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

SN 38.15 A Question About Substantial Reality

“‘Sakkāyo, sakkāyo’ti, āvuso sāriputta, vuccati. Katamo nu kho, āvuso, sakkāyo”ti?

“Pañcime, āvuso, upādānakkhandhā sakkāyo vutto bhagavatā, seyyathidaṁ rūpupādānakkhandho, vedanupādānakkhandho, saññupādānakkhandho, saṅkhārupādānakkhandho, viññāṇupādānakkhandho. Ime kho, āvuso, pañcupādānakkhandhā sakkāyo vutto bhagavatā”ti.

“Atthi panāvuso, maggo atthi paṭipadā, etassa sakkāyassa pariññāyā”ti?

“Atthi kho, āvuso, maggo atthi paṭipadā, etassa sakkāyassa pariññāyā”ti.

“Katamo panāvuso, maggo katamā paṭipadā, etassa sakkāyassa pariññāyā”ti? “Ayameva kho, āvuso, ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo, etassa sakkāyassa pariññāya, seyyathidaṁ sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi. Ayaṁ kho, āvuso, maggo ayaṁ paṭipadā, etassa sakkāyassa pariññāyā”ti. “Bhaddako, āvuso, maggo bhaddikā paṭipadā, etassa sakkāyassa pariññāya. Alañca panāvuso sāriputta, appamādāyā”ti.

Pannarasamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“‘Sakkāyo, sakkāyo’ti, āvuso sāriputta, vuccati.

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

Katamo nu kho, āvuso, sakkāyo”ti?

What is substantial reality?”

“Pañcime, āvuso, upādānakkhandhā sakkāyo vutto bhagavatā, seyyathidaṁ

“Reverend, the Buddha said that these five grasping aggregates are substantial reality. That is,

rūpupādānakkhandho, vedanupādānakkhandho, saññupādānakkhandho, saṅkhārupādānakkhandho, viññāṇupādānakkhandho.

form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness.

Ime kho, āvuso, pañcupādānakkhandhā sakkāyo vutto bhagavatā”ti.

The Buddha said that these five grasping aggregates are substantial reality.”

“Atthi panāvuso, maggo atthi paṭipadā, etassa sakkāyassa pariññāyā”ti?

“But, reverend, is there a path and a practice for completely understanding this substantial reality?”

“Atthi kho, āvuso, maggo atthi paṭipadā, etassa sakkāyassa pariññāyā”ti.

“There is.” …

“Katamo panāvuso, maggo katamā paṭipadā, etassa sakkāyassa pariññāyā”ti?

“Ayameva kho, āvuso, ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo, etassa sakkāyassa pariññāya, seyyathidaṁ

sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi.

Ayaṁ kho, āvuso, maggo ayaṁ paṭipadā, etassa sakkāyassa pariññāyā”ti.

“Bhaddako, āvuso, maggo bhaddikā paṭipadā, etassa sakkāyassa pariññāya.

Alañca panāvuso sāriputta, appamādāyā”ti.

Pannarasamaṁ.

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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Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita, asammūḷha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026