The Buddha teaches the abandoning of desire for all impermanent things through recognizing the fleeting nature of the six sense bases and their associated phenomena.

SN 35.76  Rādhaanicca sutta - With Rādha on Impermanence

Atha kho āyasmā rādho …pe… ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā rādho bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “sādhu me, bhante, bhagavā saṅkhittena dhammaṁ desetu, yamahaṁ bhagavato dhammaṁ sutvā eko vūpakaṭṭho appamatto ātāpī pahitatto vihareyyan”ti.

Then the venerable Rādha approached the Blessed One. Having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, venerable Rādha addressed the Blessed One: “It would be good if the Blessed One were to teach the |Dhamma::teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth [dhamma]| in brief, so that, having heard the Dhamma from the Blessed One, I might dwell alone, secluded [from sensual pleasures], |with diligence::quality of doing one’s work or duty well, with alertness, carefulness and care [appamatta]|, |resolute::determined, intent [pahitatta]|, and |with continuous effort::ardent, zealous, with energy, with application [ātāpī]|.”

“Yaṁ kho, rādha, aniccaṁ tatra te chando pahātabbo. Kiñca, rādha, aniccaṁ tatra te chando pahātabbo? Cakkhu aniccaṁ, rūpā aniccā, cakkhuviññāṇaṁcakkhusamphassoyampidaṁ cakkhusamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ adukkhamasukhaṁ tampi aniccaṁ. Tatra te chando pahātabbo …pe…

Whatever is |impermanent::not lasting, transient, unreliable [anicca]|, Rādha, you should abandon |desire::intention, wish, impulse, interest [chanda]| for it. And what is impermanent, Rādha, for which you should abandon desire? The eye is impermanent, |forms::visible objects such as beautiful sights, faces, expressions, art, ornaments, possessions, status symbols, admired appearances, enticing scenery, or objects of desire and attachment [rūpā]| are impermanent, |eye-consciousness::awareness of visible forms; it does not interpret or recognize meaning—only cognizes and distinguishes [cakkhuviññāṇa]| is impermanent, |eye-contact::the meeting of eye, form, and eye-consciousness, giving rise to a visual impression/impingement/intrusion [cakkhusamphassa]| is impermanent. And whatever feeling arises with eye-contact as its condition, whether pleasant, painful, or neither painful nor pleasant, that too is impermanent. You should abandon desire for it. The ear is impermanent, sounds are impermanent, ear-consciousness is impermanent, ear-contact is impermanent. And whatever feeling arises with ear-contact as its condition, whether pleasant, painful, or neither painful nor pleasant, that too is impermanent. You should abandon desire for it. The nose is impermanent, odors are impermanent, nose-consciousness is impermanent, nose-contact is impermanent. And whatever feeling arises with nose-contact as its condition, whether pleasant, painful, or neither painful nor pleasant, that too is impermanent. You should abandon desire for it.

jivhākāyomano anicco. Tatra te chando pahātabbo. Dhammāmanoviññāṇaṁmanosamphassoyampidaṁ manosamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ adukkhamasukhaṁ tampi aniccaṁ. Tatra te chando pahātabbo.

The tongue is impermanent, tastes are impermanent, tongue-consciousness is impermanent, tongue-contact is impermanent. And whatever feeling arises with tongue-contact as its condition, whether pleasant, painful, or neither painful nor pleasant, that too is impermanent. You should abandon desire for it. The body is impermanent, tactile objects are impermanent, body-consciousness is impermanent, body-contact is impermanent. And whatever feeling arises with body-contact as its condition, whether pleasant, painful, or neither painful nor pleasant, that too is impermanent. You should abandon desire for it. The mind is impermanent, |mental objects::thoughts, ideas, memories, emotions, intentions, perceptions, concepts, beliefs, mental images, or constructs—any mental phenomena that arises internally and can become an object of clinging, identity, projection, craving, or aversion [dhammā]| are impermanent, |mind-consciousness::mental awareness; it does not interpret or recognize meaning—only cognizes and distinguishes [manoviññāṇa]| is impermanent, |mind-contact::the meeting of mind, mental object, and mind-consciousness, giving rise to a mental impression/impingement/intrusion [manosamphassa]| is impermanent. And whatever feeling arises with mind-contact as its condition, whether pleasant, painful, or neither painful nor pleasant, that too is impermanent. You should abandon desire for it.

Yaṁ kho, rādha, aniccaṁ tatra te chando pahātabbo”ti.

Whatever is impermanent, Rādha, you should abandon desire for it.

Qualities:

Giving up

Giving up

The mental quality of renunciation and release from attachment. It delights in simplicity and freedom rather than in sensual pleasure. Giving up is not loss but the joyful abandoning of burden, opening the way to peace and insight.

Also known as: renunciation, relinquishment, letting go, abandonment
Pāli: nekkhamma
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Recognition of impermanence

Recognition of impermanence

Perceiving all conditioned things as unstable and transient. This recognition weakens attachment by revealing the continual arising and ceasing of phenomena, turning the mind toward wisdom and release.

Also known as: perception of impermanence, perception of instability, realization of transience
Pāli: aniccasaññā
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Last updated on March 3, 2026