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

SN 22.129 Gratification

Bārāṇasiyaṁ viharanti isipatane migadāye …pe… ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā mahākoṭṭhiko āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ etadavoca:

“‘avijjā, avijjā’ti, āvuso sāriputta, vuccati. Katamā nu kho, āvuso, avijjā; kittāvatā ca avijjāgato hotī”ti?

“Idhāvuso assutavā puthujjano rūpassa assādañca ādīnavañca nissaraṇañca yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti. Vedanāya …pe… saññāyasaṅkhārānaṁviññāṇassa assādañca ādīnavañca nissaraṇañca yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti.

Ayaṁ vuccatāvuso, avijjā; ettāvatā ca avijjāgato hotī”ti.

Catutthaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Bārāṇasiyaṁ viharanti isipatane migadāye …pe…

At Varanasi.

ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā mahākoṭṭhiko āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ etadavoca:

Mahākoṭṭhita said to Sāriputta:

“‘avijjā, avijjā’ti, āvuso sāriputta, vuccati.

“Reverend Sāriputta, they speak of this thing called ‘ignorance’.

Katamā nu kho, āvuso, avijjā;

What is ignorance?

kittāvatā ca avijjāgato hotī”ti?

And how is an ignoramus defined?”

“Idhāvuso assutavā puthujjano rūpassa assādañca ādīnavañca nissaraṇañca yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti.

“Reverend, an unlearned ordinary person doesn’t truly understand the gratification, the drawback, and the escape when it comes to form,

Vedanāya …pe…

feeling,

saññāya

perception,

saṅkhārānaṁ

choices,

viññāṇassa assādañca ādīnavañca nissaraṇañca yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti.

and consciousness.

Ayaṁ vuccatāvuso, avijjā;

This is called ignorance.

ettāvatā ca avijjāgato hotī”ti.

And this is how an ignoramus is defined.”

Catutthaṁ.

Qualities:

Delusion

Delusion

A fundamental distortion of reality that sustains confusion, clouds discernment, and fuels further doubt.

Also known as: illusion, hallucination, misapprehension, distorted view
Pāli: moha, micchāñāṇa
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Ignorance

Ignorance

A fundamental blindness to the true nature of reality. It is not merely a lack of information, but an active misperception that views the transient as permanent and the unsatisfactory as a source of happiness, thereby fueling the cycle of suffering.

Also known as: illusion of knowing, fundamental unawareness of the true nature of reality, misunderstanding of how things have come to be, not knowing the four noble truths
Pāli: avijjā
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Last updated on July 27, 2026