Because the five aggregates are impermanent, the well-studied disciple of the noble ones becomes disenchanted with form, sensation, perception, volitional formations, and consciousness.

Anicca sutta - Impermanence

Thus have I heard — At Sāvatthi.

There the Blessed One said this:

“|Form::materiality, material existence, experience of the material world, i.e. encompassing both one‘s body and external objects, whether near or far, gross or subtle, deficient or refined; first of the five aggregates [rūpa]|, bhikkhus, is impermanent, |felt experience::pleasant, neutral or painful sensation, feeling felt on contact through eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, mind; second of the five aggregates [vedanā]| is impermanent, |perception::interpretation and recognition of oneself, of things. It can involve concepts, labels, and judgments; third of the five aggregates [sañña]| is impermanent, |volitional formations::intentions, choices, decisions, karmic activity; fourth of the five aggregates [saṅkhāra]| are impermanent, |consciousness::quality of awareness — subjective awareness of experiences and the knowing of objects through the six sense doors [sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, and mind]; fifth of the five aggregates [viññāṇa]| is impermanent.

Seeing thus, bhikkhus, the |learned::well-studied, instructed [sutavant]| disciple of the noble ones becomes |disenchanted with::disillusioned with [nibbindati]| form, becomes disenchanted with felt experience, becomes disenchanted with perception, becomes disenchanted with volitional formations, becomes disenchanted with consciousness. Experiencing disenchantment, they become |detached::dispassionate [virajjati]|; through detachment, there is release. When released, there arises the knowledge: ’Released.‘

’Birth is ended, the spiritual life has been lived, what had to be done has been done, there is no more coming to any state of being,’ one understands.”

Last updated on March 27, 2025

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