Connected Discourses on the Aggregates

1At Savatthi. 'Monks, I will teach you the burden, the carrier of the burden, the taking up of the burden, and the laying down of the burden. Listen to that.'

2And what, monks, is the burden? It should be said: the five aggregates subject to clinging. What five? The form aggregate, the feeling aggregate, the perception aggregate, the volitional formations aggregate, the consciousness aggregate.

3And what, monks, is the carrier of the burden? It should be said: the person — this venerable one of such a name and such a clan.

4And what, monks, is the taking up of the burden? It is this craving that leads to renewed existence, accompanied by delight and lust, seeking delight here and there: craving for sensual pleasures, craving for existence, craving for extermination.

5And what, monks, is the laying down of the burden? It is the remainderless fading away and cessation of that same craving, the giving up and relinquishing of it, freedom from it, nonreliance on it.

6The five aggregates are the burden, the person is the carrier of the burden. Taking up the burden is suffering in the world, laying down the burden is blissful.

7Having laid down the heavy burden, not taking up another burden, having drawn out craving with its root, one is free from hunger, fully quenched.