The Buddha advises H on the five aggregates and how to practice amid aging, illness, and the limitations of the body.

SN 22.3 With Hāliddikāni

Evaṁ me sutaṁ ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā mahākaccāno avantīsu viharati kuraraghare papāte pabbate.

Atha kho hāliddikāni gahapati yenāyasmā mahākaccāno tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ mahākaccānaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho hāliddikāni gahapati āyasmantaṁ mahākaccānaṁ etadavoca: “vuttamidaṁ, bhante, bhagavatā aṭṭhakavaggiye māgaṇḍiyapañhe:

‘Okaṁ pahāya aniketasārī,
Gāme akubbaṁ muni santhavāni;
Kāmehi ritto apurakkharāno,
Kathaṁ na viggayha janena kayirā’ti.

Imassa nu kho, bhante, bhagavatā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa kathaṁ vitthārena attho daṭṭhabbo”ti?

“Rūpadhātu kho, gahapati, viññāṇassa oko. Rūpadhāturāgavinibandhañca pana viññāṇaṁ ‘okasārī’ti vuccati. Vedanādhātu kho, gahapati, viññāṇassa oko. Vedanādhāturāgavinibandhañca pana viññāṇaṁ ‘okasārī’ti vuccati. Saññādhātu kho, gahapati, viññāṇassa oko. Saññādhāturāgavinibandhañca pana viññāṇaṁ ‘okasārī’ti vuccati. Saṅkhāradhātu kho, gahapati, viññāṇassa oko. Saṅkhāradhāturāgavinibandhañca pana viññāṇaṁ ‘okasārī’ti vuccati. Evaṁ kho, gahapati, okasārī hoti.

Kathañca, gahapati, anokasārī hoti? Rūpadhātuyā kho, gahapati, yo chando yo rāgo nandī taṇhā ye upayupādānā cetaso adhiṭṭhānābhinivesānusayā te tathāgatassa pahīnā ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā. Tasmā tathāgato ‘anokasārī’ti vuccati. Vedanādhātuyā kho, gahapatisaññādhātuyā kho, gahapatisaṅkhāradhātuyā kho, gahapativiññāṇadhātuyā kho, gahapati, yo chando yo rāgo nandī taṇhā ye upayupādānā cetaso adhiṭṭhānābhinivesānusayā te tathāgatassa pahīnā ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā. Tasmā tathāgato ‘anokasārī’ti vuccati. Evaṁ kho, gahapati, anokasārī hoti.

Kathañca, gahapati, niketasārī hoti? Rūpanimittaniketavisāravinibandhā kho, gahapati, ‘niketasārī’ti vuccati. Saddanimitta …pe… gandhanimittarasanimittaphoṭṭhabbanimittadhammanimittaniketavisāravinibandhā kho, gahapati, ‘niketasārī’ti vuccati. Evaṁ kho, gahapati, niketasārī hoti.

Kathañca, gahapati, aniketasārī hoti? Rūpanimittaniketavisāravinibandhā kho, gahapati, tathāgatassa pahīnā ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā. Tasmā tathāgato ‘aniketasārī’ti vuccati. Saddanimittagandhanimittarasanimittaphoṭṭhabbanimittadhammanimittaniketavisāravinibandhā kho, gahapati, tathāgatassa pahīnā ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā. Tasmā tathāgato ‘aniketasārī’ti vuccati. Evaṁ kho, gahapati, aniketasārī hoti.

Kathañca, gahapati, gāme santhavajāto hoti? Idha, gahapati, ekacco gihīhi saṁsaṭṭho viharati sahanandī sahasokī, sukhitesu sukhito, dukkhitesu dukkhito, uppannesu kiccakaraṇīyesu attanā tesu yogaṁ āpajjati. Evaṁ kho, gahapati, gāme santhavajāto hoti.

Kathañca, gahapati, gāme na santhavajāto hoti? Idha, gahapati, bhikkhu gihīhi asaṁsaṭṭho viharati na sahanandī na sahasokī na sukhitesu sukhito na dukkhitesu dukkhito, uppannesu kiccakaraṇīyesu na attanā tesu yogaṁ āpajjati. Evaṁ kho, gahapati, gāme na santhavajāto hoti.

