The Buddha teaches on the root of gloom, applying the analysis of the five aggregates—form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness—to insight and release.
Sāvatthinidānaṁ.
“Aghañca, bhikkhave, desessāmi aghamūlañca. Taṁ suṇātha.
Katamañca, bhikkhave, aghaṁ? Rūpaṁ, bhikkhave, aghaṁ, vedanā aghaṁ, saññā aghaṁ, saṅkhārā aghaṁ, viññāṇaṁ aghaṁ. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, aghaṁ.
Katamañca, bhikkhave, aghamūlaṁ? Yāyaṁ taṇhā ponobhavikā nandīrāgasahagatā tatratatrābhinandinī; Seyyathidaṁ—kāmataṇhā, bhavataṇhā, vibhavataṇhā. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, aghamūlan”ti.
Dasamaṁ.
Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).
Sāvatthinidānaṁ.
At Sāvatthī.
“Aghañca, bhikkhave, desessāmi aghamūlañca.
“Mendicants, I will teach you gloom and the root of gloom.
Taṁ suṇātha.
Listen …
Katamañca, bhikkhave, aghaṁ?
And what is gloom?
Rūpaṁ, bhikkhave, aghaṁ, vedanā aghaṁ, saññā aghaṁ, saṅkhārā aghaṁ, viññāṇaṁ aghaṁ.
Form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness are gloom.
Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, aghaṁ.
This is called gloom.
Katamañca, bhikkhave, aghamūlaṁ?
And what is the root of gloom?
Yāyaṁ taṇhā ponobhavikā nandīrāgasahagatā tatratatrābhinandinī;
It’s the craving that leads to future lives, mixed up with relishing and greed, taking pleasure there wherever it alights. That is,
Seyyathidaṁ—kāmataṇhā, bhavataṇhā, vibhavataṇhā.
craving for sensual pleasures, craving for existence, and craving for nonexistence.
Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, aghamūlan”ti.
This is called the root of gloom.”
Dasamaṁ.
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Last updated on July 27, 2026