The Buddha teaches on the five aggregates regarding learned, showing how they are to be understood for liberation from suffering.

SN 22.123 Learned

Ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā ca sāriputto āyasmā ca mahākoṭṭhiko bārāṇasiyaṁ viharanti isipatane migadāye. Atha kho āyasmā mahākoṭṭhiko sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito yenāyasmā sāriputto tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā …pe… etadavoca:

“Sutavatāvuso sāriputta, bhikkhunā katame dhammā yoniso manasi kātabbā”ti?

“Sutavatāvuso koṭṭhika, bhikkhunā pañcupādānakkhandhā aniccato …pe… anattato yoniso manasi kātabbā. Katame pañca? Seyyathidaṁrūpupādānakkhandho …pe… viññāṇupādānakkhandho. Sutavatāvuso koṭṭhika, bhikkhunā ime pañcupādānakkhandhā aniccato …pe… anattato yoniso manasi kātabbā. Ṭhānaṁ kho panetaṁ, āvuso, vijjatiyaṁ sutavā bhikkhu ime pañcupādānakkhandhe aniccato …pe… anattato yoniso manasi karonto sotāpattiphalaṁ sacchikareyyā”ti.

“Sotāpannena panāvuso sāriputta, bhikkhunā katame dhammā yoniso manasi kātabbā”ti?

“Sotāpannenapi kho āvuso koṭṭhika, bhikkhunā ime pañcupādānakkhandhā aniccato …pe… anattato yoniso manasi kātabbā. Ṭhānaṁ kho panetaṁ, āvuso, vijjatiyaṁ sotāpanno bhikkhu ime pañcupādānakkhandhe aniccato …pe… anattato yoniso manasi karonto sakadāgāmiphalaṁ …pe… anāgāmiphalaṁ …pe… arahattaphalaṁ sacchikareyyā”ti.

“Arahatā panāvuso sāriputta, katame dhammā yoniso manasi kātabbā”ti?

“Arahatāpi khvāvuso koṭṭhika, ime pañcupādānakkhandhā aniccato dukkhato rogato gaṇḍato sallato aghato ābādhato parato palokato suññato anattato yoniso manasi kātabbā. Natthi, khvāvuso, arahato uttari karaṇīyaṁ, katassa paticayo; api ca kho ime dhammā bhāvitā bahulīkatā diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārāya ceva saṁvattanti satisampajaññāya cā”ti.

Ekādasamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā ca sāriputto āyasmā ca mahākoṭṭhiko bārāṇasiyaṁ viharanti isipatane migadāye.

At one time Venerable Sāriputta and Venerable Mahākoṭṭhita were staying near Varanasi, in the deer park at Isipatana.

Atha kho āyasmā mahākoṭṭhiko sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito yenāyasmā sāriputto tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā …pe… etadavoca:

Then in the late afternoon, Venerable Mahākoṭṭhita came out of retreat, went to Venerable Sāriputta, bowed, sat down to one side, and said:

“Sutavatāvuso sāriputta, bhikkhunā katame dhammā yoniso manasi kātabbā”ti?

“Reverend Sāriputta, what things should a learned mendicant rationally apply the mind to?”

“Sutavatāvuso koṭṭhika, bhikkhunā pañcupādānakkhandhā aniccato …pe… anattato yoniso manasi kātabbā.

“A learned mendicant should rationally apply the mind to these five grasping aggregates as impermanent … as not-self.

Katame pañca?

What five?

Seyyathidaṁrūpupādānakkhandho …pe… viññāṇupādānakkhandho.

That is, the grasping aggregates of form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness.

Sutavatāvuso koṭṭhika, bhikkhunā ime pañcupādānakkhandhā aniccato …pe… anattato yoniso manasi kātabbā.

A learned mendicant should rationally apply the mind to these five grasping aggregates as impermanent … as not-self.

Ṭhānaṁ kho panetaṁ, āvuso, vijjatiyaṁ sutavā bhikkhu ime pañcupādānakkhandhe aniccato …pe… anattato yoniso manasi karonto sotāpattiphalaṁ sacchikareyyā”ti.

It’s possible that a learned mendicant who rationally applies the mind to the five grasping aggregates will realize the fruit of stream-entry.”

“Sotāpannena panāvuso sāriputta, bhikkhunā katame dhammā yoniso manasi kātabbā”ti?

“But Reverend Sāriputta, what things should a mendicant stream-enterer rationally apply the mind to?”

“Sotāpannenapi kho āvuso koṭṭhika, bhikkhunā ime pañcupādānakkhandhā aniccato …pe… anattato yoniso manasi kātabbā.

“A mendicant stream-enterer should also rationally apply the mind to these five grasping aggregates as impermanent … as not-self.

Ṭhānaṁ kho panetaṁ, āvuso, vijjatiyaṁ sotāpanno bhikkhu ime pañcupādānakkhandhe aniccato …pe… anattato yoniso manasi karonto sakadāgāmiphalaṁ …pe…

It’s possible that a mendicant stream-enterer who rationally applies the mind to the five grasping aggregates will realize the fruit of once-return.” …

anāgāmiphalaṁ …pe…

“It’s possible that a mendicant once-returner who rationally applies the mind to the five grasping aggregates will realize the fruit of non-return.” …

arahattaphalaṁ sacchikareyyā”ti.

“It’s possible that a mendicant non-returner who rationally applies the mind to the five grasping aggregates will realize the fruit of perfection.”

“Arahatā panāvuso sāriputta, katame dhammā yoniso manasi kātabbā”ti?

“But Reverend Sāriputta, what things should a perfected one rationally apply the mind to?”

“Arahatāpi khvāvuso koṭṭhika, ime pañcupādānakkhandhā aniccato dukkhato rogato gaṇḍato sallato aghato ābādhato parato palokato suññato anattato yoniso manasi kātabbā.

“Reverend Koṭṭhita, a perfected one should rationally apply the mind to the five grasping aggregates as impermanent, as suffering, as diseased, as a boil, as a dart, as gloom, as an affliction, as alien, as breaking apart, as empty, as not-self.

Natthi, khvāvuso, arahato uttari karaṇīyaṁ, katassa paticayo;

A perfected one has nothing more to do, and nothing that needs improvement.

api ca kho ime dhammā bhāvitā bahulīkatā diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārāya ceva saṁvattanti satisampajaññāya cā”ti.

Still, these things, when developed and cultivated, lead to blissful meditation in this life, and also to mindfulness and situational awareness.”

Ekādasamaṁ.

Topics & 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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Cultivation

Cultivation

The active practice of 'bringing into being' wholesome states. It is the deliberate nurturing of the bright state of mind.

Also known as: development, improvement, meditation, nurturing, growth
Pāli: bhāvanā
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Jhana

Jhana

An abiding with a steady, collected awareness that is attained through seclusion from the five hindrances and unwholesome mental states. When supported by right view, a jhāna can be a basis for the wearing away of taints and directing the mind toward the vision of Nibbāna.

Also known as: meditation, undistracted awareness, absorption, mental absorption
Pāli: jhāna, samāhita, susamāhita, sammāsamādhi
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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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Mindfulness

Mindfulness

Active presence of mind and lucid retention; the faculty that remembers the Dhamma, anchors attention to the chosen object or present experience, and guards the mind against unwholesome states.

Also known as: recollecting, remembering, keeping in mind, presence, awareness
Pāli: sati, anussati
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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