Kathañca, gahapati, kāmehi aritto hoti? Idha, gahapati, ekacco kāmesu avigatarāgo hoti avigatacchando avigatapemo avigatapipāso avigatapariḷāho avigatataṇho. Evaṁ kho, gahapati, kāmehi aritto hoti.

Kathañca, gahapati, kāmehi ritto hoti? Idha, gahapati, ekacco kāmesu vigatarāgo hoti vigatacchando vigatapemo vigatapipāso vigatapariḷāho vigatataṇho. Evaṁ kho, gahapati, kāmehi ritto hoti.

Kathañca, gahapati, purakkharāno hoti? Idha, gahapati, ekaccassa evaṁ hoti: ‘evaṁrūpo siyaṁ anāgatamaddhānaṁ, evaṁvedano siyaṁ anāgatamaddhānaṁ, evaṁsañño siyaṁ anāgatamaddhānaṁ, evaṁsaṅkhāro siyaṁ anāgatamaddhānaṁ, evaṁviññāṇo siyaṁ anāgatamaddhānan’ti. Evaṁ kho, gahapati, purakkharāno hoti.

Kathañca, gahapati, apurakkharāno hoti? Idha, gahapati, ekaccassa na evaṁ hoti: ‘evaṁrūpo siyaṁ anāgatamaddhānaṁ, evaṁvedano siyaṁ anāgatamaddhānaṁ, evaṁsañño siyaṁ anāgatamaddhānaṁ, evaṁsaṅkhāro siyaṁ anāgatamaddhānaṁ, evaṁviññāṇo siyaṁ anāgatamaddhānan’ti. Evaṁ kho, gahapati, apurakkharāno hoti.

Kathañca, gahapati, kathaṁ viggayha janena kattā hoti? Idha, gahapati, ekacco evarūpiṁ kathaṁ kattā hoti: ‘na tvaṁ imaṁ dhammavinayaṁ ājānāsi; ahaṁ imaṁ dhammavinayaṁ ājānāmi. Kiṁ tvaṁ imaṁ dhammavinayaṁ ājānissasi? Micchāpaṭipanno tvamasi; ahamasmi sammāpaṭipanno. Pure vacanīyaṁ pacchā avaca; pacchā vacanīyaṁ pure avaca. Sahitaṁ me, asahitaṁ te. Adhiciṇṇaṁ te viparāvattaṁ. Āropito te vādo; cara vādappamokkhāya. Niggahitosi; nibbeṭhehi sace pahosī’ti. Evaṁ kho, gahapati, kathaṁ viggayha janena kattā hoti.

Kathañca, gahapati, kathaṁ na viggayha janena kattā hoti? Idha, gahapati, bhikkhu na evarūpiṁ kathaṁ kattā hoti: ‘na tvaṁ imaṁ dhammavinayaṁ ājānāsi …pe… nibbeṭhehi sace pahosī’ti. Evaṁ kho, gahapati, kathaṁ na viggayha janena kattā hoti.

Iti kho, gahapati, yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ bhagavatā aṭṭhakavaggiye māgaṇḍiyapañhe:

‘Okaṁ pahāya aniketasārī,
Gāme akubbaṁ munisanthavāni;
Kāmehi ritto apurakkharāno,
Kathaṁ na viggayha janena kayirā’ti.

Imassa kho, gahapati, bhagavatā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa evaṁ vitthārena attho daṭṭhabbo”ti.

Tatiyaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Evaṁ me sutaṁ

So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā mahākaccāno avantīsu viharati kuraraghare papāte pabbate.

At one time Venerable Mahākaccāna was staying in the land of the Avantis near Kuraraghara on Steep Mountain.

Atha kho hāliddikāni gahapati yenāyasmā mahākaccāno tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ mahākaccānaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho hāliddikāni gahapati āyasmantaṁ mahākaccānaṁ etadavoca:

Then the householder Hāliddikāni went up to Venerable Mahākaccāna, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him,

“vuttamidaṁ, bhante, bhagavatā aṭṭhakavaggiye māgaṇḍiyapañhe:

“Sir, this was said by the Buddha in the Chapter of the Eights, in ‘The Questions of Māgandiya’:

‘Okaṁ pahāya aniketasārī,

‘After leaving their bastion to migrate without abode,

Gāme akubbaṁ muni santhavāni;

a sage doesn’t get close to anyone in town.

