The identical structure as SN 22.137, with "greed" replacing "desire"
Length
Short — matching SN 22.137's own length exactly
Northern parallel
Shares its structure with SN 22.137 and SN 22.139
Difficulty
Approachable — best read directly after SN 22.137
Why this discourse
The second discourse in this vagga's opening three-part set: the identical instruction and reasoning as SN 22.137, with "greed" (rāga) replacing "desire" (chanda) as the specific attitude that must be given up toward each impermanent aggregate.
Reading guide
A single word changed, the structure unchanged
"You should give up greed for what is impermanent. And what is impermanent? Form is impermanent; you should give up greed for it" — every clause matches SN 22.137's own structure exactly, with rāga replacing chanda throughout.
Why this repetition is not redundant
Reading SN 22.137 and SN 22.138 together demonstrates that the same underlying reasoning (impermanence as grounds for letting go) applies to more than one specific attitude — desire and greed are addressed as related but distinct targets, each requiring the identical instruction rather than being assumed to fall together automatically.
Recalling this vagga's own opening discourse
The instruction to give up greed for the aggregates echoes SN 22.136's own burning-chaff image — something that continues to smolder with latent danger is exactly the kind of thing greed should not reach toward, even when it looks, like ash, no longer actively threatening.
Completing the set with its final discourse
This discourse's own companion, SN 22.139, will combine "desire" and "greed" into the single compound term chandarāga, closing this opening three-discourse set before the identical pattern repeats for "suffering" at SN 22.140-142.
Key terms
rāga — greed — this discourse's own term, replacing SN 22.137's chanda
chanda — desire — SN 22.137's own parallel term
anicca — impermanent — the shared quality both discourses reason from
chandarāga — desire and greed together — the combined term SN 22.139 will use to close this set
pajahitabba — should be given up — the shared instruction's core imperative
The text
The complete discourse, mirroring SN 22.137's structure exactly with "greed" replacing "desire." Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
§1At Sāvatthī. “Mendicants, you should give up greed for what is impermanent. And what is impermanent? Form is impermanent; you should give up greed for it.
§2Feeling … Perception … Choices … Consciousness is impermanent; you should give up greed for it. You should give up greed for what is impermanent.”
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Self-check quiz
Ten questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.
Question 1 of 10
How does this discourse relate to SN 22.137?
Correct: A. Every clause matches, with one term changed throughout.
Question 2 of 10
What does this discourse instruct mendicants to give up?
Correct: A. Rāga replacing SN 22.137's chanda as the specific target.
Question 3 of 10
Why does reading SN 22.137 and SN 22.138 together matter, rather than treating them as redundant?
Correct: A. Desire and greed are each addressed as distinct targets rather than assumed to fall together automatically.
Question 4 of 10
What earlier discourse's image does this instruction recall?
Correct: A. Something still smoldering with latent danger, even when it looks harmless.
Question 5 of 10
What discourse closes this three-discourse set by combining desire and greed?
Correct: A. The final discourse in this vagga's opening three-part set.
Question 6 of 10
How many aggregates does this instruction apply to?
Correct: A. Form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness, as in SN 22.137.
Question 7 of 10
What pattern will repeat for "suffering" and "not-self" later in this vagga?
Correct: A. At SN 22.140-142 and SN 22.143-145 respectively.
Question 8 of 10
Where is this discourse set?
Correct: A. Matching SN 22.137's own setting.
Question 9 of 10
What compound term will SN 22.139 use to close this set?
Correct: A. Already seen paired together at SN 22.111-112 earlier in this book.
Question 10 of 10
What quality do both this discourse and SN 22.137 reason from?
Correct: A. Shared between the two discourses, as their titles both indicate.
