The Buddha teaches that each of the five aggregates is impermanent, suffering, and not-self, and should be truly seen with right understanding until the mind is freed by not grasping.

SN 22.46 Impermanence (2nd)

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

“Rūpaṁ, bhikkhave, aniccaṁ. Yadaniccaṁ taṁ dukkhaṁ; yaṁ dukkhaṁ tadanattā; yadanattā taṁ ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ.

Vedanā aniccā

saññā aniccā

saṅkhārā aniccā

viññāṇaṁ aniccaṁ. Yadaniccaṁ taṁ dukkhaṁ; yaṁ dukkhaṁ tadanattā; yadanattā taṁ ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ.

Evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya passato pubbantānudiṭṭhiyo na honti. Pubbantānudiṭṭhīnaṁ asati, aparantānudiṭṭhiyo na honti. Aparantānudiṭṭhīnaṁ asati, thāmaso parāmāso na hoti. Thāmase parāmāse asati rūpasmiṁvedanāyasaññāyasaṅkhāresuviññāṇasmiṁ cittaṁ virajjati vimuccati anupādāya āsavehi.

Vimuttattā ṭhitaṁ. Ṭhitattā santusitaṁ. Santusitattā na paritassati. Aparitassaṁ paccattaññeva parinibbāyati.

‘Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti pajānātī”ti.

Catutthaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

“Rūpaṁ, bhikkhave, aniccaṁ.

“Mendicants, form is impermanent.

Yadaniccaṁ taṁ dukkhaṁ;

What’s impermanent is suffering.

yaṁ dukkhaṁ tadanattā;

What’s suffering is not-self.

yadanattā taṁ ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ.

And what’s not-self should be truly seen with right understanding like this: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’

Vedanā aniccā

Feeling is impermanent …

saññā aniccā

Perception is impermanent …

saṅkhārā aniccā

Choices are impermanent …

viññāṇaṁ aniccaṁ.

Consciousness is impermanent.

Yadaniccaṁ taṁ dukkhaṁ;

What’s impermanent is suffering.

yaṁ dukkhaṁ tadanattā;

What’s suffering is not-self.

yadanattā taṁ ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ.

And what’s not-self should be truly seen with right understanding like this: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’

Evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya passato pubbantānudiṭṭhiyo na honti.

Seeing truly with right understanding like this, they have no theories about the first beginning.

Pubbantānudiṭṭhīnaṁ asati, aparantānudiṭṭhiyo na honti.

Not having theories about the first beginning, they have no theories about the final end.

Aparantānudiṭṭhīnaṁ asati, thāmaso parāmāso na hoti.

Not having theories about the final end, they don’t obstinately stick to them.

Thāmase parāmāse asati rūpasmiṁ

Not misapprehending, the mind becomes dispassionate towards form,

vedanāya

feeling,

saññāya

perception,

saṅkhāresu

choices,

viññāṇasmiṁ cittaṁ virajjati vimuccati anupādāya āsavehi.

and consciousness; it’s freed from defilements by not grasping.

Vimuttattā ṭhitaṁ. Ṭhitattā santusitaṁ. Santusitattā na paritassati. Aparitassaṁ paccattaññeva parinibbāyati.

Being free, it’s stable. Being stable, it’s content. Being content, they’re not anxious. Not being anxious, they personally become extinguished.

‘Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti pajānātī”ti.

They understand: ‘Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.’”

Catutthaṁ.

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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Right view

Right view

View that is in line with the Dhamma — teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth.

Also known as: right understanding, right belief, view that is inline with the Dhamma
Pāli: sammādiṭṭhi
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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