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

SN 22.49 With Soṇa

Evaṁ me sutaṁ ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe.

Atha kho soṇo gahapatiputto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami …pe… ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho soṇaṁ gahapatiputtaṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

“Ye hi keci, soṇa, samaṇā brāhmaṇā aniccena rūpena dukkhena vipariṇāmadhammena ‘seyyohamasmī’ti samanupassanti; ‘sadisohamasmī’ti samanupassanti; ‘hīnohamasmī’ti samanupassanti; kimaññatra yathābhūtassa adassanā? Aniccāya vedanāya dukkhāya vipariṇāmadhammāya ‘seyyohamasmī’ti samanupassanti; ‘sadisohamasmī’ti samanupassanti; ‘hīnohamasmī’ti samanupassanti; kimaññatra yathābhūtassa adassanā? Aniccāya saññāyaaniccehi saṅkhārehi dukkhehi vipariṇāmadhammehi ‘seyyohamasmī’ti samanupassanti; ‘sadisohamasmī’ti samanupassanti; ‘hīnohamasmī’ti samanupassanti; kimaññatra yathābhūtassa adassanā? Aniccena viññāṇena dukkhena vipariṇāmadhammena ‘seyyohamasmī’ti samanupassanti; ‘sadisohamasmī’ti samanupassanti; ‘hīnohamasmī’ti samanupassanti; kimaññatra yathābhūtassa adassanā?

Ye ca kho keci, soṇa, samaṇā brāhmaṇā aniccena rūpena dukkhena vipariṇāmadhammena ‘seyyohamasmī’tipi na samanupassanti; ‘sadisohamasmī’tipi na samanupassanti; ‘hīnohamasmī’tipi na samanupassanti; kimaññatra yathābhūtassa dassanā? Aniccāya vedanāyaaniccāya saññāyaaniccehi saṅkhārehianiccena viññāṇena dukkhena vipariṇāmadhammena ‘seyyohamasmī’tipi na samanupassanti; ‘sadisohamasmī’tipi na samanupassanti; ‘hīnohamasmī’tipi na samanupassanti; kimaññatra yathābhūtassa dassanā?

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, soṇa, rūpaṁ niccaṁ aniccaṁ vā”ti?

“Aniccaṁ, bhante”.

“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ taṁ sukhaṁ vā”ti?

“Dukkhaṁ, bhante”.

“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ kallaṁ nu taṁ samanupassituṁ: ‘etaṁ mama, esohamasmi, eso me attā’”ti?

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

“Vedanā niccā aniccā vā”ti? “Aniccā, bhante”“saññāsaṅkhārāviññāṇaṁ niccaṁ aniccaṁ vā”ti?

“Aniccaṁ, bhante”.

“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ taṁ sukhaṁ vā”ti?

“Dukkhaṁ, bhante”.

“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ kallaṁ nu taṁ samanupassituṁ: ‘etaṁ mama, esohamasmi, eso me attā’”ti?

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

“Tasmātiha, soṇa, yaṁ kiñci rūpaṁ atītānāgatapaccuppannaṁ ajjhattaṁ bahiddhā oḷārikaṁ sukhumaṁ hīnaṁ paṇītaṁ yaṁ dūre santike vā, sabbaṁ rūpaṁ ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ.

kāci vedanā kāci saññāye keci saṅkhārāyaṁ kiñci viññāṇaṁ atītānāgatapaccuppannaṁ ajjhattaṁ bahiddhā oḷārikaṁ sukhumaṁ hīnaṁ paṇītaṁ yaṁ dūre santike vā, sabbaṁ viññāṇaṁ ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ.

Evaṁ passaṁ, soṇa, sutavā ariyasāvako rūpasmimpi nibbindati, vedanāyapi nibbindati, saññāyapi nibbindati, saṅkhāresupi nibbindati, viññāṇasmimpi nibbindati. Nibbindaṁ virajjati; virāgā vimuccati. Vimuttasmiṁ vimuttamiti ñāṇaṁ hoti.

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

Sattamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Evaṁ me sutaṁ

So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.

Atha kho soṇo gahapatiputto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami …pe…

Then the householder Soṇa went up to the Buddha …

ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho soṇaṁ gahapatiputtaṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

The Buddha said to him:

“Ye hi keci, soṇa, samaṇā brāhmaṇā aniccena rūpena dukkhena vipariṇāmadhammena ‘seyyohamasmī’ti samanupassanti;

“Soṇa, there are ascetics and brahmins who—based on form, which is impermanent, suffering, and perishable—regard themselves thus: ‘I’m better’,

‘sadisohamasmī’ti samanupassanti;

or ‘I’m equal’,

‘hīnohamasmī’ti samanupassanti;

or ‘I’m worse’.

kimaññatra yathābhūtassa adassanā?

What is that but a failure to see truly?

Aniccāya vedanāya dukkhāya vipariṇāmadhammāya ‘seyyohamasmī’ti samanupassanti;

Based on feeling …

‘sadisohamasmī’ti samanupassanti;

‘hīnohamasmī’ti samanupassanti;

kimaññatra yathābhūtassa adassanā?

Aniccāya saññāya

perception …

aniccehi saṅkhārehi dukkhehi vipariṇāmadhammehi ‘seyyohamasmī’ti samanupassanti;

choices …

‘sadisohamasmī’ti samanupassanti;

‘hīnohamasmī’ti samanupassanti;

kimaññatra yathābhūtassa adassanā?

