The Buddha teaches the five aggregates and the five aggregates subject to clinging, which are the basis for understanding the nature of experience and the process of clinging that leads to suffering.

SN 22.48  Khandha sutta - Aggregates

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthi.

“Pañca, bhikkhave, khandhe desessāmi, pañcupādānakkhandhe ca. Taṁ suṇātha.

“|Bhikkhus,::::| I will teach the five aggregates and the five aggregates subject to clinging. Listen to this.

Five Aggregates

Katame ca, bhikkhave, pañcakkhandhā?

And what|, bhikkhus,::::| are the five aggregates?

Yaṁ kiñci, bhikkhave, rūpaṁ atītānāgatapaccuppannaṁ ajjhattaṁ bahiddhā oḷārikaṁ sukhumaṁ hīnaṁ paṇītaṁ yaṁ dūre santike vā, ayaṁ vuccati rūpakkhandho.

Any |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]| whatsoever, |bhikkhus,::::| whether past, future, or present; internal or external; gross or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near: this is called the form aggregate.

kāci vedanā …pe…

Any |feeling::pleasant, neutral, or painful sensation, the experience felt on contact; second of the five aggregates [vedanā]| whatsoever ...

kāci saññā

Any |perception::The mental process of recognizing and giving meaning to experience. It marks sensory information by signs, labels, or associations drawn from memory and the field of contact. Perception shapes how one experiences the world; third of the five aggregates [sañña]| whatsoever ...

ye keci saṅkhārā atītānāgatapaccuppannā ajjhattaṁ bahiddhā oḷārikā sukhumā …pe… ayaṁ vuccati saṅkhārakkhandho.

Any |intentional constructs::the constructive activity that shapes each moment of experience, expressed as bodily, verbal, and mental formations; the accumulated conditioning — patterns, tendencies, and habits — produced by prior action [saṅkhārā]| whatsoever, whether past, future, or present; internal or external; gross or subtle ... these are called the intentional constructs aggregate.

Yaṁ kiñci viññāṇaṁ atītānāgatapaccuppannaṁ ajjhattaṁ bahiddhā oḷārikaṁ sukhumaṁ hīnaṁ paṇītaṁ yaṁ dūre santike vā, ayaṁ vuccati viññāṇakkhandho.

Any |consciousness::quality of awareness — distinctive knowing that arises in dependence on the meeting of eye and form, ear and sound, nose and odor, tongue and taste, body and tangible object, mind and mind object [viññāṇa]| whatsoever, whether past, future, or present; internal or external; gross or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near: this is called the consciousness aggregate.

Ime vuccanti, bhikkhave, pañcakkhandhā.

These|, bhikkhus,::::| are called the five aggregates.

Five Aggregates Subject to Clinging

Katame ca, bhikkhave, pañcupādānakkhandhā?

And what|, bhikkhus,::::| are the five aggregates subject to clinging?

Yaṁ kiñci, bhikkhave, rūpaṁ atītānāgatapaccuppannaṁ …pe… yaṁ dūre santike sāsavaṁ upādāniyaṁ, ayaṁ vuccati rūpupādānakkhandho.

Any form whatsoever, |bhikkhus,::::| whether past, future, or present ... far or near, that is |accompanied by taints::lit. with effluents [sāsavā]| and |subject to clinging::graspable, which can be used for support; lit. to be taken near [upādāniya]|: this is called the form aggregate subject to clinging.

kāci vedanā …pe… dūre santike sāsavā upādāniyā, ayaṁ vuccati vedanupādānakkhandho.

Any feeling whatsoever ... far or near, that is accompanied by taints and subject to clinging: this is called the feeling aggregate subject to clinging.

kāci saññā …pe… dūre santike sāsavā upādāniyā, ayaṁ vuccati saññupādānakkhandho.

Any perception whatsoever ... far or near, that is accompanied by taints and subject to clinging: this is called the perception aggregate subject to clinging.

Ye keci saṅkhārā …pe… sāsavā upādāniyā, ayaṁ vuccati saṅkhārupādānakkhandho.

Any intentional constructs whatsoever ... accompanied by taints and subject to clinging: these are called the intentional constructs aggregate subject to clinging.

Yaṁ kiñci viññāṇaṁ atītānāgatapaccuppannaṁ …pe… yaṁ dūre santike sāsavaṁ upādāniyaṁ, ayaṁ vuccati viññāṇupādānakkhandho.

Any consciousness whatsoever, whether past, future, or present ... far or near, that is accompanied by taints and subject to clinging: this is called the consciousness aggregate subject to clinging.

Ime vuccanti, bhikkhave, pañcupādānakkhandhā”ti.

These|, bhikkhus,::::| are called the five aggregates subject to clinging.”

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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Last updated on May 1, 2026