sn22.59:0.1Linked Discourses 22.59
sn22.59:0.26. Involvement
sn22.59:0.3The Characteristic of Not-Self
sn22.59:1.1At one time the Buddha was staying near Varanasi in the deer park at Isipatana.
sn22.59:1.2There the Buddha addressed the group of five mendicants:
sn22.59:1.3“Mendicants!”
sn22.59:1.4“Venerable sir,” they replied.
sn22.59:1.5The Buddha said this:
sn22.59:2.1“Mendicants, form is not-self.
sn22.59:2.2For if form were self, it wouldn’t lead to affliction. And you could compel form:
sn22.59:2.3‘May my form be like this! May it not be like that!’
sn22.59:2.4But because form is not-self, it leads to affliction. And you can’t compel form:
sn22.59:2.5‘May my form be like this! May it not be like that!’
sn22.59:3.1Feeling is not-self …
sn22.59:4.1Perception is not-self …
sn22.59:4.2Choices are not-self …
sn22.59:5.1Consciousness is not-self.
sn22.59:5.2For if consciousness were self, it wouldn’t lead to affliction. And you could compel consciousness:
sn22.59:5.3‘May my consciousness be like this! May it not be like that!’
sn22.59:5.4But because consciousness is not-self, it leads to affliction. And you can’t compel consciousness:
sn22.59:5.5‘May my consciousness be like this! May it not be like that!’
sn22.59:6.1What do you think, mendicants?
sn22.59:6.2Is form permanent or impermanent?”
sn22.59:6.3“Impermanent, sir.”
sn22.59:6.4“But if it’s impermanent, is it suffering or happiness?”
sn22.59:6.5“Suffering, sir.”
sn22.59:6.6“But if it’s impermanent, suffering, and perishable, is it fit to be regarded thus:
sn22.59:6.7‘This is mine, I am this, this is my self’?”
sn22.59:6.8“No, sir.”
sn22.59:6.9“Is feeling permanent or impermanent?” …
sn22.59:6.10“Is perception permanent or impermanent?” …
sn22.59:6.11“Are choices permanent or impermanent?” …
sn22.59:6.12“Is consciousness permanent or impermanent?”
sn22.59:6.13“Impermanent, sir.”
sn22.59:6.14“But if it’s impermanent, is it suffering or happiness?”
sn22.59:6.15“Suffering, sir.”
sn22.59:6.16“But if it’s impermanent, suffering, and perishable, is it fit to be regarded thus:
sn22.59:6.17‘This is mine, I am this, this is my self’?”
sn22.59:6.18“No, sir.”
sn22.59:7.1“So you should truly see any kind of form at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near: all form—with right understanding: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’
sn22.59:8.1Any kind of feeling at all …
sn22.59:9.1Any kind of perception at all …
sn22.59:9.2Any kind of choices at all …
sn22.59:10.1You should truly see any kind of consciousness at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near: all consciousness—with right understanding: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’
sn22.59:11.1Seeing this, a learned noble disciple grows disillusioned with form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness.
sn22.59:11.2Being disillusioned, desire fades away. When desire fades away they’re freed. When they’re freed, they know they’re freed.
sn22.59:11.3They understand: ‘Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.’”
sn22.59:12.1That is what the Buddha said.
sn22.59:12.2Satisfied, the group of five mendicants approved what the Buddha said.
sn22.59:12.3And while this discourse was being spoken, the minds of the group of five mendicants were freed from defilements by not grasping.