The Buddha expresses an inspired utterance contrasting one who has comprehended the nature of reality with one who is with possessions.

UD 2.5 Upāsaka sutta - Lay Disciple

Evaṁ me sutaṁekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena aññataro icchānaṅgalako upāsako sāvatthiṁ anuppatto hoti kenacideva karaṇīyena. Atha kho so upāsako sāvatthiyaṁ taṁ karaṇīyaṁ tīretvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho taṁ upāsakaṁ bhagavā etadavoca: “cirassaṁ kho tvaṁ, upāsaka, imaṁ pariyāyamakāsi yadidaṁ idhāgamanāyā”ti.

Thus have I heard—At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthi, in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park. At that time, a certain lay disciple from |Icchānaṅgala::name of a Brahman village in Kosala [icchānaṅgala]| had arrived in Sāvatthi for some business. Having completed that business in Sāvatthi, he approached the Blessed One. Having drawn near, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. As he was seated to one side, the Blessed One said to him: “After a long time, lay disciple, you have made this effort, that is, for coming here.”

“Cirapaṭikāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ dassanāya upasaṅkamitukāmo, api cāhaṁ kehici kehici kiccakaraṇīyehi byāvaṭo. Evāhaṁ nāsakkhiṁ bhagavantaṁ dassanāya upasaṅkamitun”ti.

“For a long time, venerable sir, I wished to come and see the Blessed One, but I have been occupied with various duties and obligations. Thus, I was unable to come to see the Blessed One.”

Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

Then, understanding the significance of this, the Blessed One at that time expressed this inspired utterance:

“Sukhaṁ vata tassa na hoti kiñci,
Saṅkhātadhammassa bahussutassa;
Sakiñcanaṁ passa vihaññamānaṁ,
Jano janasmiṁ paṭibandharūpo”ti.

“Indeed, there is not even the slightest suffering,
for |one who has comprehended the nature of reality::one who has understood the Dhamma, the truth, an Arahant, awakened being [saṅkhātadhamma]|, who is |very learned::well educated, knowledgeable [bahussutā]|;
but see how the |one with possessions::who has baggage, who has worldly attachment [sakiñcana]| |suffers hardship::is upset, is irritated, is tormented [vihaññamāna]|,
his mind |entangled with::bound to, tied up with [paṭibandha]| others.”

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
View all discourses →
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
View all discourses →

Last updated on July 11, 2026