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

SN 22.35 A Mendicant

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Atha kho aññataro bhikkhu yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “sādhu me, bhante, bhagavā saṅkhittena dhammaṁ desetu; yamahaṁ bhagavato dhammaṁ sutvā eko vūpakaṭṭho, appamatto ātāpī pahitatto vihareyyan”ti.

“Yaṁ kho, bhikkhu, anuseti, tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati; yaṁ nānuseti, na tena saṅkhaṁ gacchatī”ti.

“Aññātaṁ, bhagavā, aññātaṁ, sugatā”ti.

“Yathā kathaṁ pana tvaṁ, bhikkhu, mayā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāsī”ti?

“Rūpañce, bhante, anuseti tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati. Vedanañce anuseti tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati. Saññañce anuseti tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati. Saṅkhāre ce anuseti tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati. Viññāṇañce anuseti tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

Rūpañce, bhante, nānuseti na tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati. Vedanañcesaññañcesaṅkhāre ceviññāṇañce nānuseti na tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

Imassa khvāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavatā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa evaṁ vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāmī”ti.

“Sādhu sādhu, bhikkhu. Sādhu kho tvaṁ, bhikkhu, mayā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāsi.

Rūpañce, bhikkhu, anuseti tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati. Vedanañcesaññañcesaṅkhāre ceviññāṇañce anuseti tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

Rūpañce, bhikkhu, nānuseti na tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati. Vedanañcesaññañcesaṅkhāre ceviññāṇañce nānuseti na tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

Imassa kho, bhikkhu, mayā saṅkhittena, bhāsitassa evaṁ vitthārena attho daṭṭhabbo”ti.

Atha kho so bhikkhu bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmi.

Atha kho so bhikkhu eko vūpakaṭṭho appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharanto nacirassevayassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁbrahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihāsi.

“Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā”ti abbhaññāsi. Aññataro ca pana so bhikkhu arahataṁ ahosīti.

Tatiyaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

Atha kho aññataro bhikkhu yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Then a mendicant went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him,

“sādhu me, bhante, bhagavā saṅkhittena dhammaṁ desetu;

“Sir, may the Buddha please teach me Dhamma in brief. When I’ve heard it, I’ll live alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute.”

yamahaṁ bhagavato dhammaṁ sutvā eko vūpakaṭṭho, appamatto ātāpī pahitatto vihareyyan”ti.

“Yaṁ kho, bhikkhu, anuseti, tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati;

“Mendicant, you’re reckoned by what you have an underlying tendency for.

yaṁ nānuseti, na tena saṅkhaṁ gacchatī”ti.

You’re not reckoned by what you have no underlying tendency for.”

“Aññātaṁ, bhagavā, aññātaṁ, sugatā”ti.

“Understood, Blessed One! Understood, Holy One!”

“Yathā kathaṁ pana tvaṁ, bhikkhu, mayā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāsī”ti?

“But how do you see the detailed meaning of my brief statement?”

“Rūpañce, bhante, anuseti tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

“If you have an underlying tendency for form, you’re reckoned by that.

Vedanañce anuseti tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

If you have an underlying tendency for feeling …

Saññañce anuseti tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

perception …

Saṅkhāre ce anuseti tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

choices …

Viññāṇañce anuseti tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

consciousness, you’re reckoned by that.

Rūpañce, bhante, nānuseti na tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

If you have no underlying tendency for form, you’re not reckoned by that.

Vedanañce

If you have no underlying tendency for feeling …

saññañce

perception …

saṅkhāre ce

choices …

viññāṇañce nānuseti na tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

consciousness, you’re not reckoned by that.

Imassa khvāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavatā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa evaṁ vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāmī”ti.

That’s how I understand the detailed meaning of the Buddha’s brief statement.”

“Sādhu sādhu, bhikkhu.

“Good, good, mendicant!

Sādhu kho tvaṁ, bhikkhu, mayā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāsi.

It’s good that you understand the detailed meaning of what I’ve said in brief like this.

Rūpañce, bhikkhu, anuseti tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

If you have an underlying tendency for form, you’re reckoned by that.

Vedanañce

If you have an underlying tendency for feeling …

saññañce

perception …

saṅkhāre ce

choices …

viññāṇañce anuseti tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

consciousness, you’re reckoned by that.

Rūpañce, bhikkhu, nānuseti na tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

If you have no underlying tendency for form, you’re not reckoned by that.

Vedanañce

If you have no underlying tendency for feeling …

saññañce

perception …

saṅkhāre ce

choices …

viññāṇañce nānuseti na tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

consciousness, you’re not reckoned by that.

Imassa kho, bhikkhu, mayā saṅkhittena, bhāsitassa evaṁ vitthārena attho daṭṭhabbo”ti.

This is how to understand the detailed meaning of what I said in brief.”

Atha kho so bhikkhu bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmi.

And then that mendicant approved and agreed with what the Buddha said. He rose from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before leaving.

Atha kho so bhikkhu eko vūpakaṭṭho appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharanto nacirassevayassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁbrahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihāsi.

Then that mendicant, living alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute, soon realized the supreme end of the spiritual path in this very life. He lived having achieved with his own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness.

“Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā”ti abbhaññāsi.

He understood: “Rebirth is ended; the spiritual journey has been completed; what had to be done has been done; there is nothing further for this place.”

Aññataro ca pana so bhikkhu arahataṁ ahosīti.

And that mendicant became one of the perfected.

Tatiyaṁ.

Qualities:

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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Insight

Insight

Insight is deep, intuitive realization that transforms understanding and guides practice.

Also known as: having insight, with understanding, right knowledge
Pāli: ñāṇa, sammāñāṇa
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Wholesome

Wholesome

Conducive to or suggestive of good health and mental well-being.

Also known as: blameless, skillful, beneficial, good, useful, healthy, nourishing, sustaining
Pāli: kusala
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Last updated on July 27, 2026