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

SN 12.43 Suffering

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

“Dukkhassa, bhikkhave, samudayañca atthaṅgamañca desessāmi. Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca:

“Katamo ca, bhikkhave, dukkhassa samudayo? Cakkhuñca paṭicca rūpe ca uppajjati cakkhuviññāṇaṁ. Tiṇṇaṁ saṅgati phasso. Phassapaccayā vedanā; vedanāpaccayā taṇhā. Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, dukkhassa samudayo.

Sotañca paṭicca sadde ca uppajjati sotaviññāṇaṁ …pe… ghānañca paṭicca gandhe ca …pe… jivhañca paṭicca rase ca …pe… kāyañca paṭicca phoṭṭhabbe ca …pe… manañca paṭicca dhamme ca uppajjati manoviññāṇaṁ. Tiṇṇaṁ saṅgati phasso. Phassapaccayā vedanā; vedanāpaccayā taṇhā. Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, dukkhassa samudayo.

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, dukkhassa atthaṅgamo? Cakkhuñca paṭicca rūpe ca uppajjati cakkhuviññāṇaṁ. Tiṇṇaṁ saṅgati phasso. Phassapaccayā vedanā; vedanāpaccayā taṇhā. Tassāyeva taṇhāya asesavirāganirodhā upādānanirodho; upādānanirodhā bhavanirodho; bhavanirodhā jātinirodho; jātinirodhā jarāmaraṇaṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā nirujjhanti. Evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa nirodho hoti. Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, dukkhassa atthaṅgamo.

Sotañca paṭicca sadde ca uppajjati sotaviññāṇaṁ …pe… ghānañca paṭicca gandhe ca …pe… jivhañca paṭicca rase ca …pe… kāyañca paṭicca phoṭṭhabbe ca …pe… manañca paṭicca dhamme ca uppajjati manoviññāṇaṁ. Tiṇṇaṁ saṅgati phasso. Phassapaccayā vedanā; vedanāpaccayā taṇhā. Tassāyeva taṇhāya asesavirāganirodhā upādānanirodho; upādānanirodhā bhavanirodho; bhavanirodhā jātinirodho; jātinirodhā jarāmaraṇaṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā nirujjhanti. Evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa nirodho hoti. Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, dukkhassa atthaṅgamo”ti.

Tatiyaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

At Sāvatthī.

“Dukkhassa, bhikkhave, samudayañca atthaṅgamañca desessāmi.

“Mendicants, I will teach you the origin and disappearance of suffering.

Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.

Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.

“Yes, sir,” they replied.

Bhagavā etadavoca:

The Buddha said this:

“Katamo ca, bhikkhave, dukkhassa samudayo?

“And what, mendicants, is the origin of suffering?

Cakkhuñca paṭicca rūpe ca uppajjati cakkhuviññāṇaṁ. Tiṇṇaṁ saṅgati phasso.

Eye consciousness arises dependent on the eye and sights. The meeting of the three is contact.

Phassapaccayā vedanā;

Contact is a requirement for feeling.

vedanāpaccayā taṇhā.

Feeling is a requirement for craving. …

Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, dukkhassa samudayo.

This is the origin of suffering.

Sotañca paṭicca sadde ca uppajjati sotaviññāṇaṁ …pe…

Ear consciousness arises dependent on the ear and sounds. …

ghānañca paṭicca gandhe ca …pe…

Nose consciousness arises dependent on the nose and smells. …

jivhañca paṭicca rase ca …pe…

Tongue consciousness arises dependent on the tongue and tastes. …

kāyañca paṭicca phoṭṭhabbe ca …pe…

Body consciousness arises dependent on the body and touches. …

manañca paṭicca dhamme ca uppajjati manoviññāṇaṁ. Tiṇṇaṁ saṅgati phasso.

Mind consciousness arises dependent on the mind and ideas. The meeting of the three is contact.

Phassapaccayā vedanā;

Contact is a requirement for feeling.

vedanāpaccayā taṇhā.

Feeling is a requirement for craving. …

Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, dukkhassa samudayo.

This is the origin of suffering.

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, dukkhassa atthaṅgamo?

And what is the disappearance of suffering?

Cakkhuñca paṭicca rūpe ca uppajjati cakkhuviññāṇaṁ. Tiṇṇaṁ saṅgati phasso.

Eye consciousness arises dependent on the eye and sights. The meeting of the three is contact.

Phassapaccayā vedanā;

Contact is a requirement for feeling.

vedanāpaccayā taṇhā.

Feeling is a requirement for craving.

Tassāyeva taṇhāya asesavirāganirodhā upādānanirodho;

When that craving fades away and ceases with no residue left behind, grasping ceases.

upādānanirodhā bhavanirodho;

When grasping ceases, continued existence ceases.

bhavanirodhā jātinirodho;

When continued existence ceases, rebirth ceases.

jātinirodhā jarāmaraṇaṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā nirujjhanti.

When rebirth ceases, old age and death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress cease.

Evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa nirodho hoti.

That is how this entire mass of suffering ceases.

Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, dukkhassa atthaṅgamo.

This is the disappearance of suffering.

Sotañca paṭicca sadde ca uppajjati sotaviññāṇaṁ …pe…

Ear consciousness arises dependent on the ear and sounds. …

ghānañca paṭicca gandhe ca …pe…

Nose consciousness arises dependent on the nose and smells. …

jivhañca paṭicca rase ca …pe…

Tongue consciousness arises dependent on the tongue and tastes. …

kāyañca paṭicca phoṭṭhabbe ca …pe…

Body consciousness arises dependent on the body and touches. …

manañca paṭicca dhamme ca uppajjati manoviññāṇaṁ. Tiṇṇaṁ saṅgati phasso.

Mind consciousness arises dependent on the mind and ideas. The meeting of the three is contact.

Phassapaccayā vedanā;

Contact is a requirement for feeling.

vedanāpaccayā taṇhā.

Feeling is a requirement for craving.

Tassāyeva taṇhāya asesavirāganirodhā upādānanirodho;

When that craving fades away and ceases with no residue left behind, grasping ceases.

upādānanirodhā bhavanirodho;

When grasping ceases, continued existence ceases.

bhavanirodhā jātinirodho;

When continued existence ceases, rebirth ceases.

jātinirodhā jarāmaraṇaṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā nirujjhanti.

When rebirth ceases, old age and death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress cease.

Evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa nirodho hoti.

That is how this entire mass of suffering ceases.

Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, dukkhassa atthaṅgamo”ti.

This is the disappearance of suffering.”

Tatiyaṁ.

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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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