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

SN 22.155 Substantialist View

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

“Kismiṁ nu kho, bhikkhave, sati, kiṁ upādāya, kiṁ abhinivissa sakkāyadiṭṭhi uppajjatī”ti?

Bhagavaṁmūlakā no, bhante, dhammā …pe…

“rūpe kho, bhikkhave, sati, rūpaṁ upādāya, rūpaṁ abhinivissa sakkāyadiṭṭhi uppajjati. Vedanāya satisaññāya satisaṅkhāresu sativiññāṇe sati, viññāṇaṁ upādāya, viññāṇaṁ abhinivissa sakkāyadiṭṭhi uppajjati.

Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, rūpaṁ niccaṁ aniccaṁ vā”ti?

“Aniccaṁ, bhante”.

“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ …pe… api nu taṁ anupādāya sakkāyadiṭṭhi uppajjeyyā”ti?

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

“Vedanāsaññāsaṅkhārāviññāṇaṁ niccaṁ aniccaṁ vā”ti?

“Aniccaṁ, bhante”.

“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ …pe… api nu taṁ anupādāya sakkāyadiṭṭhi uppajjeyyā”ti?

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

“Evaṁ passaṁ …pe… nāparaṁ itthattāyāti pajānātī”ti.

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

“Kismiṁ nu kho, bhikkhave, sati, kiṁ upādāya, kiṁ abhinivissa sakkāyadiṭṭhi uppajjatī”ti?

“Mendicants, when what exists, because of grasping what and insisting on what, does substantialist view arise?”

Bhagavaṁmūlakā no, bhante, dhammā …pe…

“Our teachings are rooted in the Buddha. …”

“rūpe kho, bhikkhave, sati, rūpaṁ upādāya, rūpaṁ abhinivissa sakkāyadiṭṭhi uppajjati.

“When form exists, because of grasping form and insisting on form, substantialist view arises.

Vedanāya sati

When feeling …

saññāya sati

perception …

saṅkhāresu sati

choices …

viññāṇe sati, viññāṇaṁ upādāya, viññāṇaṁ abhinivissa sakkāyadiṭṭhi uppajjati.

consciousness exists, because of grasping consciousness and insisting on consciousness, substantialist view arises.

Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave,

What do you think, mendicants?

rūpaṁ niccaṁ aniccaṁ vā”ti?

Is form permanent or impermanent?”

“Aniccaṁ, bhante”.

“Impermanent, sir.” …

“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ …pe…

api nu taṁ anupādāya sakkāyadiṭṭhi uppajjeyyā”ti?

“But by not grasping what’s impermanent, suffering, and perishable, would substantialist view arise?”

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

“No, sir.”

“Vedanā

“Is feeling …

saññā

perception …

saṅkhārā

choices …

viññāṇaṁ niccaṁ aniccaṁ vā”ti?

consciousness permanent or impermanent?”

“Aniccaṁ, bhante”.

“Impermanent, sir.” …

“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ …pe…

api nu taṁ anupādāya sakkāyadiṭṭhi uppajjeyyā”ti?

“But by not grasping what’s impermanent, suffering, and perishable, would substantialist view arise?”

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

“No, sir.”

“Evaṁ passaṁ …pe…

“Seeing this …

nāparaṁ itthattāyāti pajānātī”ti.

They understand: ‘… there is nothing further for this place.’”

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

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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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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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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Wrong view

Wrong view

A distorted understanding that sees permanence in the impermanent, satisfaction in the unsatisfactory, or self in the not-self. Wrong view guides action by delusion, obscuring cause and effect, and closes the door to wisdom and release.

Also known as: distorted or inverted perception, untrue view, false belief
Pāli: micchādiṭṭhi
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Last updated on July 27, 2026