SN22.99 — Gaddulabaddhasutta
Originating in Sāvatthi.
This samsara is without discoverable beginning. A first point is not discerned of beings roaming and wandering on hindered by ignorance and fettered by craving.
There comes a time when the great ocean dries up, evaporates, and is no more; but there is no making an end of suffering, I say, for beings roaming and wandering on hindered by ignorance and fettered by craving.
There comes a time when Sineru, the king of mountains, burns up, perishes, and is no more; but there is no making an end of suffering, I say, for beings roaming and wandering on hindered by ignorance and fettered by craving.
There comes a time when the great earth burns up, perishes, and is no more; but there is no making an end of suffering, I say, for beings roaming and wandering on hindered by ignorance and fettered by craving.
Just as a dog tied by a leash to a strong post or pillar keeps running and revolving around that very post or pillar; so too, the uninstructed worldling... regards form as self... regards feeling as self... regards perception as self... regards formations as self... regards consciousness as self, or self as possessed of consciousness, or consciousness as in self, or self as in consciousness.
He keeps running and revolving around form, around feeling, around perception, around formations, around consciousness. Running and revolving around form, around feeling, around perception, around formations, around consciousness, he is not freed from form, not freed from feeling, not freed from perception, not freed from formations, not freed from consciousness, not freed from birth, aging, and death, from sorrow, lamentation, pain, dejection, and despair. He is not freed from suffering, I say.
But the instructed noble disciple... does not regard form as self... does not regard feeling as self... does not regard perception as self... does not regard formations as self... does not regard consciousness as self, or self as possessed of consciousness, or consciousness as in self, or self as in consciousness.
He does not run and revolve around form, around feeling, around perception, around formations, around consciousness. Not running and revolving around form, around feeling, around perception, around formations, around consciousness, he is freed from form, freed from feeling, freed from perception, freed from formations, freed from consciousness, freed from birth, aging, and death, from sorrow, lamentation, pain, dejection, and despair. He is freed from suffering, I say.