<p>The passage in the question is also found in AN 4.171. The translation in the question appears highly questionable. In the passage are the Pali words:</p>
<p><a href="https://suttacentral.net/define/pa%E1%B9%ADil%C4%81bho?lang=en" rel="nofollow noreferrer">paṭilābho</a> = <strong>acquisition</strong> of. For example, 'paṭilābho' is used in:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>SN 55.1 about <strong>obtaining</strong> the four factors of stream-entry;</p>
</li>
<li><p>AN 8.2 about <strong>obtaining</strong>  the wisdom fundamental to the holy life;</p>
</li>
<li><p>MN 106 about <strong>obtaining</strong> equanimity;</p>
</li>
<li><p>SN 42.8 about <strong>acquiring</strong> a view;</p>
</li>
<li><p>Dhp 333 about <strong>acquisition</strong> of  wisdom.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?t=34052" rel="nofollow noreferrer">attabhāva</a> = <strong>individual character</strong> or <strong>self-nature</strong> or <strong>state of individuality</strong>. For example, 'attabhava' is used in:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Staying alone, the forests seem to rob the mind of a monk who isn’t immersed in samādhi. If someone should say this: ‘<em>Though I don’t have immersion, I’m going to frequent remote lodgings in the wilderness and the forest.</em>’ You can expect that they’ll sink down or float away.</p>
<p>Suppose... along comes a rabbit or a cat. They’d think: ‘What difference is
there between me and a bull elephant? Why don’t I plunge into this
lake and play around while washing my ears and back? When I’ve bathed
and drunk, I’ll emerge from the water and go wherever I want.’ They
jump into the lake rashly, without thinking. You can expect that
they’ll sink down or float away. Why is that? Because their small
<strong>individual nature (attabhāvo )</strong> finds no footing in the depths.</p>
<p>AN 10.99</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Both Thanissaro &amp; Bhikkhu Bodhi translate this verse differently. Thanissaro translates as:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Four acquisitions of a self-state [atta-bhāva]: Friends, there is the acquisition of a self-state where one goes to a self-state through one’s own intention &amp; not through the intention of another. There is the acquisition of a self-state where one goes to a self-state through the intention of another &amp; not through one’s own intention. There is the acquisition of a self-state where one goes to a self-state both through one’s own intention &amp; through the intention of another. There is the acquisition of a self-state where one goes to a self-state neither through one’s own intention nor through the intention of another.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/DN/DN33.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">DN 33</a></p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="https://www.kusalassaupasampada.com/assets/English/anguttara%20nikaya.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Bhikkhu Bodhi</a> translates as:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/2f7UnX6M.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/2f7UnX6M.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://lirs.ru/lib/sutra/Long_Discourses_of_the_Buddha(Digha_Nikaya).Walshe.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Maurice Walshe</a> translates as:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/TMU2QlfJ.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/TMU2QlfJ.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>Therefore, the quote from DN 33 appears to say:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Four kinds of acquisition of self-nature/individual character (cattāro attabhāvapaṭilābhā).</p>
<ol>
<li><p>There is acquisition of self-nature/individual character where only one’s own intention is effective, not that of others.</p>
</li>
<li><p>There is acquisition of self-nature/individual character where only the intention of
others is effective, not one’s own.</p>
</li>
<li><p>There is acquisition of self-nature/individual character where both one’s own and
others’ intentions are effective.</p>
</li>
<li><p>There is acquisition of self-nature/individual character where neither one’s own nor
others’ intentions are effective.</p>
</li>
</ol>
</blockquote>
<p>For example:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I feel my life has lost meaning and, contrary to the wishes of my family, friends &amp; employer, I decide to travel around the world searching for the meaning of life. This is an example of acquisition of individual character based on my intentions alone.</p>
</li>
<li><p>I feel my life has lost meaning &amp; think about travelling around the world searching for the meaning of life. However, my family, friends &amp; employer oppose my idea and my employer offers to double my salary if I stay home &amp; continue working for them. Against my deeper wishes, I follow the wishes of my employer &amp; family. This is an example of acquisition of individual character based on the intentions of others.</p>
</li>
<li><p>I feel my life has lost meaning and, contrary to the wishes of my family, friends &amp; employer, I decide to travel around the world searching for the meaning of life. In my travels, I visit a monastery and a benevolent teacher of Dhamma offers me detailed instructions and properly supervises me as his student. I devote my mind to following the instructions of the benevolent teacher &amp; my mind enters the Path and finds satisfaction. This is an example of acquisition of individual character based on the intentions of both myself and another (the teacher).</p>
</li>
<li><p>My mind enters the jhanas and the mental faculty of intention is suspended. The five lower fetters are eradicated and the mind spontaneously arises as a Non-Returner. This is an example of acquisition of individual character based on the neither the intentions of both myself and another (the teacher).</p>
</li>
</ol>
<p>I recall a different answer to his type of question was given by the different internet poster named <a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/30153/8157">Andriy Volkov</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-08-19T17:52:15.123Z
it's a good answer, the various translations are interesting, "new personality"
blue_ego
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-09-02T21:19:08.303Z
How does number 4 work in the context of paticca-samuppada?
Lowbrow
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-08-17T21:12:28.000Z
2024-08-18T01:39:39.363Z
2024-08-18T01:39:39.363Z
Dhamma Dhatu
<p>From <a href="https://suttacentral.net/dn33/en/sujato?lang=en&amp;layout=plain&amp;reference=none&amp;notes=asterisk&amp;highlight=false&amp;script=latin" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Reciting in Concert</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>Four kinds of reincarnation: There is a reincarnation where only one’s
own intention is effective, not that of others. There is a
reincarnation where only the intention of others is effective, not
one’s own. There is a reincarnation where both one’s own and others’
intentions are effective. There is a reincarnation where neither one’s
own nor others’ intentions are effective.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Does it have something to do with the <a href="https://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sagga/loka.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">31 planes of existence</a>?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-08-19T17:49:37.687Z
related: https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/q/30149/19249
blue_ego
<reincarnation><personal-experience><intention>
What are four kinds of reincarnation?
# What are four kinds of reincarnation?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2024-08-03)

