The Buddha teaches on a mendicant (2nd), applying the analysis of the five aggregates—form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness—to insight and release.

SN 22.36 A Mendicant (2nd)

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Atha kho aññataro bhikkhu yena bhagavā …pe… 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 taṁ anumīyati; yaṁ anumīyati tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati. Yaṁ nānuseti na taṁ anumīyati; yaṁ nānumīyati 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 taṁ anumīyati; yaṁ anumīyati tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati. Vedanañce anusetisaññañce anusetisaṅkhāre ce anusetiviññāṇañce anuseti taṁ anumīyati; yaṁ anumīyati tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

Rūpañce, bhante, nānuseti na taṁ anumīyati; yaṁ nānumīyati na tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati. Vedanañce nānusetisaññañce nānusetisaṅkhāre ce nānusetiviññāṇañce nānuseti na taṁ anumīyati; yaṁ nānumīyati 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 taṁ anumīyati; yaṁ anumīyati tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati. Vedanañce, bhikkhusaññañce, bhikkhusaṅkhāre ce, bhikkhuviññāṇañce, bhikkhu, anuseti taṁ anumīyati; yaṁ anumīyati tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

Rūpañce, bhikkhu, nānuseti na taṁ anumīyati; yaṁ nānumīyati na tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati. Vedanañce nānusetisaññañce nānusetisaṅkhāre ce nānusetiviññāṇañce nānuseti na taṁ anumīyati; yaṁ nānumīyati na tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

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

aññataro ca pana so bhikkhu arahataṁ ahosīti.

Catutthaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

Atha kho aññataro bhikkhu yena bhagavā …pe… ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Then a mendicant went up to the Buddha … and asked him,

“sādhu me, bhante, bhagavā saṅkhittena dhammaṁ desetu yamahaṁ bhagavato dhammaṁ sutvā eko vūpakaṭṭho appamatto ātāpī pahitatto vihareyyan”ti.

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 When I’ve heard it, I’ll live alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute.”

“Yaṁ kho, bhikkhu, anuseti taṁ anumīyati;

“Mendicant, you’re measured against what you have an underlying tendency for,

yaṁ anumīyati tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

and you’re reckoned by what you’re measured against.

Yaṁ nānuseti na taṁ anumīyati;

You’re not measured against what you have no underlying tendency for,

yaṁ nānumīyati na tena saṅkhaṁ gacchatī”ti.

and you’re not reckoned by what you’re not measured against.”

“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 taṁ anumīyati;

“If you have an underlying tendency for form, you’re measured against that,

yaṁ anumīyati tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

and you’re reckoned by what you’re measured against.

Vedanañce anuseti

If you have an underlying tendency for feeling …

saññañce anuseti

perception …

saṅkhāre ce anuseti

choices …

viññāṇañce anuseti taṁ anumīyati;

consciousness, you’re measured against that,

yaṁ anumīyati tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

and you’re reckoned by what you’re measured against.

Rūpañce, bhante, nānuseti na taṁ anumīyati;

If you have no underlying tendency for form, you’re not measured against that,

yaṁ nānumīyati na tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

and you’re not reckoned by what you’re not measured against.

Vedanañce nānuseti

If you have no underlying tendency for feeling …

saññañce nānuseti

perception …

saṅkhāre ce nānuseti

choices …

viññāṇañce nānuseti na taṁ anumīyati;

consciousness, you’re not measured against that,

yaṁ nānumīyati na tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

and you’re not reckoned by what you’re not measured against.

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 taṁ anumīyati;

If you have an underlying tendency for form, you’re measured against that,

yaṁ anumīyati tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

and you’re reckoned by what you’re measured against.

Vedanañce, bhikkhu

If you have an underlying tendency for feeling …

saññañce, bhikkhu

perception …

saṅkhāre ce, bhikkhu

choices …

viññāṇañce, bhikkhu, anuseti taṁ anumīyati;

consciousness, you’re measured against that,

yaṁ anumīyati tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

and you’re reckoned by what you’re measured against.

Rūpañce, bhikkhu, nānuseti na taṁ anumīyati;

If you have no underlying tendency for form, you’re not measured against that,

yaṁ nānumīyati na tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

and you’re not reckoned by what you’re not measured against.

Vedanañce nānuseti

If you have no underlying tendency for feeling …

saññañce nānuseti

perception …

saṅkhāre ce nānuseti

choices …

viññāṇañce nānuseti na taṁ anumīyati;

consciousness, you’re not measured against that,

yaṁ nānumīyati na tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

and you’re not reckoned by what you’re not measured against.

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

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

aññataro ca pana so bhikkhu arahataṁ ahosīti.

And that mendicant became one of the perfected.

Catutthaṁ.

Qualities:

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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Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita, asammūḷha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026