Aniccena viññāṇena dukkhena vipariṇāmadhammena ‘seyyohamasmī’ti samanupassanti;

consciousness, which is impermanent, suffering, and perishable, they regard themselves thus: ‘I’m better’,

‘sadisohamasmī’ti samanupassanti;

or ‘I’m equal’,

‘hīnohamasmī’ti samanupassanti;

or ‘I’m worse’.

kimaññatra yathābhūtassa adassanā?

What is that but a failure to see truly?

Ye ca kho keci, soṇa, samaṇā brāhmaṇā aniccena rūpena dukkhena vipariṇāmadhammena ‘seyyohamasmī’tipi na samanupassanti;

There are ascetics and brahmins who—based on form, which is impermanent, suffering, and perishable—don’t regard themselves thus: ‘I’m better’,

‘sadisohamasmī’tipi na samanupassanti;

or ‘I’m equal’,

‘hīnohamasmī’tipi na samanupassanti;

or ‘I’m worse’.

kimaññatra yathābhūtassa dassanā?

What is that but seeing truly?

Aniccāya vedanāya

Based on feeling …

aniccāya saññāya

perception …

aniccehi saṅkhārehi

choices …

aniccena viññāṇena dukkhena vipariṇāmadhammena ‘seyyohamasmī’tipi na samanupassanti;

consciousness, which is impermanent, suffering, and perishable, they don’t regard themselves thus: ‘I’m better’,

‘sadisohamasmī’tipi na samanupassanti;

or ‘I’m equal’,

‘hīnohamasmī’tipi na samanupassanti;

or ‘I’m worse’.

kimaññatra yathābhūtassa dassanā?

What is that but seeing truly?

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, soṇa,

What do you think, Soṇa?

rūpaṁ niccaṁ aniccaṁ vā”ti?

Is form permanent or impermanent?”

“Aniccaṁ, bhante”.

“Impermanent, sir.”

“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ taṁ sukhaṁ vā”ti?

“But if it’s impermanent, is it suffering or happiness?”

“Dukkhaṁ, bhante”.

“Suffering, sir.”

“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ kallaṁ nu taṁ samanupassituṁ:

“But if it’s impermanent, suffering, and perishable, is it fit to be regarded thus:

‘etaṁ mama, esohamasmi, eso me attā’”ti?

‘This is mine, I am this, this is my self’?”

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

“No, sir.”

“Vedanā niccā aniccā vā”ti?

“Is feeling …

“Aniccā, bhante”

“saññā

perception …

saṅkhārā

choices …

viññāṇaṁ niccaṁ aniccaṁ vā”ti?

consciousness permanent or impermanent?”

“Aniccaṁ, bhante”.

“Impermanent, sir.”

“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ taṁ sukhaṁ vā”ti?

“But if it’s impermanent, is it suffering or happiness?”

“Dukkhaṁ, bhante”.

“Suffering, sir.”

“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ kallaṁ nu taṁ samanupassituṁ:

“But if it’s impermanent, suffering, and perishable, is it fit to be regarded thus:

‘etaṁ mama, esohamasmi, eso me attā’”ti?

‘This is mine, I am this, this is my self’?”

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

“No, sir.”

“Tasmātiha, soṇa, yaṁ kiñci rūpaṁ atītānāgatapaccuppannaṁ ajjhattaṁ bahiddhā oḷārikaṁ sukhumaṁ hīnaṁ paṇītaṁ yaṁ dūre santike vā, sabbaṁ rūpaṁ ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ.

“So, Soṇa, you should truly see any kind of form at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near: all form—with right understanding: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’

kāci vedanā

You should truly see any kind of feeling …

kāci saññā

perception …

ye keci saṅkhārā

choices …

yaṁ kiñci viññāṇaṁ atītānāgatapaccuppannaṁ ajjhattaṁ bahiddhā oḷārikaṁ sukhumaṁ hīnaṁ paṇītaṁ yaṁ dūre santike vā, sabbaṁ viññāṇaṁ ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ.

consciousness at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near: all consciousness—with right understanding: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’

Evaṁ passaṁ, soṇa, sutavā ariyasāvako rūpasmimpi nibbindati, vedanāyapi nibbindati, saññāyapi nibbindati, saṅkhāresupi nibbindati, viññāṇasmimpi nibbindati.

Seeing this, a learned noble disciple grows disillusioned with form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness.

Nibbindaṁ virajjati; virāgā vimuccati. Vimuttasmiṁ vimuttamiti ñāṇaṁ hoti.

Being disillusioned, desire fades away. When desire fades away they’re freed. When they’re freed, they know they’re freed.

‘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.’”

Sattamaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

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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Happiness

Happiness

Bodily ease and comfort; a pleasant feeling experienced with the body. In the third jhāna, one dwells experiencing this pleasure with the body. It is abandoned, along with bodily pain, for the fourth jhāna to arise.

Also known as: pleasant abiding, positive state of mind, sense of ease
Pāli: sukha
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Learning

Learning

One who has broad learning and retention of the Dhamma, gained through hearing, reciting, and carefully investigating the teachings. Such learning penetrates their meaning through discernment and serves as a strong support for practice.

Also known as: having knowledge, well studied
Pāli: bahussuta, suta
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Respect

Respect

A mental attitude of reverent attentiveness that values goodness and wisdom in oneself and others. It steadies conduct and opens the mind to learning and humility.

Also known as: reverence, veneration, regard, admiration, appreciation, deference, honour, attentiveness
Pāli: gārava, pūjā, sakkāra
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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