SN22.59 — The Discourse on the Characteristic of Non-Self

At one time, the Blessed One was staying in Benares at the Deer Park in Isipatana.

There, the Blessed One addressed the group of five disciples:

Disciples.

Venerable Sir, those disciples replied to the Blessed One.

The Blessed One said this:

Form is non-self.

For if 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 non-self, 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 non-self.

For if feeling were self, this feeling would not lead to affliction, and it would be possible to have it of feeling: Let my feeling be thus; let my feeling not be thus.

But because feeling is non-self, feeling leads to affliction, and it is not possible to have it of feeling: Let my feeling be thus; let my feeling not be thus.

Perception is non-self...

Formations are non-self.

For if formations were self, these formations would not lead to affliction, and it would be possible to have it of formations: Let my formations be thus; let my formations not be thus.

But because formations are non-self, formations lead to affliction, and it is not possible to have it of formations: Let my formations be thus; let my formations not be thus.

Consciousness is non-self.

For if 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 non-self, 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

Is form permanent or impermanent?

Impermanent, venerable sir.

But is what is impermanent suffering or happiness?

Suffering, venerable sir.

But is it fitting to regard what is impermanent, suffering, and subject to change as: This is mine, this I am, this is my self?

No, venerable sir.

Is feeling...

perception...

formations...

consciousness permanent or impermanent?

Impermanent, sir.

But is what is impermanent suffering or happiness?

Suffering, sir.

Is it proper to regard what is impermanent, suffering, and subject to change as This is mine, this I am, this is my self?

No, sir.

Therefore any form whatsoever, whether past, future, or present, internal or external, gross or subtle, inferior or superior, far or near, all forms;

Any feeling whatsoever, whether past, future, or present, internal or external, far or near, all feelings;

Any perception whatsoever;

Any mental formations whatsoever, whether past, future, or present, internal or external, far or near, all mental formations;

Any consciousness whatsoever, whether past, future, or present, internal or external, gross or subtle, inferior or superior, far or near, all consciousness:

Seeing thus the learned noble disciple becomes disenchanted with form, disenchanted with feeling, disenchanted with perception, disenchanted with mental formations, disenchanted with consciousness.

Being disenchanted, he becomes dispassionate. Through dispassion, he is liberated. When liberated, there is knowing that he is liberated.

He understands: Birth is destroyed, the holy life has been lived, what had to be done has been done, there is no more of this state of being.

Thus spoke the Blessed One.

The group of five disciples were pleased and delighted in the Blessed One's words.

And while this explanation was being given, the minds of the group of five disciples were freed from the taints without grasping.

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