Kāmehi ritto apurakkharāno,

Rid of sensual pleasures, not expecting,

Kathaṁ na viggayha janena kayirā’ti.

they wouldn’t get in arguments with people.’

Imassa nu kho, bhante, bhagavatā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa kathaṁ vitthārena attho daṭṭhabbo”ti?

How should we see the detailed meaning of the Buddha’s brief statement?”

“Rūpadhātu kho, gahapati, viññāṇassa oko.

“Householder, the form element is a shelter for consciousness.

Rūpadhāturāgavinibandhañca pana viññāṇaṁ ‘okasārī’ti vuccati.

One whose consciousness is shackled by greed for the form element is called a migrant going from bastion to bastion.

Vedanādhātu kho, gahapati, viññāṇassa oko.

The feeling element is a shelter for consciousness.

Vedanādhāturāgavinibandhañca pana viññāṇaṁ ‘okasārī’ti vuccati.

One whose consciousness is shackled to greed for the feeling element is called a migrant going from bastion to bastion.

Saññādhātu kho, gahapati, viññāṇassa oko.

The perception element is a shelter for consciousness.

Saññādhāturāgavinibandhañca pana viññāṇaṁ ‘okasārī’ti vuccati.

One whose consciousness is shackled to greed for the perception element is called a migrant going from bastion to bastion.

Saṅkhāradhātu kho, gahapati, viññāṇassa oko.

The choices element is a shelter for consciousness.

Saṅkhāradhāturāgavinibandhañca pana viññāṇaṁ ‘okasārī’ti vuccati.

One whose consciousness is shackled to greed for the choices element is called a migrant going from bastion to bastion.

Evaṁ kho, gahapati, okasārī hoti.

That’s how one is a migrant going from bastion to bastion.

Kathañca, gahapati, anokasārī hoti?

And how is one a migrant with no bastion?

Rūpadhātuyā kho, gahapati, yo chando yo rāgo nandī taṇhā ye upayupādānā cetaso adhiṭṭhānābhinivesānusayā te tathāgatassa pahīnā ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā.

The Realized One has given up any desire, greed, relishing, and craving for the form element; any attraction, grasping, mental fixation, insistence, and underlying tendencies. He has cut it off at the root, made it like a palm stump, obliterated it, so it’s unable to arise in the future.

Tasmā tathāgato ‘anokasārī’ti vuccati.

That’s why the Realized One is called a migrant with no bastion.

Vedanādhātuyā kho, gahapati

The Realized One has given up any desire, greed, relishing, and craving for the feeling element …

saññādhātuyā kho, gahapati

the perception element …

saṅkhāradhātuyā kho, gahapati

the choices element …

viññāṇadhātuyā kho, gahapati, yo chando yo rāgo nandī taṇhā ye upayupādānā cetaso adhiṭṭhānābhinivesānusayā te tathāgatassa pahīnā ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā.

the consciousness element; any attraction, grasping, mental fixation, insistence, and underlying tendencies. He has cut it off at the root, made it like a palm stump, obliterated it, so it’s unable to arise in the future.

Tasmā tathāgato ‘anokasārī’ti vuccati.

That’s why the Realized One is called a migrant with no bastion.

Evaṁ kho, gahapati, anokasārī hoti.

That’s how one is a migrant with no shelter.

Kathañca, gahapati, niketasārī hoti?

And how is one a migrant going from abode to abode?

Rūpanimittaniketavisāravinibandhā kho, gahapati, ‘niketasārī’ti vuccati.

Shackled to chasing the abodes that are the features of sights, one is called a migrant going from abode to abode.

Saddanimitta …pe…

Shackled to chasing the abodes that are the features of sounds …

gandhanimitta

smells …

rasanimitta

tastes …

phoṭṭhabbanimitta

touches …

dhammanimittaniketavisāravinibandhā kho, gahapati, ‘niketasārī’ti vuccati.

thoughts, one is called a migrant going from abode to abode.

Evaṁ kho, gahapati, niketasārī hoti.

That’s how one is a migrant going from abode to abode.

Kathañca, gahapati, aniketasārī hoti?

And how is one a migrant without abode?

Rūpanimittaniketavisāravinibandhā kho, gahapati, tathāgatassa pahīnā ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā.

The Realized One has given up chasing the abodes that are the features of sights. He has cut it off at the root, made it like a palm stump, obliterated it, so it’s unable to arise in the future.

