Nonself
thus have i heard.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Baraṇasi in
the Deer Park at Isipatana. There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus of the
group of five thus: “Bhikkhus!”
“Venerable sir!” those bhikkhus replied. The Blessed One
said this:
“Bhikkhus, form is nonself. For if, bhikkhus, form were
self, this form would not lead to affliction, and it would be possible to have
it of form: ‘Let my form be thus; let my form not be thus.’ But because form is
nonself, form leads to affliction, and it is not possible to have it of form:
‘Let my form be thus; let my form not be thus.’
“Feeling is nonself…. … Perception is nonself…. Volitional
formations are nonself…. Consciousness is nonself. For if, bhikkhus,
consciousness were self, this consciousness would not lead to affliction, and
it would be possible to have it of consciousness: ‘Let my consciousness be
thus; let my consciousness not be thus.’
But because consciousness is nonself, consciousness leads to
affliction, and it is not possible to have it of consciousness: ‘Let my
consciousness be thus; let my consciousness not be thus.’
“What do you think, bhikkhus, is form permanent or
impermanent?”—“Impermanent, venerable sir.”—“Is what is impermanent suffering
or happiness?”—“Suffering, venerable sir.”—“Is what is impermanent, suffering,
and subject to change fit to be regarded thus: ‘This is mine, this I am, this
is my self’?”—“No, venerable sir.”
“Is feeling permanent or impermanent?… Is perception
permanent or impermanent?… Are volitional formations permanent or impermanent?…
Is consciousness permanent or impermanent?”—“Impermanent, venerable sir.”—“Is
what is impermanent suffering or happiness?”— “Suffering, venerable sir.”—“Is
what is impermanent, suffering, and subject to change fit to be regarded thus:
‘This is mine, this I am, this is my self’?”—“No, venerable sir.”
“Therefore, bhikkhus, any kind of form whatsoever, whether
past, future, or present, internal or external, gross or subtle, inferior or
superior, far or near, all form should be seen as it really is with correct
wisdom thus: ‘This is not mine, this I am not, this is not my self.’
“Any kind of feeling whatsoever … Any kind of perception
whatsoever … Any kind of volitional formations whatsoever … Any kind of consciousness
whatsoever, whether past, future, or present, internal or external, gross or
subtle, inferior or superior, far or near, all consciousness should be seen as
it really is with correct wisdom thus: ‘This is not mine, this I am not, this
is not my self.’
“Seeing thus, bhikkhus, the instructed noble disciple
experiences revulsion towards form, revulsion towards feeling, revulsion
towards perception, revulsion towards volitional formations, revulsion towards
consciousness. Experiencing revulsion, he becomes dispassionate. Through
dispassion his mind is liberated. When it is liberated there comes the
knowledge: ‘It’s liberated.’ He understands: ‘Destroyed is birth, the holy life
has been lived, what had to be done has been done, there is no more for this state
of being”.
That is what the Blessed One said. Elated, those bhikkhus
delighted in the Blessed One’s statement. And while this discourse was being
spoken, the minds of the bhikkhus of the group of five were liberated from the
taints by nonclinging.
The Buddha’s words
Anattalakkhaṇa Sutta SN 22.59 SN iii 66
Source suttacentral.net
