The Buddha teaches on with koṭṭhita (3rd), applying the analysis of the five aggregates—form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness—to insight and release.

SN 22.135 With Koṭṭhita (3rd)

Taññeva nidānaṁ. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā sāriputto āyasmantaṁ mahākoṭṭhikaṁ etadavoca:

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

“Idhāvuso, assutavā puthujjano rūpaṁ nappajānāti, rūpasamudayaṁ nappajānāti, rūpanirodhaṁ nappajānāti, rūpanirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ nappajānāti. Vedanaṁ nappajānāti …pe… saññaṁsaṅkhāreviññāṇaṁ nappajānāti, viññāṇasamudayaṁ nappajānāti, viññāṇanirodhaṁ nappajānāti, viññāṇanirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ 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 rūpaṁ pajānāti, rūpasamudayaṁ pajānāti, rūpanirodhaṁ pajānāti, rūpanirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ pajānāti. Vedanaṁsaññaṁsaṅkhāreviññāṇaṁ pajānāti, viññāṇasamudayaṁ pajānāti, viññāṇanirodhaṁ pajānāti, viññāṇanirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ pajānāti.

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

Dasamaṁ.

Avijjāvaggo tatiyo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Samudayadhamme tīṇi,
assādo apare duve;
Samudaye ca dve vuttā,
koṭṭhike apare tayoti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Taññeva nidānaṁ.

The same setting.

Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā sāriputto āyasmantaṁ mahākoṭṭhikaṁ etadavoca:

Sāriputta said to Mahākoṭṭhita:

“‘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 rūpaṁ nappajānāti, rūpasamudayaṁ nappajānāti, rūpanirodhaṁ nappajānāti, rūpanirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ nappajānāti.

“Reverend, it’s when an unlearned ordinary person doesn’t understand form, its origin, its cessation, and the practice that leads to its cessation.

Vedanaṁ nappajānāti …pe…

They don’t understand feeling …

saññaṁ

perception …

saṅkhāre

choices …

viññāṇaṁ nappajānāti, viññāṇasamudayaṁ nappajānāti, viññāṇanirodhaṁ nappajānāti, viññāṇanirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ nappajānāti.

consciousness, its origin, its cessation, and the practice that leads to its cessation.

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 rūpaṁ pajānāti, rūpasamudayaṁ pajānāti, rūpanirodhaṁ pajānāti, rūpanirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ pajānāti.

“Reverend, it’s when a learned noble disciple understands form, its origin, its cessation, and the practice that leads to its cessation.

Vedanaṁ

They understand feeling …

saññaṁ

perception …

saṅkhāre

choices …

viññāṇaṁ pajānāti, viññāṇasamudayaṁ pajānāti, viññāṇanirodhaṁ pajānāti, viññāṇanirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ pajānāti.

consciousness, its origin, its cessation, and the practice that leads to its cessation.

Ayaṁ vuccatāvuso, vijjā;

This is called knowledge.

ettāvatā ca vijjāgato hotī”ti.

And this is how a knowing one is defined.”

Dasamaṁ.

Avijjāvaggo tatiyo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Samudayadhamme tīṇi,

assādo apare duve;

Samudaye ca dve vuttā,

koṭṭhike apare tayoti.

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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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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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