The Buddha teaches Rāhula to contemplate form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness as impermanent, suffering, and not-self—not fit to be regarded as “mine, I am this, my self”—until disenchantment, fading of desire, and liberation arise.

SN 18.10 The Aggregates

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, rāhula, rūpaṁ niccaṁ aniccaṁ vā”ti?

“Aniccaṁ, bhante”

“vedanā …pe… saññāsaṅkhārāviññāṇaṁ niccaṁ aniccaṁ vā”ti?

“Aniccaṁ, bhante”

“evaṁ passaṁ, rāhula, sutavā ariyasāvako rūpasmimpi nibbindati …pe… vedanāyapi nibbindatisaññāyapi nibbindatisaṅkhāresupi nibbindativiññāṇasmimpi nibbindati; nibbindaṁ virajjati; virāgā vimuccati; vimuttasmiṁ vimuttamiti ñāṇaṁ hoti.

‘Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti pajānātī”ti.

Dasamaṁ.

Paṭhamo vaggo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Cakkhu rūpañca viññāṇaṁ,
samphasso vedanāya ca;
Saññā sañcetanā taṇhā,
dhātu khandhena te dasāti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

At Sāvatthī.

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, rāhula,

“What do you think, Rāhula?

rūpaṁ niccaṁ aniccaṁ vā”ti?

Is form permanent or impermanent?”

“Aniccaṁ, bhante”

“Impermanent, sir.” …

“vedanā …pe…

“… feeling …

saññā

perception …

saṅkhārā

choices …

viññāṇaṁ niccaṁ aniccaṁ vā”ti?

Is consciousness permanent or impermanent?”

“Aniccaṁ, bhante”

“Impermanent, sir.” …

“evaṁ passaṁ, rāhula, sutavā ariyasāvako rūpasmimpi nibbindati …pe… vedanāyapi nibbindatisaññāyapi nibbindatisaṅkhāresupi nibbindativiññāṇasmimpi nibbindati;

“Seeing this, a learned noble disciple grows disillusioned with form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness.

nibbindaṁ virajjati; virāgā vimuccati; vimuttasmiṁ vimuttamiti ñāṇaṁ hoti.

Being disillusioned, desire fades away. When desire fades away they’re freed. When they’re freed, they know they’re freed.

‘Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti pajānātī”ti.

They understand: ‘Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.’”

Dasamaṁ.

Paṭhamo vaggo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Cakkhu rūpañca viññāṇaṁ,

samphasso vedanāya ca;

Saññā sañcetanā taṇhā,

dhātu khandhena te dasāti.

Topics & Qualities:

Desire

Desire

A wholesome motivation, interest, or objective that acts as the starting point for effort and application of will.

Also known as: aspiration, interest, wish, having an objective, intention, impulse
Pāli: chanda
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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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Last updated on July 27, 2026