The Buddha teaches on intention (2nd), presenting an analysis of dependent origination and the causal links that give rise to suffering.

SN 12.39 Intention (2nd)

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

“Yañca, bhikkhave, ceteti yañca pakappeti yañca anuseti, ārammaṇametaṁ hoti viññāṇassa ṭhitiyā. Ārammaṇe sati patiṭṭhā viññāṇassa hoti. Tasmiṁ patiṭṭhite viññāṇe virūḷhe nāmarūpassa avakkanti hoti. Nāmarūpapaccayā saḷāyatanaṁ; saḷāyatanapaccayā phasso; phassapaccayā vedanā …pe… taṇhāupādānaṁbhavojātijarāmaraṇaṁsokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā sambhavanti. Evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa samudayo hoti.

No ce, bhikkhave, ceteti no ce pakappeti, atha ce anuseti, ārammaṇametaṁ hoti viññāṇassa ṭhitiyā. Ārammaṇe sati patiṭṭhā viññāṇassa hoti. Tasmiṁ patiṭṭhite viññāṇe virūḷhe nāmarūpassa avakkanti hoti. Nāmarūpapaccayā saḷāyatanaṁ …pe… evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa samudayo hoti.

Yato ca kho, bhikkhave, no ceva ceteti no ca pakappeti no ca anuseti, ārammaṇametaṁ na hoti viññāṇassa ṭhitiyā. Ārammaṇe asati patiṭṭhā viññāṇassa na hoti. Tadappatiṭṭhite viññāṇe avirūḷhe nāmarūpassa avakkanti na hoti. Nāmarūpanirodhā saḷāyatananirodho …pe… evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa nirodho hotī”ti.

Navamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

At Sāvatthī.

“Yañca, bhikkhave, ceteti yañca pakappeti yañca anuseti, ārammaṇametaṁ hoti viññāṇassa ṭhitiyā.

“Mendicants, what you intend or plan, and what you have underlying tendencies for become a support for the continuation of consciousness.

Ārammaṇe sati patiṭṭhā viññāṇassa hoti.

When this support exists, consciousness becomes established.

Tasmiṁ patiṭṭhite viññāṇe virūḷhe nāmarūpassa avakkanti hoti.

When consciousness is established, name and form are conceived.

Nāmarūpapaccayā saḷāyatanaṁ;

Name and form are requirements for the six sense fields.

saḷāyatanapaccayā phasso;

The six sense fields are requirements for contact.

phassapaccayā vedanā …pe…

Contact is a requirement for feeling. …

taṇhā

craving …

upādānaṁ

grasping …

bhavo

continued existence …

jāti

rebirth …

jarāmaraṇaṁ

old age and death,

sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā sambhavanti.

sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress come to be.

Evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa samudayo hoti.

That is how this entire mass of suffering originates.

No ce, bhikkhave, ceteti no ce pakappeti, atha ce anuseti, ārammaṇametaṁ hoti viññāṇassa ṭhitiyā.

If you don’t intend or plan, but still have underlying tendencies, this becomes a support for the continuation of consciousness.

Ārammaṇe sati patiṭṭhā viññāṇassa hoti.

When this support exists, consciousness becomes established.

Tasmiṁ patiṭṭhite viññāṇe virūḷhe nāmarūpassa avakkanti hoti.

When consciousness is established, name and form are conceived.

Nāmarūpapaccayā saḷāyatanaṁ …pe…

Name and form are requirements for the six sense fields. …

evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa samudayo hoti.

That is how this entire mass of suffering originates.

Yato ca kho, bhikkhave, no ceva ceteti no ca pakappeti no ca anuseti, ārammaṇametaṁ na hoti viññāṇassa ṭhitiyā.

If you don’t intend or plan or have underlying tendencies, this doesn’t become a support for the continuation of consciousness.

Ārammaṇe asati patiṭṭhā viññāṇassa na hoti.

With no support, consciousness is not established.

Tadappatiṭṭhite viññāṇe avirūḷhe nāmarūpassa avakkanti na hoti.

When consciousness is not established and doesn’t grow, name and form are not conceived.

Nāmarūpanirodhā saḷāyatananirodho …pe…

When name and form cease, the six sense fields cease. …

evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa nirodho hotī”ti.

That is how this entire mass of suffering ceases.”

Navamaṁ.

Qualities:

Anxiety

Anxiety

A fluttering, unsettled state of mind, worried about past or future and unsure what is right to do. It keeps the mind circling around concerns without resolution, weakening confidence and obscuring calm discernment.

Also known as: agitation, confusion about what is right and wrong, distress, fickleness, fidgetiness, edginess, restlessness, wavering, worry
Pāli: kukkucca, uddhacca, darathaja
View all discourses →
Attachment

Attachment

A mental fastening onto people, things, views, or states as “me” or “mine,” unwilling to release them. This clinging can give a sense of security and sweetness.

Also known as: acquisition, bond, clinging, grasping, holding on, possession, entanglement, bound, connected, taking as mine
Pāli: upadhi, upādāna, sakiñcana, mamatta
View all discourses →
Craving

Craving

A driving ‘thirst’ that reaches out toward experiences, identities, or outcomes as the place to find satisfaction—“if only I had that.” It spins stories of lack, binds the mind to becoming, and invariably leads to suffering.

Also known as: wanting, yearning, longing, lit. thirst
Pāli: taṇha, abhijjhā
View all discourses →
Lamentation

Lamentation

The verbal and bodily expression of grief—crying, wailing, and mourning—that arises from loss or separation from what is held dear. It gives voice to sorrow and can deepen the mind's entanglement with pain.

Also known as: crying, wailing, mourning
Pāli: parideva
View all discourses →
Sorrow

Sorrow

Grief or sadness that follows loss or disappointment, dimming the mind’s natural brightness. It clouds clear perception.

Also known as: grief, sadness
Pāli: soka, socati
View all discourses →
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
View all discourses →

Last updated on July 27, 2026