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

SN 22.157 Insistence

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

“Kismiṁ nu kho, bhikkhave, sati, kiṁ upādāya, kiṁ abhinivissa uppajjanti saṁyojanābhinivesavinibandhā”ti?

Bhagavaṁmūlakā no, bhante, dhammā …pe…

“rūpe kho, bhikkhave, sati, rūpaṁ upādāya, rūpaṁ abhinivissa uppajjanti saṁyojanābhinivesavinibandhā. Vedanāya satisaññāya satisaṅkhāresu sativiññāṇe sati, viññāṇaṁ upādāya, viññāṇaṁ abhinivissa uppajjanti saṁyojanābhinivesavinibandhā.

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

“Aniccaṁ, bhante”.

“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ …pe… api nu taṁ anupādāya uppajjeyyuṁ saṁyojanābhinivesavinibandhā”ti?

“No hetaṁ, bhante” …pe…

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

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

“Kismiṁ nu kho, bhikkhave, sati, kiṁ upādāya, kiṁ abhinivissa uppajjanti saṁyojanābhinivesavinibandhā”ti?

“Mendicants, when what exists, because of grasping what and insisting on what, do fetters, insistence, and shackles arise?”

Bhagavaṁmūlakā no, bhante, dhammā …pe…

“Our teachings are rooted in the Buddha. …”

“rūpe kho, bhikkhave, sati, rūpaṁ upādāya, rūpaṁ abhinivissa uppajjanti saṁyojanābhinivesavinibandhā.

“When form exists, because of grasping form and insisting on form, fetters, insistence, and shackles arise.

Vedanāya sati

When feeling …

saññāya sati

perception …

saṅkhāresu sati

choices …

viññāṇe sati, viññāṇaṁ upādāya, viññāṇaṁ abhinivissa uppajjanti saṁyojanābhinivesavinibandhā.

consciousness exists, because of grasping consciousness and insisting on consciousness, fetters, insistence, and shackles arise.

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 uppajjeyyuṁ saṁyojanābhinivesavinibandhā”ti?

“But by not grasping what’s impermanent, suffering, and perishable, would fetters, insistence, and shackles arise?”

“No hetaṁ, bhante” …pe…

“No, sir.” …

“evaṁ passaṁ …pe…

“Seeing this …

nāparaṁ itthattāyāti pajānātī”ti.

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

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

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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Last updated on July 27, 2026