The Buddha teaches dependent origination—the twelve links from ignorance through choices, consciousness, name and form, the six sense fields, contact, feeling, craving, grasping, continued existence, rebirth, to old age and death—and their cessation.

SN 12.37 Not Yours

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

“Nāyaṁ, bhikkhave, kāyo tumhākaṁ napi aññesaṁ. Purāṇamidaṁ, bhikkhave, kammaṁ abhisaṅkhataṁ abhisañcetayitaṁ vedaniyaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ.

Tatra kho, bhikkhave, sutavā ariyasāvako paṭiccasamuppādaññeva sādhukaṁ yoniso manasi karoti: ‘iti imasmiṁ sati idaṁ hoti, imassuppādā idaṁ uppajjati; imasmiṁ asati idaṁ na hoti, imassa nirodhā idaṁ nirujjhati, yadidaṁ avijjāpaccayā saṅkhārā;

saṅkhārapaccayā viññāṇaṁ …pe… evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa samudayo hoti. Avijjāya tveva asesavirāganirodhā saṅkhāranirodho; saṅkhāranirodhā viññāṇanirodho …pe… evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa nirodho hotī’”ti.

Sattamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

At Sāvatthī.

“Nāyaṁ, bhikkhave, kāyo tumhākaṁ napi aññesaṁ.

“Mendicants, this body doesn’t belong to you or to anyone else.

Purāṇamidaṁ, bhikkhave, kammaṁ abhisaṅkhataṁ abhisañcetayitaṁ vedaniyaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ.

It’s old deeds, and should be seen as produced by choices and intentions, as something to be felt.

Tatra kho, bhikkhave, sutavā ariyasāvako paṭiccasamuppādaññeva sādhukaṁ yoniso manasi karoti:

A learned noble disciple carefully and rationally applies the mind to dependent origination itself:

‘iti imasmiṁ sati idaṁ hoti, imassuppādā idaṁ uppajjati;

‘When this exists, this comes to be; due to the arising of this, this arises.

imasmiṁ asati idaṁ na hoti, imassa nirodhā idaṁ nirujjhati, yadidaṁ

When this doesn’t exist, this doesn’t come to be; due to the cessation of this, this ceases. That is:

avijjāpaccayā saṅkhārā;

Ignorance is a requirement for choices.

saṅkhārapaccayā viññāṇaṁ …pe…

Choices are a requirement for consciousness. …

evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa samudayo hoti.

That is how this entire mass of suffering originates.

Avijjāya tveva asesavirāganirodhā saṅkhāranirodho;

When ignorance fades away and ceases with no residue left behind, choices cease.

saṅkhāranirodhā viññāṇanirodho …pe…

When choices cease, consciousness ceases. …

evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa nirodho hotī’”ti.

That is how this entire mass of suffering ceases.’”

Sattamaṁ.

Qualities:

Delusion

Delusion

A fundamental distortion of reality that sustains confusion, clouds discernment, and fuels further doubt.

Also known as: illusion, hallucination, misapprehension, distorted view
Pāli: moha, micchāñāṇa
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Ending

Ending

The complete exhaustion and ending of craving, aversion, and delusion—the three roots of suffering. It refers to both the gradual wearing away of defilements through practice and the final cessation that constitutes Nibbāna.

Also known as: cessation, exhaustion, gradual ending, wearing away
Pāli: khaya, khīṇa, nirodha
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Ignorance

Ignorance

A fundamental blindness to the true nature of reality. It is not merely a lack of information, but an active misperception that views the transient as permanent and the unsatisfactory as a source of happiness, thereby fueling the cycle of suffering.

Also known as: illusion of knowing, fundamental unawareness of the true nature of reality, misunderstanding of how things have come to be, not knowing the four noble truths
Pāli: avijjā
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Learning

Learning

One who has broad learning and retention of the Dhamma, gained through hearing, reciting, and carefully investigating the teachings. Such learning penetrates their meaning through discernment and serves as a strong support for practice.

Also known as: having knowledge, well studied
Pāli: bahussuta, suta
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Suffering

Suffering

Unpleasantness, discontentment, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, i.e. mild or intense suffering that is inherent in conditioned existence.

Also known as: discomfort, unpleasantness, discontentedness, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, distress, affliction
Pāli: dukkha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026