- SN 22.1: Nakulapita Sutta — To Nakulapita
{S iii 1; CDB i 853}
[Thanissaro].
The Buddha explains to the aging householder Nakulapita how one need not be sick in mind even though one may be sick in body.
- SN 22.2: Devadaha Sutta — At Devadaha
{S iii 5; CDB i 856}
[Thanissaro].
Ven. Sariputta explains the best way to introduce the Buddha's teachings to inquisitive, intelligent people.
- SN 22.3: Haliddakani Sutta — To Haliddakani
{S iii 9; CDB i 859}
[Thanissaro].
Ven. Maha Kaccana explains to a householder what it means to live as a monk, free of society, free of sensual passion, free of yearning, and free of quarreling.
- SN 22.5: Samadhi Sutta — Concentration
{S iii 13; CDB i 863}
[Thanissaro].
How the development of concentration leads to discernment.
- SN 22.7: Upaadaaparitassanaa Sutta — Grasping and Worry
{S iii 15; CDB i 865}
[Walshe].
The Buddha describes how ideas about the self lead to worry, and how to be free of such worry.
- SN 22.22: Bhāra Sutta — The Burden
{S iii 25; CDB i 871}
[Nizamis | Thanissaro | Walshe].
The Buddha describes the burdens we carry, and how to cast them off.
- SN 22.23: Pariñña Sutta — Comprehension
{S iii 26; CDB i 872}
[Thanissaro].
True comprehension means the end of passion, aversion, and delusion.
- SN 22.36: Bhikkhu Sutta — The Monk
{S iii 36; CDB i 879}
[Thanissaro].
How we define ourselves in terms of the aggregates, and how we don't have to do so.
- SN 22.39: Anudhamma Sutta — In Accordance with the Dhamma (1)
{S iii 40; CDB i 882}
[Thanissaro].
Towards the end of his life, the Buddha stated that the proper way to pay homage to him was to "practice the Dhamma in accordance with the Dhamma." This sutta explains what that means, in terms of cultivating disenchantment (nibbida). [TB]
- SN 22.40: Anudhamma Sutta — In Accordance with the Dhamma (2)
{S iii 41; CDB i 882}
[Thanissaro].
Towards the end of his life, the Buddha stated that the proper way to pay homage to him was to "practice the Dhamma in accordance with the Dhamma." This sutta explains what that means, in terms of focusing on inconstancy (anicca). [TB]
- SN 22.41: Anudhamma Sutta — In Accordance with the Dhamma (3)
{S iii 41; CDB i 882}
[Thanissaro].
Towards the end of his life, the Buddha stated that the proper way to pay homage to him was to "practice the Dhamma in accordance with the Dhamma." This sutta explains what that means, in terms of focusing on stress/suffering (dukkha). [TB]
- SN 22.42: Anudhamma Sutta — In Accordance with the Dhamma (4)
{S iii 41; CDB i 882}
[Thanissaro].
Towards the end of his life, the Buddha stated that the proper way to pay homage to him was to "practice the Dhamma in accordance with the Dhamma." This sutta explains what that means, in terms of focusing on not-self (anatta). [TB]
- SN 22.43: Attadiipaa Sutta — An Island to Oneself
{S iii 42; CDB i 882}
[Walshe].
Presaging the famous words he would utter in his final days, the Buddha elaborates on his advice to "be an island unto yourself."
- SN 22.47: Samanupassana Sutta/Samanupassanaa Sutta — Assumptions/Ways of Regarding
{S iii 46; CDB i 885}
[Thanissaro | Walshe].
The Buddha speaks on the assumptions that underlie self-view.
- SN 22.48: Khandha Sutta — Aggregates
{S iii 47; CDB i 886}
[Thanissaro].
The Buddha gives a summary of the teaching on the five aggregates.
- SN 22.49: So.no Sutta — So.na
{S iii 48; CDB i 887}
[Walshe].
How can you tell when you're seeing things as they really are?
- SN 22.53: Upaya Sutta — Attached
{S iii 53; CDB i 890}
[Thanissaro].
When passion for each of the five aggregates is completely abandoned, Awakening ensues.
- SN 22.54: Bija Sutta — Means of Propagation
{S iii 54; CDB i 891}
[Thanissaro].
This sutta is nearly identical to the preceding one (
SN 22.53), and illustrates the same point with a striking image.
- SN 22.55: Udana Sutta — Exclamation
{S iii 55; CDB i 892}
[Thanissaro].
