The Buddha declares he did not claim unsurpassed awakening until he experientially understood the five aggregates in their four phases: their nature, their arising, their cessation, and the way of practice leading to their cessation.

PTS 3.58–3.60

SN 22.56 Upādānaparipavatta sutta - Phases of the Clinging Aggregates

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthi.

“Pañcime, bhikkhave, upādānakkhandhā. Katame pañca? Rūpupādānakkhandho, vedanupādānakkhandho, saññupādānakkhandho, saṅkhārupādānakkhandho, viññāṇupādānakkhandho.

“Bhikkhus, there are these five aggregates subject to clinging. What five? The form aggregate subject to clinging, the feeling aggregate subject to clinging, the perception aggregate subject to clinging, the intentional constructs aggregate subject to clinging, the consciousness aggregate subject to clinging.

Yāvakīvañcāhaṁ, bhikkhave, ime pañcupādānakkhandhe catuparivaṭṭaṁ yathābhūtaṁ nābbhaññāsiṁ, neva tāvāhaṁ, bhikkhave, sadevake loke samārake sabrahmake sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiyā pajāya sadevamanussāya anuttaraṁ sammāsambodhiṁ abhisambuddhoti paccaññāsiṁ.

So long as I, bhikkhus, did not experientially understand these five aggregates subject to clinging as they truly are in their four phases, I did not claim to have awakened to the unsurpassed perfect awakening in this world with its deities, Māras, Brahmas, among this generation with its ascetics and brahmins, its kings and commoners.

Yato ca khvāhaṁ, bhikkhave, ime pañcupādānakkhandhe catuparivaṭṭaṁ yathābhūtaṁ abbhaññāsiṁ, athāhaṁ, bhikkhave, sadevake loke …pe… sadevamanussāya anuttaraṁ sammāsambodhiṁ abhisambuddhoti paccaññāsiṁ.

But, bhikkhus, when I experientially understood these five aggregates subject to clinging as they truly are in their four phases, then I declared that I had attained the unsurpassed perfect awakening in the world with its deities, Māras, Brahmas, in this generation with its ascetics and brahmins, its kings and commoners.

Kathañca catuparivaṭṭaṁ? Rūpaṁ abbhaññāsiṁ, rūpasamudayaṁ abbhaññāsiṁ, rūpanirodhaṁ abbhaññāsiṁ, rūpanirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ abbhaññāsiṁ; vedanaṁ … saññaṁ … saṅkhāre … viññāṇaṁ abbhaññāsiṁ, viññāṇasamudayaṁ abbhaññāsiṁ, viññāṇanirodhaṁ abbhaññāsiṁ, viññāṇanirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ abbhaññāsiṁ.

And what, bhikkhus, are the four phases? I experientially understood form, I experientially understood the arising of form, I experientially understood the cessation of form, I experientially understood the way of practice leading to the cessation of form; I experientially understood feeling, perception, intentional constructs, I experientially understood consciousness, I experientially understood the arising of consciousness, I experientially understood the cessation of consciousness, and I experientially understood the way of practice leading to the cessation of consciousness.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, rūpaṁ? Cattāro ca mahābhūtā catunnañca mahābhūtānaṁ upādāya rūpaṁ. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, rūpaṁ. Āhārasamudayā rūpasamudayo; āhāranirodhā rūpanirodho. Ayameva ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo rūpanirodhagāminī paṭipadā, seyyathidaṁ— sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi.

And what, bhikkhus, is form? The four great elements and the form derived from the four great elements. This is called form, bhikkhus. With the arising of nutriment comes the arising of form; with the cessation of nutriment comes the cessation of form. Just this Noble Eightfold Path is the way of practice leading to the cessation of form, that is — right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right collectedness.

Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā evaṁ rūpaṁ abhiññāya, evaṁ rūpasamudayaṁ abhiññāya, evaṁ rūpanirodhaṁ abhiññāya, evaṁ rūpanirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ abhiññāya rūpassa nibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya paṭipannā, te suppaṭipannā. Ye suppaṭipannā, te imasmiṁ dhammavinaye gādhanti.

For any ascetics or brahmins, bhikkhus, who—having experientially understood form thus, having experientially understood the arising of form thus, having experientially understood the cessation of form thus, having experientially understood the way of practice leading to the cessation of form thus—are practicing for disenchantment, fading of desire, and the cessation of form, they are practicing well. Those who are practicing well have found a footing in this Dhamma and Vinaya.

