“Mendicants, there are four ways of practice. “Catasso imā, bhikkhave, paṭipadā. What four? Katamā catasso?

1. Painful practice with slow insight, Dukkhā paṭipadā dandhābhiññā,
2. painful practice with swift insight, dukkhā paṭipadā khippābhiññā,
3. pleasant practice with slow insight, and sukhā paṭipadā dandhābhiññā,
4. pleasant practice with swift insight. sukhā paṭipadā khippābhiññā.

Of these, the painful practice with slow insight is said to be inferior in both ways: because it’s painful and because it’s slow. Tatra, bhikkhave, yāyaṁ paṭipadā dukkhā dandhābhiññā, ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭipadā ubhayeneva hīnā akkhāyati. Yampāyaṁ paṭipadā dukkhā, imināpāyaṁ hīnā akkhāyati; yampāyaṁ paṭipadā dandhā, imināpāyaṁ hīnā akkhāyati. This practice is said to be inferior in both ways. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭipadā ubhayeneva hīnā akkhāyati.

The painful practice with swift insight is said to be inferior because it’s painful. Tatra, bhikkhave, yāyaṁ paṭipadā dukkhā khippābhiññā, ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭipadā dukkhattā hīnā akkhāyati.

The pleasant practice with slow insight is said to be inferior because it’s slow. Tatra, bhikkhave, yāyaṁ paṭipadā sukhā dandhābhiññā, ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭipadā dandhattā hīnā akkhāyati.

The pleasant practice with swift insight is said to be superior in both ways: because it’s pleasant, and because it’s swift. Tatra, bhikkhave, yāyaṁ paṭipadā sukhā khippābhiññā, ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭipadā ubhayeneva paṇītā akkhāyati. Yampāyaṁ paṭipadā sukhā, imināpāyaṁ paṇītā akkhāyati; yampāyaṁ paṭipadā khippā, imināpāyaṁ paṇītā akkhāyati. This practice is said to be superior in both ways. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭipadā ubhayeneva paṇītā akkhāyati.

These are the four ways of practice.” Imā kho, bhikkhave, catasso paṭipadā”ti.

Chaṭṭhaṁ.