The Buddha teaches Venerable Rādha that only ascetics and brahmins who truly understand the five grasping aggregates' gratification, drawback, and escape realize the goal of the spiritual life.

SN 23.5 Ascetics and Brahmins

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ rādhaṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

“pañcime, rādha, upādānakkhandhā. Katame pañca? Rūpupādānakkhandho, vedanupādānakkhandho, saññupādānakkhandho, saṅkhārupādānakkhandho, viññāṇupādānakkhandho.

Ye hi keci, rādha, samaṇā brāhmaṇā imesaṁ pañcannaṁ upādānakkhandhānaṁ assādañca ādīnavañca nissaraṇañca yathābhūtaṁ nappajānanti; na me te, rādha, samaṇā brāhmaṇā samaṇesu samaṇasammatā brāhmaṇesu brāhmaṇasammatā, na ca pana te āyasmanto sāmaññatthaṁ brahmaññatthaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharanti.

Ye ca kho keci, rādha, samaṇā brāhmaṇā imesaṁ pañcannaṁ upādānakkhandhānaṁ assādañca ādīnavañca nissaraṇañca yathābhūtaṁ pajānanti; te kho me, rādha, samaṇā brāhmaṇā samaṇesu ceva samaṇasammatā brāhmaṇesu ca brāhmaṇasammatā, te ca panāyasmanto sāmaññatthañca brahmaññatthañca diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharantī”ti.

Pañcamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ rādhaṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

When Venerable Rādha was seated to one side, the Buddha said to him:

“pañcime, rādha, upādānakkhandhā.

“Rādha, there are these five grasping aggregates.

Katame pañca?

What five?

Rūpupādānakkhandho, vedanupādānakkhandho, saññupādānakkhandho, saṅkhārupādānakkhandho, viññāṇupādānakkhandho.

The grasping aggregates of form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness.

Ye hi keci, rādha, samaṇā brāhmaṇā imesaṁ pañcannaṁ upādānakkhandhānaṁ assādañca ādīnavañca nissaraṇañca yathābhūtaṁ nappajānanti;

There are ascetics and brahmins who don’t truly understand these five grasping aggregates’ gratification, drawback, and escape.

na me te, rādha, samaṇā brāhmaṇā samaṇesu samaṇasammatā brāhmaṇesu brāhmaṇasammatā, na ca pana te āyasmanto sāmaññatthaṁ brahmaññatthaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharanti.

I don’t deem them as true ascetics and brahmins. Those venerables don’t realize the goal of life as an ascetic or brahmin, and don’t live having realized it with their own insight.

Ye ca kho keci, rādha, samaṇā brāhmaṇā imesaṁ pañcannaṁ upādānakkhandhānaṁ assādañca ādīnavañca nissaraṇañca yathābhūtaṁ pajānanti;

There are ascetics and brahmins who do truly understand these five grasping aggregates’ gratification, drawback, and escape.

te kho me, rādha, samaṇā brāhmaṇā samaṇesu ceva samaṇasammatā brāhmaṇesu ca brāhmaṇasammatā, te ca panāyasmanto sāmaññatthañca brahmaññatthañca diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharantī”ti.

I deem them as true ascetics and brahmins. Those venerables realize the goal of life as an ascetic or brahmin, and live having realized it with their own insight.”

Pañcamaṁ.

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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Insight

Insight

Insight is deep, intuitive realization that transforms understanding and guides practice.

Also known as: having insight, with understanding, right knowledge
Pāli: ñāṇa, sammāñāṇa
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Last updated on July 27, 2026