What does it take to break free of the five lower fetters?
- SN 22.56: Parivatta Sutta — The (Fourfold) Round
{S iii 58; CDB i 895}
[Thanissaro].
Awakening results from direct knowledge of the "fourfold round" with respect to the aggregates (i.e., knowledge of the aggregate, its origination, its cessation, and the path leading to its cessation).
- SN 22.57: Sattatthana Sutta — Seven Bases
{S iii 61; CDB i 897}
[Thanissaro].
The Buddha explains how one becomes an arahant through mastery of the seven-fold skill of analyzing the five aggregates.
- SN 22.58: Buddha Sutta — Awakened
{S iii 65; CDB i 900}
[Thanissaro].
Some schools of Buddhism teach that there is a qualitative difference between the liberation of a Buddha and that of an arahant disciple — namely, that a Buddha awakens to one level of truth, whereas an arahant awakens to another. This sutta shows that the Buddha saw the distinction in different terms. [TB]
- SN 22.59: Anatta-lakkhana Sutta/Pañcavaggi Sutta — The Discourse on the Not-self Characteristic/Five Brethren
{S iii 66; CDB i 901}
[Mendis | Ñanamoli | Thanissaro].
The Buddha's second discourse, in which he discusses the principle of anatta (not-self) with the group of five ascetics. By means of a question-and-answer dialogue with his audience, the Buddha demonstrates that there can be no abiding self in any of the five aggregates that we tend to identify as "self." The sutta illustrates the Buddha's skillfulness as teacher: at the end of the discourse, all five monks attain full Awakening.
- SN 22.60: Mahali Sutta — To Mahali
{S iii 68; CDB i 903}
[Thanissaro].
The Buddha points out that attachment to things comes from paying more attention to the pleasure they give than to the stress and pain (dukkha) they cause. By turning your attention to the dukkha, however, you can gain release.
- SN 22.63: Upaadiyamaano Sutta — Clinging
{S iii 73; CDB i 906}
[Walshe].
Cling to anything at all, and you are in bondage to Mara.
- SN 22.79: Khajjaniya Sutta — Chewed Up
{S iii 86; CDB i 914}
[Thanissaro].
How to gain release from identification with the five aggregates.
- SN 22.80: Pindolya Sutta/Pi.n.dolya.m Sutta — Almsgoers/Going Begging
{S iii 91; CDB i 918}
[Thanissaro | Walshe].
A monk who is half-hearted in his meditation misses out on the rewards of both lay life and monastic life.
- SN 22.81: Parileyyaka Sutta — At Parileyyaka
{S iii 94; CDB i 921}
[Thanissaro].
Despite having heard many teachings from the Buddha, a monk still wonders how to bring his meditation practice to a speedy conclusion. The Buddha explains that the goal can be reached by a deep understanding of the five aggregates.
- SN 22.83: Ananda Sutta — Ananda
{S iii 105; CDB i 928}
[Thanissaro].
Ven. Ananda recalls the teachings that led him to stream-entry.
- SN 22.84: Tissa Sutta/Tisso Sutta — Tissa/Tissa the Waverer
{S iii 106; CDB i 929}
[Thanissaro | Walshe (excerpt)].
Ven. Tissa, mired in laziness, receives a wake-up call from the Buddha.
- SN 22.85: Yamaka Sutta — To Yamaka
{S iii 109; CDB i 931}
[Thanissaro].
Ven. Yamaka claims that when an arahant dies, he/she is utterly annihilated. Ven. Sariputta pulls him out of this wrong view, and in so doing leads him to Awakening.
- SN 22.86: Anuradha Sutta/Anuraadho Sutta — To Anuradha/Anuraadha is Caught Out
{S iii 116; CDB i 936}
[Thanissaro | Walshe].
Ven. Anuradha learns that if you can't even locate the Tathagata in space when he's sitting right in front of you, how can you ever hope to answer questions about his fate after death?
- SN 22.87: Vakkali Sutta — Vakkali
{S iii 119; CDB i 938}
[Walshe (excerpt)].
The Buddha gives an ailing Ven. Vakkali a timeless teaching: "He who sees Dhamma, sees me."
- SN 22.89: Khemaka Sutta/Khemo Sutta — About Khemaka/Khemaka
{S iii 126; CDB i 942}
[Thanissaro | Walshe (excerpt)].
Although dis-identification with the five aggregates is necessary for becoming a noble disciple, full Awakening calls for even more.