Tasmā tathāgato ‘aniketasārī’ti vuccati.

That’s why the Realized One is called a migrant without abode.

Saddanimitta

The Realized One has given up chasing the abodes that are the features of sounds …

gandhanimitta

smells …

rasanimitta

tastes …

phoṭṭhabbanimitta

touches …

dhammanimittaniketavisāravinibandhā kho, gahapati, tathāgatassa pahīnā ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā.

ideas. He has cut it off at the root, made it like a palm stump, obliterated it, so it’s unable to arise in the future.

Tasmā tathāgato ‘aniketasārī’ti vuccati.

That’s why the Realized One is called a migrant without abode.

Evaṁ kho, gahapati, aniketasārī hoti.

That’s how one is a migrant without abode.

Kathañca, gahapati, gāme santhavajāto hoti?

And how does one get close to people in town?

Idha, gahapati, ekacco gihīhi saṁsaṭṭho viharati sahanandī sahasokī, sukhitesu sukhito, dukkhitesu dukkhito, uppannesu kiccakaraṇīyesu attanā tesu yogaṁ āpajjati.

It’s when someone mixes closely with laypeople, sharing their joys and sorrows—happy when they’re happy and sad when they’re sad—and getting themselves involved in their business.

Evaṁ kho, gahapati, gāme santhavajāto hoti.

That’s how one gets close to people in town.

Kathañca, gahapati, gāme na santhavajāto hoti?

And how does one not get close to people in town?

Idha, gahapati, bhikkhu gihīhi asaṁsaṭṭho viharati na sahanandī na sahasokī na sukhitesu sukhito na dukkhitesu dukkhito, uppannesu kiccakaraṇīyesu na attanā tesu yogaṁ āpajjati.

It’s when a mendicant doesn’t mix closely with laypeople, not sharing their joys and sorrows—not happy when they’re happy or sad when they’re sad—and not getting themselves involved in their business.

Evaṁ kho, gahapati, gāme na santhavajāto hoti.

That’s how one doesn’t get close to people in town.

Kathañca, gahapati, kāmehi aritto hoti?

And how is one not rid of sensual pleasures?

Idha, gahapati, ekacco kāmesu avigatarāgo hoti avigatacchando avigatapemo avigatapipāso avigatapariḷāho avigatataṇho.

It’s when someone isn’t rid of greed, desire, fondness, thirst, passion, and craving for sensual pleasures.

Evaṁ kho, gahapati, kāmehi aritto hoti.

That’s how one is not rid of sensual pleasures.

Kathañca, gahapati, kāmehi ritto hoti?

And how is one rid of sensual pleasures?

Idha, gahapati, ekacco kāmesu vigatarāgo hoti vigatacchando vigatapemo vigatapipāso vigatapariḷāho vigatataṇho.

It’s when someone is rid of greed, desire, fondness, thirst, passion, and craving for sensual pleasures.

Evaṁ kho, gahapati, kāmehi ritto hoti.

That’s how one is rid of sensual pleasures.

Kathañca, gahapati, purakkharāno hoti?

And how is one expecting?

Idha, gahapati, ekaccassa evaṁ hoti:

It’s when someone thinks:

‘evaṁrūpo siyaṁ anāgatamaddhānaṁ, evaṁvedano siyaṁ anāgatamaddhānaṁ, evaṁsañño siyaṁ anāgatamaddhānaṁ, evaṁsaṅkhāro siyaṁ anāgatamaddhānaṁ, evaṁviññāṇo siyaṁ anāgatamaddhānan’ti.

‘In the future, may I be of such form, such feeling, such perception, such choices, and such consciousness!’

Evaṁ kho, gahapati, purakkharāno hoti.

That’s how one is expecting.

Kathañca, gahapati, apurakkharāno hoti?

And how is one not expecting?

Idha, gahapati, ekaccassa na evaṁ hoti:

It’s when someone doesn’t think:

‘evaṁrūpo siyaṁ anāgatamaddhānaṁ, evaṁvedano siyaṁ anāgatamaddhānaṁ, evaṁsañño siyaṁ anāgatamaddhānaṁ, evaṁsaṅkhāro siyaṁ anāgatamaddhānaṁ, evaṁviññāṇo siyaṁ anāgatamaddhānan’ti.

‘In the future, may I be of such form, such feeling, such perception, such choices, and such consciousness!’

