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

SN 22.8 Anxiety Because of Grasping (2nd)

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

“Upādāparitassanañca vo, bhikkhave, desessāmi anupādāaparitassanañca. Taṁ suṇātha …pe… kathañca, bhikkhave, upādāparitassanā hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, assutavā puthujjano rūpaṁ ‘etaṁ mama, esohamasmi, eso me attā’ti samanupassati. Tassa taṁ rūpaṁ vipariṇamati aññathā hoti. Tassa rūpavipariṇāmaññathābhāvā uppajjanti sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā. Vedanaṁ etaṁ mama …pe… saññaṁ etaṁ mamasaṅkhāre etaṁ mamaviññāṇaṁ ‘etaṁ mama, esohamasmi, eso me attā’ti samanupassati. Tassa taṁ viññāṇaṁ vipariṇamati aññathā hoti. Tassa viññāṇavipariṇāmaññathābhāvā uppajjanti sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, upādāparitassanā hoti.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, anupādāaparitassanā hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, sutavā ariyasāvako rūpaṁ ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti samanupassati. Tassa taṁ rūpaṁ vipariṇamati aññathā hoti. Tassa rūpavipariṇāmaññathābhāvā nuppajjanti sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā. Vedanaṁ netaṁ mamasaññaṁ netaṁ mamasaṅkhāre netaṁ mamaviññāṇaṁ ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti samanupassati. Tassa taṁ viññāṇaṁ vipariṇamati aññathā hoti. Tassa viññāṇavipariṇāmaññathābhāvā nuppajjanti sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, anupādāaparitassanā hotī”ti.

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

“Upādāparitassanañca vo, bhikkhave, desessāmi anupādāaparitassanañca.

“Mendicants, I will teach you how grasping leads to anxiety, and how not grasping leads to freedom from anxiety.

Taṁ suṇātha …pe…

Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.

kathañca, bhikkhave, upādāparitassanā hoti?

And how does grasping lead to anxiety?

Idha, bhikkhave, assutavā puthujjano rūpaṁ ‘etaṁ mama, esohamasmi, eso me attā’ti samanupassati.

It’s when an unlearned ordinary person regards form like this: ‘This is mine, I am this, this is my self.’

Tassa taṁ rūpaṁ vipariṇamati aññathā hoti.

But that form of theirs decays and perishes,

Tassa rūpavipariṇāmaññathābhāvā uppajjanti sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā.

which gives rise to sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress.

Vedanaṁ etaṁ mama …pe…

They regard feeling …

saññaṁ etaṁ mama

perception …

saṅkhāre etaṁ mama

choices …

viññāṇaṁ ‘etaṁ mama, esohamasmi, eso me attā’ti samanupassati.

consciousness like this: ‘This is mine, I am this, this is my self.’

Tassa taṁ viññāṇaṁ vipariṇamati aññathā hoti.

But that consciousness of theirs decays and perishes,

Tassa viññāṇavipariṇāmaññathābhāvā uppajjanti sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā.

which gives rise to sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, upādāparitassanā hoti.

That’s how grasping leads to anxiety.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, anupādāaparitassanā hoti?

And how does not grasping lead to freedom from anxiety?

Idha, bhikkhave, sutavā ariyasāvako rūpaṁ ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti samanupassati.

It’s when a learned noble disciple regards form like this: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’

Tassa taṁ rūpaṁ vipariṇamati aññathā hoti.

When that form of theirs decays and perishes,

Tassa rūpavipariṇāmaññathābhāvā nuppajjanti sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā.

it doesn’t give rise to sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress.

Vedanaṁ netaṁ mama

They regard feeling …

saññaṁ netaṁ mama

perception …

saṅkhāre netaṁ mama

choices …

viññāṇaṁ ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti samanupassati.

consciousness like this: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’

Tassa taṁ viññāṇaṁ vipariṇamati aññathā hoti.

When that consciousness of theirs decays and perishes,

Tassa viññāṇavipariṇāmaññathābhāvā nuppajjanti sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā.

it doesn’t give rise to sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, anupādāaparitassanā hotī”ti.

That’s how not grasping leads to freedom from anxiety.”

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Qualities:

Anxiety

Anxiety

A fluttering, unsettled state of mind, worried about past or future and unsure what is right to do. It keeps the mind circling around concerns without resolution, weakening confidence and obscuring calm discernment.

Also known as: agitation, confusion about what is right and wrong, distress, fickleness, fidgetiness, edginess, restlessness, wavering, worry
Pāli: kukkucca, uddhacca, darathaja
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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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Displeasure

Displeasure

A feeling of mental pain or a disagreeable feeling or unease born of mental contact.

Also known as: mental pain, mental distress, melancholy, sadness
Pāli: domanassa
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Lamentation

Lamentation

The verbal and bodily expression of grief—crying, wailing, and mourning—that arises from loss or separation from what is held dear. It gives voice to sorrow and can deepen the mind's entanglement with pain.

Also known as: crying, wailing, mourning
Pāli: parideva
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Sorrow

Sorrow

Grief or sadness that follows loss or disappointment, dimming the mind’s natural brightness. It clouds clear perception.

Also known as: grief, sadness
Pāli: soka, socati
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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