The Buddha teaches Rāhula to contemplate intentions regarding sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touches, and ideas 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 18.7 Intention

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, rāhula, rūpasañcetanā niccā aniccā vā”ti?

“Aniccā, bhante”

“saddasañcetanā …pe… gandhasañcetanārasasañcetanāphoṭṭhabbasañcetanādhammasañcetanā niccā aniccā vā”ti?

“Aniccā, bhante”

“evaṁ passaṁ, rāhula, sutavā ariyasāvako rūpasañcetanāyapi nibbindati …pe… saddasañcetanāyapi nibbindatigandhasañcetanāyapi nibbindatirasasañcetanāyapi nibbindatiphoṭṭhabbasañcetanāyapi nibbindatidhammasañcetanāyapi nibbindati …pe… pajānātī”ti.

Sattamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

At Sāvatthī.

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, rāhula,

“What do you think, Rāhula?

rūpasañcetanā niccā aniccā vā”ti?

Is intention regarding sights permanent or impermanent?”

“Aniccā, bhante”

“Impermanent, sir.” …

“saddasañcetanā …pe…

“… intention regarding sounds …

gandhasañcetanā

intention regarding smells …

rasasañcetanā

intention regarding tastes …

phoṭṭhabbasañcetanā

intention regarding touches …

dhammasañcetanā niccā aniccā vā”ti?

Is intention regarding ideas permanent or impermanent?”

“Aniccā, bhante”

“Impermanent, sir.” …

“evaṁ passaṁ, rāhula, sutavā ariyasāvako rūpasañcetanāyapi nibbindati …pe… saddasañcetanāyapi nibbindatigandhasañcetanāyapi nibbindatirasasañcetanāyapi nibbindatiphoṭṭhabbasañcetanāyapi nibbindatidhammasañcetanāyapi nibbindati …pe…

“Seeing this, a learned noble disciple grows disillusioned with intention regarding sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touches, and ideas. …”

pajānātī”ti.

Sattamaṁ.

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