Evaṁ kho, gahapati, apurakkharāno hoti.

That’s how one is not expecting.

Kathañca, gahapati, kathaṁ viggayha janena kattā hoti?

And how does one argue with people?

Idha, gahapati, ekacco evarūpiṁ kathaṁ kattā hoti:

It’s when someone takes part in this sort of discussion:

‘na tvaṁ imaṁ dhammavinayaṁ ājānāsi; ahaṁ imaṁ dhammavinayaṁ ājānāmi. Kiṁ tvaṁ imaṁ dhammavinayaṁ ājānissasi? Micchāpaṭipanno tvamasi; ahamasmi sammāpaṭipanno. Pure vacanīyaṁ pacchā avaca; pacchā vacanīyaṁ pure avaca. Sahitaṁ me, asahitaṁ te. Adhiciṇṇaṁ te viparāvattaṁ. Āropito te vādo; cara vādappamokkhāya. Niggahitosi; nibbeṭhehi sace pahosī’ti.

‘You don’t understand this teaching and training. I understand this teaching and training. What, you understand this teaching and training? You’re practicing wrong. I’m practicing right. You said last what you should have said first. You said first what you should have said last. I stay on topic, you don’t. What you’ve thought so much about has been disproved. Your doctrine is refuted. Go on, save your doctrine! You’re trapped; get yourself out of this—if you can!’

Evaṁ kho, gahapati, kathaṁ viggayha janena kattā hoti.

That’s how one argues with people.

Kathañca, gahapati, kathaṁ na viggayha janena kattā hoti?

And how does one not argue with people?

Idha, gahapati, bhikkhu na evarūpiṁ kathaṁ kattā hoti:

It’s when a mendicant doesn’t take part in this sort of discussion:

‘na tvaṁ imaṁ dhammavinayaṁ ājānāsi …pe… nibbeṭhehi sace pahosī’ti.

‘You don’t understand this teaching and training … get yourself out of this—if you can!’

Evaṁ kho, gahapati, kathaṁ na viggayha janena kattā hoti.

That’s how one doesn’t argue with people.

Iti kho, gahapati, yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ bhagavatā aṭṭhakavaggiye māgaṇḍiyapañhe:

So, householder, that’s how to understand the detailed meaning of what the Buddha said in brief in the Chapter of the Eights, in ‘The Questions of Māgandiya’:

‘Okaṁ pahāya aniketasārī,

‘After leaving their bastion to migrate without abode,

Gāme akubbaṁ munisanthavāni;

a sage doesn’t get close to anyone in town.

Kāmehi ritto apurakkharāno,

Rid of sensual pleasures, not expecting,

Kathaṁ na viggayha janena kayirā’ti.

they wouldn’t get in arguments with people.’”

Imassa kho, gahapati, bhagavatā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa evaṁ vitthārena attho daṭṭhabbo”ti.

Tatiyaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Affection

Affection

A mental quality of tender affection and fond regard, often wholesome when rooted in kindness, which inclines the mind toward warmth and care. When unguarded, it may turn toward fixation upon what is 'dear,' leading the mind to attachment and the grief that follows separation from what has been clung to as 'dear'.

Also known as: fondness, love, tender regard
Pāli: pema
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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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Craving

Craving

A driving ‘thirst’ that reaches out toward experiences, identities, or outcomes as the place to find satisfaction—“if only I had that.” It spins stories of lack, binds the mind to becoming, and invariably leads to suffering.

Also known as: wanting, yearning, longing, lit. thirst
Pāli: taṇha, abhijjhā
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Desire

Desire

A wholesome motivation, interest, or objective that acts as the starting point for effort and application of will.

Also known as: aspiration, interest, wish, having an objective, intention, impulse
Pāli: chanda
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Greed

Greed

A grasping mental quality of craving, possessiveness, or lustful wanting that clings to objects or experiences; it fuels attachment and obstructs renunciation and contentment

Also known as: acquisitiveness, avarice, covetousness, rapacity, money grabbing, grabbiness
Pāli: lobha, gedha
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Passion

Passion

Intense desire or lust that dyes the mind. It fixates on the features of objects, coloring perception with infatuation and making it difficult to see things as they truly are.

Also known as: burning fever, intense desire, strong emotion, infatuation, obsession, lust
Pāli: rāga
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Last updated on July 27, 2026