Enlightenment.

An instructed Noble Disciple is a Practitioner of The Buddha’s Teachings who is deeply learning, reflecting, and practicing these Teachings.

The Buddha explains the difference is that upon both of these two types of beings experience the Jhānas and then rebirth into the heavenly realm, the uninstructed worldling will live out that existence and then be reborn into the realm of hell, animal, or afflicted spirits. But, an instructed Noble Disciple will attain Final Enlightenment in the heavenly realm.

As has been shared multiple times in this book, the goal for a Practitioner is to attain Enlightenment in this very life, not in their next existence.

There is no guarantee where you will be reborn upon death, therefore, it would be unwise to take a chance on rebirth into a heavenly realm and think that one will experience Enlightenment in that existence.

Instead, do what Gotama Buddha did. Become determined, dedicated, and diligent to learn, reflect, and practice in this life to experience Enlightenment in this very life. As discontentedness gradually diminishes in the mind, you will be so thankful that you focused on progressing towards Enlightenment. And, if you attain Enlightenment, then you will live the rest of your life with a peaceful, calm, serene, and content mind with joy - permanently.

What else could be more rewarding or beneficial for one’s life than to completely and entirely eliminate discontentedness from the mind?