The Buddha teaches on with koṭṭhita (2nd), applying the analysis of the five aggregates—form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness—to insight and release.

SN 22.134 With Koṭṭhita (2nd)

Bārāṇasiyaṁ viharanti isipatane migadāye …pe…

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

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

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

Evaṁ vutte, āyasmā sāriputto āyasmantaṁ mahākoṭṭhikaṁ etadavoca:

“‘vijjā, vijjā’ti, āvuso koṭṭhika, vuccati. Katamā nu kho, āvuso, vijjā; kittāvatā ca vijjāgato hotī”ti?

“Idhāvuso, sutavā ariyasāvako rūpassa samudayañca atthaṅgamañca assādañca ādīnavañca nissaraṇañca yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti. Vedanāya …pe… saññāyasaṅkhārānaṁviññāṇassa samudayañca atthaṅgamañca assādañca ādīnavañca nissaraṇañca yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti.

Ayaṁ vuccatāvuso, vijjā; ettāvatā ca vijjāgato hotī”ti.

Navamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Bārāṇasiyaṁ viharanti isipatane migadāye …pe…

At Varanasi.

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

“Reverend Koṭṭhita, 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 samudayañca atthaṅgamañca assādañca ādīnavañca nissaraṇañca yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti.

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

Vedanāya …pe…

feeling,

saññāya

perception,

saṅkhārānaṁ

choices,

viññāṇassa samudayañca atthaṅgamañca 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.”

Evaṁ vutte, āyasmā sāriputto āyasmantaṁ mahākoṭṭhikaṁ etadavoca:

When he said this, Venerable Sāriputta said to him:

“‘vijjā, vijjā’ti, āvuso koṭṭhika, vuccati.

“Reverend Koṭṭhita, they speak of this thing called ‘knowledge’.

Katamā nu kho, āvuso, vijjā;

What is knowledge?

kittāvatā ca vijjāgato hotī”ti?

And how is a knowing one defined?”

“Idhāvuso, sutavā ariyasāvako rūpassa samudayañca atthaṅgamañca assādañca ādīnavañca nissaraṇañca yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti.

“Reverend, a learned noble disciple truly understands the origin, the disappearance, the gratification, the drawback, and the escape when it comes to form,

Vedanāya …pe…

feeling,

saññāya

perception,

saṅkhārānaṁ

choices,

viññāṇassa samudayañca atthaṅgamañca assādañca ādīnavañca nissaraṇañca yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti.

and consciousness.

Ayaṁ vuccatāvuso, vijjā;

This is called knowledge.

ettāvatā ca vijjāgato hotī”ti.

And this is how a knowing one is defined.”

Navamaṁ.

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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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