The Buddha teaches on a dhamma speaker, applying the analysis of the five aggregates—form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness—to insight and release.

SN 22.115 A Dhamma speaker

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“‘dhammakathiko, dhammakathiko’ti, bhante, vuccati; kittāvatā nu kho, bhante, dhammakathiko hotī”ti?

“Rūpassa ce, bhikkhu, nibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya dhammaṁ deseti ‘dhammakathiko bhikkhū’ti alaṁvacanāya.

Rūpassa ce, bhikkhu, nibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya paṭipanno hoti, ‘dhammānudhammappaṭipanno bhikkhū’ti alaṁvacanāya.

Rūpassa ce, bhikkhu, nibbidā virāgā nirodhā anupādāvimutto hoti, ‘diṭṭhadhammanibbānappatto bhikkhū’ti alaṁvacanāya.

Vedanāya ce, bhikkhu …pe… saññāya ce, bhikkhusaṅkhārānañce, bhikkhuviññāṇassa ce, bhikkhu, nibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya dhammaṁ deseti, ‘dhammakathiko bhikkhū’ti alaṁvacanāya.

Viññāṇassa ce, bhikkhu, nibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya paṭipanno hoti, ‘dhammānudhammappaṭipanno bhikkhū’ti alaṁvacanāya.

Viññāṇassa ce, bhikkhu, nibbidā virāgā nirodhā anupādāvimutto hoti, ‘diṭṭhadhammanibbānappatto bhikkhū’ti alaṁvacanāyā”ti.

Tatiyaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Seated to one side, that mendicant said to the Buddha:

“‘dhammakathiko, dhammakathiko’ti, bhante, vuccati;

“Sir, they speak of a ‘Dhamma speaker’.

kittāvatā nu kho, bhante, dhammakathiko hotī”ti?

How is a Dhamma speaker defined?”

“Rūpassa ce, bhikkhu, nibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya dhammaṁ deseti ‘dhammakathiko bhikkhū’ti alaṁvacanāya.

“Mendicant, if a mendicant teaches Dhamma for disillusionment, dispassion, and cessation regarding form, they’re qualified to be called ‘a mendicant who speaks on Dhamma’.

Rūpassa ce, bhikkhu, nibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya paṭipanno hoti, ‘dhammānudhammappaṭipanno bhikkhū’ti alaṁvacanāya.

If they practice for disillusionment, dispassion, and cessation regarding form, they’re qualified to be called ‘a mendicant who practices in line with the teaching’.

Rūpassa ce, bhikkhu, nibbidā virāgā nirodhā anupādāvimutto hoti, ‘diṭṭhadhammanibbānappatto bhikkhū’ti alaṁvacanāya.

If they’re freed by not grasping by disillusionment, dispassion, and cessation regarding form, they’re qualified to be called ‘a mendicant who has attained extinguishment in this very life’.

Vedanāya ce, bhikkhu …pe…

If a mendicant teaches Dhamma for disillusionment with feeling …

saññāya ce, bhikkhu

perception …

saṅkhārānañce, bhikkhu

choices …

viññāṇassa ce, bhikkhu, nibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya dhammaṁ deseti, ‘dhammakathiko bhikkhū’ti alaṁvacanāya.

consciousness, for its fading away and cessation, they’re qualified to be called ‘a mendicant who speaks on Dhamma’.

Viññāṇassa ce, bhikkhu, nibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya paṭipanno hoti, ‘dhammānudhammappaṭipanno bhikkhū’ti alaṁvacanāya.

If they practice for disillusionment, dispassion, and cessation regarding consciousness, they’re qualified to be called ‘a mendicant who practices in line with the teaching’.

Viññāṇassa ce, bhikkhu, nibbidā virāgā nirodhā anupādāvimutto hoti, ‘diṭṭhadhammanibbānappatto bhikkhū’ti alaṁvacanāyā”ti.

If they’re freed by not grasping by disillusionment, dispassion, and cessation regarding consciousness, they’re qualified to be called ‘a mendicant who has attained extinguishment in this very life’.”

Tatiyaṁ.

Qualities:

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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Dispassion

Dispassion

The fading of desire and attraction toward conditioned things. It arises through seeing the impermanent and unsatisfactory nature of experience. It is the natural fragrance of understanding and the forerunner of release.

Also known as: detachment, disinterest, fading of desire, disentanglement
Pāli: virāga, visaṁyutta
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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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Free from attachment

Free from attachment

Release from grasping, not taking anything as “me” or “mine,” ceasing to appropriate or identify with people, things, views, or experiences.

Also known as: free from grasping, not appropriating, not taking as mine, without acquisitions, not clinging, not grasping, not holding onto
Pāli: nirūpadhi, nānupādāya, asita, anuggaha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026