DiscoverSNSN 45–56SN 47SN 47.85-94

The Buddha presents a repeated teaching on the four establishments of mindfulness regarding searches, etc. in this grouped discourse.

SN 47.85-94 Searches, Etc.

“Tisso imā, bhikkhave, esanā. Katamā tisso? Kāmesanā, bhavesanā, brahmacariyesanā”ti

vitthāretabbaṁ.

Esanāvaggo navamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Esanā vidhā āsavo,
Bhavo ca dukkhatā tisso;
Khilaṁ malañca nīgho ca,
Vedanā taṇhā tasināya cāti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Tisso imā, bhikkhave, esanā.

“Mendicants, there are these three searches.

Katamā tisso?

What three?

Kāmesanā, bhavesanā, brahmacariyesanā”ti

The search for sensual pleasures, the search for continued existence, and the search for a spiritual path. …”

vitthāretabbaṁ.

(Tell in full as in SN 45.161–170.)

Esanāvaggo navamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Esanā vidhā āsavo,

Searches, discriminations, defilements,

Bhavo ca dukkhatā tisso;

states of existence, three kinds of suffering,

Khilaṁ malañca nīgho ca,

barrenness, stains, and troubles,

Vedanā taṇhā tasināya cāti.

feelings, craving, and thirst.

Qualities:

Craving

Craving

☁️ dark quality

A driving ‘thirst’ that reaches out toward experiences, identities, or outcomes as the place to find satisfaction—“if only I had that.” It spins stories of lack, binds the mind to becoming, and invariably leads to suffering.

Also known as: wanting, yearning, longing, lit. thirst
Pāli: taṇha, abhijjhā
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Sensual desire

Sensual desire

☁️ dark quality

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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Suffering

Suffering

☁️ dark quality

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

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