Reading guide
The second term of the quartet, everything else unchanged
As with every discourse from SN 22.63 onward, only the central term changes: suffering (dukkha) now stands where impermanence stood in SN 22.66. The request, the confirmation pattern, and the closing attainment all remain exactly as before.
A direct claim, not derived from impermanence
As in SN 22.13's earlier direct statement in Aniccavagga, this discourse states that the aggregates are suffering without first deriving that claim from their impermanence — a direct assertion granted on its own terms, matching the pattern of this vagga's quartet presenting each mark independently rather than building a logical chain between them.
The mendicant's resolution stated for suffering specifically
The mendicant's confirmed explanation states, for each aggregate: it is suffering, and I should give up desire for it. This first-person resolution format, established in SN 22.66, continues here without variation, giving each discourse in the quartet the same personally applied character.
Two terms down, two remaining
With impermanence (SN 22.66) and suffering (this discourse) both now given, the quartet has two terms remaining: not-self in SN 22.68, and “not belonging to self” in SN 22.69, before the vagga moves to its eighth and final matched-template discourse.
Key terms
The text
§1Then a mendicant went up to the Buddha … and asked him, “Sir, may the Buddha please teach me Dhamma in brief. When I’ve heard it, I’ll live alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute.” “Mendicant, give up desire for whatever’s suffering.” “Understood, Blessed One! Understood, Holy One!”
§2“But how do you see the detailed meaning of my brief statement?” “Sir, form is suffering; I should give up desire for it.
§3Consciousness is suffering; I should give up desire for it. That’s how I understand the detailed meaning of the Buddha’s brief statement.”
§4“Good, good, mendicant! It’s good that you understand the detailed meaning of what I’ve said in brief like this. Form is suffering; you should give up desire for it.
§5Consciousness is suffering; you should give up desire for it. This is how to understand the detailed meaning of what I said in brief.” … And that mendicant became one of the perfected.
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