Venerable Sāriputta answers the wanderer Jambukhādaka on a question about grasping, explaining the Dhamma and the practice that leads to extinguishment.

SN 38.12 A Question About Grasping

“‘Upādānaṁ, upādānan’ti, āvuso sāriputta, vuccati. Katamaṁ nu kho, āvuso, upādānan”ti?

“Cattārimāni, āvuso, upādānāni. Kāmupādānaṁ, diṭṭhupādānaṁ sīlabbatupādānaṁ, attavādupādānaṁ imāni kho, āvuso, cattāri upādānānī”ti.

“Atthi panāvuso, maggo atthi paṭipadā, etesaṁ upādānānaṁ pahānāyā”ti?

“Atthi kho, āvuso, maggo atthi paṭipadā, etesaṁ upādānānaṁ pahānāyā”ti.

“Katamo panāvuso, maggo katamā paṭipadā, etesaṁ upādānānaṁ pahānāyā”ti? “Ayameva kho, āvuso, ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo, etesaṁ upādānānaṁ pahānāya, seyyathidaṁ sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi. Ayaṁ kho, āvuso, maggo ayaṁ paṭipadā, etesaṁ upādānānaṁ pahānāyā”ti. “Bhaddako, āvuso, maggo bhaddikā paṭipadā, etesaṁ upādānānaṁ pahānāya. Alañca panāvuso sāriputta, appamādāyā”ti.

Dvādasamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“‘Upādānaṁ, upādānan’ti, āvuso sāriputta, vuccati.

“Reverend Sāriputta, they speak of this thing called ‘grasping’.

Katamaṁ nu kho, āvuso, upādānan”ti?

What is grasping?”

“Cattārimāni, āvuso, upādānāni.

“Reverend, there are these four kinds of grasping.

Kāmupādānaṁ, diṭṭhupādānaṁ sīlabbatupādānaṁ, attavādupādānaṁ

Grasping at sensual pleasures, views, precepts and observances, and theories of a self.

imāni kho, āvuso, cattāri upādānānī”ti.

These are the four kinds of grasping.”

“Atthi panāvuso, maggo atthi paṭipadā, etesaṁ upādānānaṁ pahānāyā”ti?

“But, reverend, is there a path and a practice for completely understanding these four kinds of grasping?”

“Atthi kho, āvuso, maggo atthi paṭipadā, etesaṁ upādānānaṁ pahānāyā”ti.

“There is.” …

“Katamo panāvuso, maggo katamā paṭipadā, etesaṁ upādānānaṁ pahānāyā”ti?

“Ayameva kho, āvuso, ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo, etesaṁ upādānānaṁ pahānāya, seyyathidaṁ

sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi.

Ayaṁ kho, āvuso, maggo ayaṁ paṭipadā, etesaṁ upādānānaṁ pahānāyā”ti.

“Bhaddako, āvuso, maggo bhaddikā paṭipadā, etesaṁ upādānānaṁ pahānāya.

Alañca panāvuso sāriputta, appamādāyā”ti.

Dvādasamaṁ.

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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Sensual desire

Sensual desire

A mental quality of desiring sensory gratification. It pulls the mind’s attention toward sights, sounds, smells, tastes, or touches in a search for satisfaction.

Also known as: craving for sensuality, passion for sensual pleasures, lust, pull toward enticing sense objects
Pāli: kāmacchanda
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Wrong view

Wrong view

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