Ye ca kho keci, bhikkhave, samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā evaṁ rūpaṁ abhiññāya …pe… evaṁ rūpanirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ abhiññāya, rūpassa nibbidā virāgā nirodhā anupādā vimuttā te suvimuttā. Ye suvimuttā te kevalino. Ye kevalino vaṭṭaṁ tesaṁ natthi paññāpanāya.

And any ascetics or brahmins, bhikkhus, who—having experientially understood form thus, having experientially understood the way of practice leading to the cessation of form thus—are freed without clinging through disenchantment, fading of desire, and the cessation of form, they are well freed. Those who are well freed are perfected ones. For the perfected ones, there is no cycle to describe.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, vedanā? Chayime, bhikkhave, vedanākāyā— cakkhusamphassajā vedanā, sotasamphassajā vedanā, ghānasamphassajā vedanā, jivhāsamphassajā vedanā, kāyasamphassajā vedanā, manosamphassajā vedanā. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, vedanā. Phassasamudayā vedanāsamudayo; phassanirodhā vedanānirodho. Ayameva ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo vedanānirodhagāminī paṭipadā, seyyathidaṁ— sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi.

And what, bhikkhus, is feeling? There are these six classes of feeling, bhikkhus: feeling born of eye-contact, feeling born of ear-contact, feeling born of nose-contact, feeling born of tongue-contact, feeling born of body-contact, feeling born of mind-contact. This is called feeling, bhikkhus. With the arising of contact comes the arising of feeling; with the cessation of contact comes the cessation of feeling. Just this Noble Eightfold Path is the way of practice leading to the cessation of feeling, that is—right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right collectedness.

Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā evaṁ vedanaṁ abhiññāya, evaṁ vedanāsamudayaṁ abhiññāya, evaṁ vedanānirodhaṁ abhiññāya, evaṁ vedanānirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ abhiññāya vedanāya nibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya paṭipannā, te suppaṭipannā. Ye suppaṭipannā, te imasmiṁ dhammavinaye gādhanti.

For any ascetics or brahmins, bhikkhus, who—having experientially understood feeling thus, having experientially understood the arising of feeling thus, having experientially understood the cessation of feeling thus, having experientially understood the way of practice leading to the cessation of feeling thus—are practicing for disenchantment, fading of desire, and the cessation of feeling, they are practicing well. Those who are practicing well have found a footing in this Dhamma and Vinaya.

Ye ca kho keci, bhikkhave, samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā evaṁ vedanaṁ abhiññāya …pe… evaṁ vedanānirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ abhiññāya …pe… vaṭṭaṁ tesaṁ natthi paññāpanāya.

And any ascetics or brahmins, bhikkhus, who—having experientially understood feeling thus, having experientially understood the way of practice leading to the cessation of feeling thus For the perfected ones, there is no cycle to describe.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, saññā? Chayime, bhikkhave, saññākāyā— rūpasaññā, saddasaññā, gandhasaññā, rasasaññā, phoṭṭhabbasaññā, dhammasaññā. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, saññā. Phassasamudayā saññāsamudayo; phassanirodhā saññānirodho. Ayameva ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo saññānirodhagāminī paṭipadā, seyyathidaṁ— sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi …pe… vaṭṭaṁ tesaṁ natthi paññāpanāya.

And what, bhikkhus, is perception? There are these six classes of perception, bhikkhus: perception of form, perception of sound, perception of odor, perception of flavor, perception of tangible object, perception of mental object. This is called perception, bhikkhus. With the arising of contact comes the arising of perception; with the cessation of contact comes the cessation of perception. Just this Noble Eightfold Path is the way of practice leading to the cessation of perception, that is—right view right collectedness. For the perfected ones, there is no cycle to describe.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, saṅkhārā? Chayime, bhikkhave, cetanākāyā— rūpasañcetanā, saddasañcetanā, gandhasañcetanā, rasasañcetanā, phoṭṭhabbasañcetanā, dhammasañcetanā. Ime vuccanti, bhikkhave, saṅkhārā. Phassasamudayā saṅkhārasamudayo; phassanirodhā saṅkhāranirodho. Ayameva ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo saṅkhāranirodhagāminī paṭipadā, seyyathidaṁ— sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi.

