Ubhayasutta

“Catasso imā, bhikkhave, paṭipadā. Katamā catasso? Dukkhā paṭipadā dandhābhiññā, dukkhā paṭipadā khippābhiññā, sukhā paṭipadā dandhābhiññā, sukhā paṭipadā khippābhiññā.

“Mendicants, there are four ways of practice. What four? Painful practice with slow insight, painful practice with swift insight, pleasant practice with slow insight, and pleasant practice with swift insight.

Tatra, bhikkhave, yāyaṁ paṭipadā dukkhā dandhābhiññā, ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭipadā ubhayeneva hīnā akkhāyati. Yampāyaṁ paṭipadā dukkhā, imināpāyaṁ hīnā akkhāyati; yampāyaṁ paṭipadā dandhā, imināpāyaṁ hīnā akkhāyati. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭipadā ubhayeneva hīnā akkhāyati.

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. This practice is said to be inferior in both ways.

Tatra, bhikkhave, yāyaṁ paṭipadā dukkhā khippābhiññā, ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭipadā dukkhattā hīnā akkhāyati.

The painful practice with swift insight is said to be inferior because it’s painful.

Tatra, bhikkhave, yāyaṁ paṭipadā sukhā dandhābhiññā, ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭipadā dandhattā hīnā akkhāyati.

The pleasant practice with slow insight is said to be inferior because it’s slow.

Tatra, bhikkhave, yāyaṁ paṭipadā sukhā khippābhiññā, ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭipadā ubhayeneva paṇītā akkhāyati. Yampāyaṁ paṭipadā sukhā, imināpāyaṁ paṇītā akkhāyati; yampāyaṁ paṭipadā khippā, imināpāyaṁ paṇītā akkhāyati. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭipadā ubhayeneva paṇītā akkhāyati. Imā kho, bhikkhave, catasso paṭipadā”ti. Chaṭṭhaṁ.

The pleasant practice with swift insight is said to be superior in both ways: because it’s pleasant, and because it’s swift. This practice is said to be superior in both ways. These are the four ways of practice.”