From [Reciting in Concert](https://suttacentral.net/dn33/en/sujato?lang=en&layout=plain&reference=none¬es=asterisk&highlight=false&script=latin)

> Four kinds of reincarnation: There is a reincarnation where only one’s
> own intention is effective, not that of others. There is a
> reincarnation where only the intention of others is effective, not
> one’s own. There is a reincarnation where both one’s own and others’
> intentions are effective. There is a reincarnation where neither one’s
> own nor others’ intentions are effective.

Does it have something to do with the [31 planes of existence](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sagga/loka.html)?

**Tags:** reincarnation, personal-experience, intention

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: related: https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/q/30149/19249  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2024-08-17. Score: -1

The passage in the question is also found in AN 4.171. The translation in the question appears highly questionable. In the passage are the Pali words:

[paṭilābho](https://suttacentral.net/define/pa%E1%B9%ADil%C4%81bho?lang=en) = **acquisition** of. For example, 'paṭilābho' is used in:

* SN 55.1 about **obtaining** the four factors of stream-entry;
* AN 8.2 about **obtaining** the wisdom fundamental to the holy life;
* MN 106 about **obtaining** equanimity;
* SN 42.8 about **acquiring** a view;
* Dhp 333 about **acquisition** of wisdom.

[attabhāva](https://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?t=34052) = **individual character** or **self-nature** or **state of individuality**. For example, 'attabhava' is used in:

> Staying alone, the forests seem to rob the mind of a monk who isn’t immersed in samādhi. If someone should say this: ‘*Though I don’t have immersion, I’m going to frequent remote lodgings in the wilderness and the forest.*’ You can expect that they’ll sink down or float away.
>
> Suppose... along comes a rabbit or a cat. They’d think: ‘What difference is
> there between me and a bull elephant? Why don’t I plunge into this
> lake and play around while washing my ears and back? When I’ve bathed
> and drunk, I’ll emerge from the water and go wherever I want.’ They
> jump into the lake rashly, without thinking. You can expect that
> they’ll sink down or float away. Why is that? Because their small
> **individual nature (attabhāvo )** finds no footing in the depths.
>
> AN 10.99

Both Thanissaro & Bhikkhu Bodhi translate this verse differently. Thanissaro translates as:

> Four acquisitions of a self-state [atta-bhāva]: Friends, there is the acquisition of a self-state where one goes to a self-state through one’s own intention & not through the intention of another. There is the acquisition of a self-state where one goes to a self-state through the intention of another & not through one’s own intention. There is the acquisition of a self-state where one goes to a self-state both through one’s own intention & through the intention of another. There is the acquisition of a self-state where one goes to a self-state neither through one’s own intention nor through the intention of another.
>
> [DN 33](https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/DN/DN33.html)

[Bhikkhu Bodhi](https://www.kusalassaupasampada.com/assets/English/anguttara%20nikaya.pdf) translates as:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/2f7UnX6M.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/2f7UnX6M.png)

[Maurice Walshe](http://lirs.ru/lib/sutra/Long_Discourses_of_the_Buddha(Digha_Nikaya).Walshe.pdf) translates as:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/TMU2QlfJ.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/TMU2QlfJ.png)

Therefore, the quote from DN 33 appears to say:

> Four kinds of acquisition of self-nature/individual character (cattāro attabhāvapaṭilābhā).
>
> 1. There is acquisition of self-nature/individual character where only one’s own intention is effective, not that of others.
> 2. There is acquisition of self-nature/individual character where only the intention of
>    others is effective, not one’s own.
> 3. There is acquisition of self-nature/individual character where both one’s own and
>    others’ intentions are effective.
> 4. There is acquisition of self-nature/individual character where neither one’s own nor
>    others’ intentions are effective.

For example:

1. I feel my life has lost meaning and, contrary to the wishes of my family, friends & employer, I decide to travel around the world searching for the meaning of life. This is an example of acquisition of individual character based on my intentions alone.
2. I feel my life has lost meaning & think about travelling around the world searching for the meaning of life. However, my family, friends & employer oppose my idea and my employer offers to double my salary if I stay home & continue working for them. Against my deeper wishes, I follow the wishes of my employer & family. This is an example of acquisition of individual character based on the intentions of others.
3. I feel my life has lost meaning and, contrary to the wishes of my family, friends & employer, I decide to travel around the world searching for the meaning of life. In my travels, I visit a monastery and a benevolent teacher of Dhamma offers me detailed instructions and properly supervises me as his student. I devote my mind to following the instructions of the benevolent teacher & my mind enters the Path and finds satisfaction. This is an example of acquisition of individual character based on the intentions of both myself and another (the teacher).
4. My mind enters the jhanas and the mental faculty of intention is suspended. The five lower fetters are eradicated and the mind spontaneously arises as a Non-Returner. This is an example of acquisition of individual character based on the neither the intentions of both myself and another (the teacher).

I recall a different answer to his type of question was given by the different internet poster named [Andriy Volkov](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/30153/8157).

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: it's a good answer, the various translations are interesting, "new personality"  
> **username_2**: How does number 4 work in the context of paticca-samuppada?  

---