And what, bhikkhus, are intentional constructs? There are these six classes of intention, bhikkhus: intention regarding form, intention regarding sound, intention regarding odor, intention regarding flavor, intention regarding tangible object, intention regarding mental object. These are called intentional constructs, bhikkhus. With the arising of contact comes the arising of intentional constructs; with the cessation of contact comes the cessation of intentional constructs. Just this Noble Eightfold Path is the way of practice leading to the cessation of intentional constructs, that is—right view right collectedness.

Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā evaṁ saṅkhāre abhiññāya, evaṁ saṅkhārasamudayaṁ abhiññāya, evaṁ saṅkhāranirodhaṁ abhiññāya, evaṁ saṅkhāranirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ abhiññāya saṅkhārānaṁ nibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya paṭipannā, te suppaṭipannā. Ye suppaṭipannā, te imasmiṁ dhammavinaye gādhanti.

For any ascetics or brahmins, bhikkhus, who—having experientially understood intentional constructs thus, having experientially understood the arising of intentional constructs thus, having experientially understood the cessation of intentional constructs thus, having experientially understood the way of practice leading to the cessation of intentional constructs thus—are practicing for disenchantment, fading of desire, and the cessation of intentional constructs, they are practicing well. Those who are practicing well have found a footing in this Dhamma and Vinaya.

Ye ca kho keci, bhikkhave, samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā evaṁ saṅkhāre abhiññāya, evaṁ saṅkhārasamudayaṁ abhiññāya, evaṁ saṅkhāranirodhaṁ abhiññāya, evaṁ saṅkhāranirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ abhiññāya saṅkhārānaṁ nibbidā virāgā nirodhā anupādā vimuttā, te suvimuttā. Ye suvimuttā, te kevalino. Ye kevalino vaṭṭaṁ tesaṁ natthi paññāpanāya.

And any ascetics or brahmins, bhikkhus, who—having experientially understood intentional constructs thus, having experientially understood the arising of intentional constructs thus, having experientially understood the cessation of intentional constructs thus, having experientially understood the way of practice leading to the cessation of intentional constructs thus—are freed without clinging through disenchantment, fading of desire, and the cessation of intentional constructs, they are well freed. Those who are well freed are perfected ones. For the perfected ones, there is no cycle to describe.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, viññāṇaṁ? Chayime, bhikkhave, viññāṇakāyā— cakkhuviññāṇaṁ, sotaviññāṇaṁ, ghānaviññāṇaṁ, jivhāviññāṇaṁ, kāyaviññāṇaṁ, manoviññāṇaṁ. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, viññāṇaṁ. Nāmarūpasamudayā viññāṇasamudayo; nāmarūpanirodhā viññāṇanirodho. Ayameva ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo viññāṇanirodhagāminī paṭipadā, seyyathidaṁ— sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi.

And what, bhikkhus, is consciousness? There are these six classes of consciousness, bhikkhus: eye-consciousness, ear-consciousness, nose-consciousness, tongue-consciousness, body-consciousness, mind-consciousness. This is called consciousness, bhikkhus. With the arising of name and form comes the arising of consciousness; with the cessation of name and form comes the cessation of consciousness. Just this Noble Eightfold Path is the way of practice leading to the cessation of consciousness, that is—right view right collectedness.

Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā evaṁ viññāṇaṁ abhiññāya, evaṁ viññāṇasamudayaṁ abhiññāya, evaṁ viññāṇanirodhaṁ abhiññāya, evaṁ viññāṇanirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ abhiññāya viññāṇassa nibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya paṭipannā, te suppaṭipannā. Ye suppaṭipannā, te imasmiṁ dhammavinaye gādhanti.

For any ascetics or brahmins, bhikkhus, who—having experientially understood consciousness thus, having experientially understood the arising of consciousness thus, having experientially understood the cessation of consciousness thus, having experientially understood the way of practice leading to the cessation of consciousness thus—are practicing for disenchantment, fading of desire, and the cessation of consciousness, they are practicing well. Those who are practicing well have found a footing in this Dhamma and Vinaya.

