DiscoverSNSN 22–34SN 24SN 24.38

The Buddha teaches that when the five aggregates are grasped and insisted on, the wrong view arises that ‘The self is formless and healthy after death’, and that seeing their impermanence and suffering leads a noble disciple to become a stream-enterer.

SN 24.38 The Self is Formless

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

“Kismiṁ nu kho, bhikkhave, sati, kiṁ upādāya, kiṁ abhinivissa evaṁ diṭṭhi uppajjati: ‘arūpī attā hoti arogo paraṁ maraṇā’”ti?

(Peyyālo.)

Vīsatimaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

“Kismiṁ nu kho, bhikkhave, sati, kiṁ upādāya, kiṁ abhinivissa evaṁ diṭṭhi uppajjati:

“Mendicants, when what exists, because of grasping what and insisting on what, does the view arise:

‘arūpī attā hoti arogo paraṁ maraṇā’”ti?

‘The self is formless and healthy after death’?” …

(Peyyālo.)

Vīsatimaṁ.

Qualities:

Attachment

Attachment

☁️ dark quality

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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Formless

Formless

☀️ bright quality

A meditative domain that transcends all perception of material form, progressing through the bases of infinite space, infinite consciousness, nothingness, and neither-perception-nor-non-perception. These states represent refined levels of collectedness beyond attachment to physical phenomena.

Also known as: immaterial, surpassing forms
Pāli: arūpa
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Wholesome

Wholesome

☀️ bright quality

Conducive to or suggestive of good health and mental well-being.

Also known as: blameless, skillful, beneficial, good, useful, healthy, nourishing, sustaining
Pāli: kusala
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Wrong view

Wrong view

☁️ dark quality

A distorted understanding that sees permanence in the impermanent, satisfaction in the unsatisfactory, or self in the not-self. Wrong view guides action by delusion, obscuring cause and effect, and closes the door to wisdom and release.

Also known as: distorted or inverted perception, untrue view, false belief
Pāli: micchādiṭṭhi
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Last updated on July 27, 2026

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