Numbered Discourses 4.131

1. Individuals

Fetters

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

What four?

One individual hasn’t given up the lower fetters, the fetters for getting reborn, or the fetters for getting a continued existence.

One individual has given up the lower fetters, but not the fetters for getting reborn, or the fetters for getting a continued existence.

One individual has given up the lower fetters and the fetters for getting reborn, but not the fetters for getting a continued existence.

One individual has given up the lower fetters, the fetters for getting reborn, and the fetters for getting a continued existence.

What individual hasn’t given up the lower fetters, the fetters for getting reborn, or the fetters for getting a continued existence?

A once-returner.

This is the individual who hasn’t given up the lower fetters, the fetters for getting reborn, or the fetters for getting a continued existence.

What individual has given up the lower fetters, but not the fetters for getting reborn, or the fetters for getting a continued existence?

One heading upstream, going to the Akaniṭṭha realm.

What individual has given up the lower fetters and the fetters for getting reborn, but not the fetters for getting a continued existence?

One extinguished between one life and the next.

What individual has given up the lower fetters, the fetters for getting reborn, and the fetters for getting a continued existence?

A perfected one.

These are the four individuals found in the world.”