- SN 22.90: Channa Sutta — To Channa
{S iii 132; CDB i 946}
[Thanissaro].
Ven. Channa, formerly the bodhisattha's horseman, receives a teaching on dis-identification with the five aggregates.
- SN 22.93: Nadi Sutta — The River
{S iii 137; CDB i 949}
[Thanissaro].
The Buddha explains that a person who incorrectly takes the five aggregates to be "self" is like a person swept away by a swift river, who grasps in vain at the passing trees and branches.
- SN 22.95: Phena Sutta — Foam
{S iii 140; CDB i 951}
[Thanissaro].
The Buddha invokes a series of vivid similes to illustrate the voidness of the five aggregates.
- SN 22.97: Nakhasikha Sutta — The Tip of the Fingernail
{S iii 147; CDB i 955}
[Thanissaro].
Not even the slightest trace of the aggregates is exempt from stress and suffering.
- SN 22.99: Gaddula Sutta — The Leash (1)
{S iii 149; CDB i 957}
[Thanissaro].
- SN 22.100: Gaddula Sutta — The Leash (2)
{S iii 151; CDB i 958}
[Thanissaro].
Those who don't penetrate the not-self nature of the five aggregates are doomed to go round and round in circles, like a dog tied to a post.
- SN 22.101: Nava Sutta — The Ship
{S iii 152; CDB i 959}
[Thanissaro].
The Buddha explains that Awakening comes about not by wishful thinking, but only through deliberate effort.
- SN 22.109: Sotaapanno Sutta — The Sotaapanna ('Stream-winner')
{S iii 160; CDB i 965}
[Walshe].
What is a Stream-winner?
- SN 22.110: Araha.m Sutta — The Arahant
{S iii 161; CDB i 966}
[Walshe].
What is an Arahant?
- SN 22.121: Upadana Sutta — Clinging
{S iii 167; CDB i 970}
[Thanissaro].
What are the phenomena to which we cling? Answer: each one of the five aggregates.
- SN 22.122: Silavant Sutta — Virtuous
{S iii 167; CDB i 970}
[Thanissaro].
Ven. Sariputta explains how every meditator, from beginner to arahant, should contemplate the five aggregates (khandha).
In this samyutta the Buddha explains the kinds of conviction and understanding that are required for the attainment of stream-entry. These short suttas share an identical structure, with each one focusing on a different aspect of experience (including the six senses, the six elements (dhatu), and the five aggregates). See also the Study Guides on stream-entry.
- SN 25.1: Cakkhu Sutta — The Eye
{S iii 225; CDB i 1004}
[Thanissaro].
How conviction in, and understanding of, inconstancy of the six senses can lead to stream-entry.
- SN 25.2: Rupa Sutta — Forms
{S iii 225; CDB i 1004}
[Thanissaro].
How conviction in, and understanding of, inconstancy of sense objects can lead to stream-entry.
- SN 25.3: Viññana Sutta — Consciousness
{S iii 226; CDB i 1005}
[Thanissaro].
How conviction in, and understanding of, inconstancy of sense consciousness can lead to stream-entry.
- SN 25.4: Phassa Sutta — Contact
{S iii 226; CDB i 1005}
[Thanissaro].
How conviction in, and understanding of, inconstancy of contact can lead to stream-entry.
- SN 25.5: Vedana Sutta — Feeling
{S iii 226; CDB i 1005}
[Thanissaro].
How conviction in, and understanding of, inconstancy of feeling can lead to stream-entry.
- SN 25.6: Sañña Sutta — Perception
{S iii 227; CDB i 1006}
[Thanissaro].
How conviction in, and understanding of, inconstancy of perception can lead to stream-entry.
- SN 25.7: Cetana Sutta — Intention
{S iii 227; CDB i 1006}
[Thanissaro].
How conviction in, and understanding of, inconstancy of intentions can lead to stream-entry.
- SN 25.8: Tanha Sutta — Craving
{S iii 227; CDB i 1006}
[Thanissaro].
How conviction in, and understanding of, inconstancy of craving can lead to stream-entry.
- SN 25.9: Dhatu Sutta — Properties
{S iii 227; CDB i 1006}
[Thanissaro].
How conviction in, and understanding of, inconstancy of the six elements (earth, liquid, fire, wind, space, and consciousness) can lead to stream-entry.
- SN 25.10: Khandha Sutta — Aggregates
{S iii 227; CDB i 1006}
[Thanissaro].
How conviction in, and understanding of, inconstancy of the five aggregates can lead to stream-entry.