Ye ca kho keci, bhikkhave, samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā evaṁ viññāṇaṁ abhiññāya, evaṁ viññāṇasamudayaṁ abhiññāya, evaṁ viññāṇanirodhaṁ abhiññāya, evaṁ viññāṇanirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ abhiññāya viññāṇassa nibbidā virāgā nirodhā anupādā vimuttā, te suvimuttā. Ye suvimuttā, te kevalino. Ye kevalino vaṭṭaṁ tesaṁ natthi paññāpanāyā”ti.

And any ascetics or brahmins, bhikkhus, who—having experientially understood consciousness thus, having experientially understood the arising of consciousness thus, having experientially understood the cessation of consciousness thus, having experientially understood the way of practice leading to the cessation of consciousness thus—are freed without clinging through disenchantment, fading of desire, and the cessation of consciousness, they are well freed. Those who are well freed are perfected ones. For the perfected ones, there is no cycle to describe.”

Topics & Qualities:

Arising and Passing Away

Arising and Passing Away

The insight that discerns phenomena as they come into being and as they fade. In the discourses this is both a way of observing—dwelling seeing the arising and vanishing nature of body, felt experience, mind, and mental qualities—and a criterion of wisdom: one who knows and sees the arising and passing away of the aggregates is one for whom the taints wear away. This wisdom is noble, penetrative, and leads to the complete ending of suffering.

Also known as: rise and fall, appearance and disappearance, formation and dissolution, origination and vanishing, arising and going-away
Pāli: udayabbaya, udayatthagāmī, udayabbayānupassanā, samudaya, atthaṅgama
View all discourses →
Consciousness

Consciousness

Consciousness, the fifth aggregate, has two key meanings in the discourses: 1.) The distinctive quality of awareness which knows and arises in dependence on the meeting of eye and form, ear and sound, nose and odor, tongue and taste, body and tangible object, mind and mind object. 2.) A seed that finds a footing in a realm, established by ignorance and intention, leading to renewed existence.

Also known as: awareness, the faculty that distinguishes
Pāli: viññāṇa
View all discourses →
Direct knowledge

Direct knowledge

A deep, firsthand realization or knowing that arises from personal experience, not from study or conceptual understanding; it is an immediate, unmediated apprehension of truth.

Also known as: experiential understanding, direct experience
Pāli: abhiñña
View all discourses →
Disenchantment

Disenchantment

The turning away from fascination with conditioned things through clear seeing of their impermanence and unsatisfactoriness.

Also known as: de-illusionment, disinterest
Pāli: nibbidā
View all discourses →
Dispassion

Dispassion

The fading of desire and attraction toward conditioned things. It arises through seeing the impermanent and unsatisfactory nature of experience. It is the natural fragrance of understanding and the forerunner of release.

Also known as: detachment, disinterest, fading of desire, disentanglement
Pāli: virāga, visaṁyutta
View all discourses →
Ending

Ending

The complete exhaustion and ending of craving, aversion, and delusion—the three roots of suffering. It refers to both the gradual wearing away of defilements through practice and the final cessation that constitutes Nibbāna.

Also known as: cessation, exhaustion, gradual ending, wearing away
Pāli: khaya, khīṇa, nirodha
View all discourses →
Felt Experience

Felt Experience

Pleasant, neutral, or painful sensation—the experience felt on contact. Sometimes translated as “feeling.” Distinct from an emotional state or reaction, it refers to the affective tone of experience, the bare sensation of pleasure, pain, or neutrality before mental responses arise. It is the second of the five aggregates.

Also known as: feeling
Pāli: vedanā
View all discourses →
Form

Form

Materiality—the four great elements and the form derived from them—encompassing both one’s body and external objects, whether near or far, gross or subtle. It is that which is affected: by cold and heat, hunger and thirst, and contact with the world.

Also known as: material form, materiality, material existence
Pāli: rūpa
View all discourses →
Intentional Constructs

Intentional Constructs

Intentional constructs are intentions, volitions, and choices expressed through body, speech, and mind. These are the kamma-producing processes that ‘fabricate’ experience. It is the fourth of the five aggregates.

Also known as: volitional formations, fabrications
Pāli: saṅkhāra
View all discourses →
Perception

Perception

The mental process of recognizing and giving meaning to experience. It marks sensory information by signs, labels, or associations drawn from memory and the field of contact. Perception shapes how one experiences the world. It is the third of the five aggregates.

Also known as: recognition, conception
Pāli: sañña
View all discourses →

Last updated on October 4, 2026

Contents