Ven. Nanamoli Thera (trans.), Anatta-lakkhana Sutra, from Three Cardinal Discourses of the Buddha edited by Dhr. Seven, Amber Larson, Ellie Askew, Wisdom Quarterly 2019
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| The Group of Five ascetics follow the Buddha, 35 |
— "Venerable sir," they replied. Then Blessed One said this:
"Meditators, form [the body] is not-self. Were form self, then form would not lead to affliction, and one could have it of form: 'Let my form be thus, let my form be not thus.'
"Since form is not self, so it leads to affliction, and none can have it of form: 'Let my form be thus, let my form be not thus.'
"Meditators, feeling is not self...
"Meditators, perception is not self...
"Meditators, formations are not self...
"Meditators, consciousness is not self. Were consciousness self, then consciousness would not lead to affliction, and one could have it of consciousness: 'Let my consciousness be thus, let my consciousness be not thus.'
"Since consciousness is not self, so it leads to affliction, and none can have it of consciousness: 'Let my consciousness be thus, let my consciousness be not thus.'
"Meditators, what do you say (how do you conceive of it): Is form permanent or impermanent?"
— "Impermanent, venerable sir."
"Now is what is impermanent disappointing or pleasant?"
— "Disappointing, venerable sir."
"Now is what is impermanent and disappointing because it is subject to change fit to be regarded as: 'This is mine, this is I, this is my self'"?
— "No, venerable sir."
"Is feeling permanent or impermanent? ...
"Is perception permanent or impermanent? ...
"Are formations permanent or impermanent? ...
"Is consciousness permanent or impermanent?"
— "Impermanent, venerable sir."
"Now is what is impermanent pleasant or disappointing?"
— "Disappointing, venerable sir."
"Now is what is impermanent and disappointing because it is subject to change fit to be regarded as: 'This is mine, this is I, this is my self'"?
— "No, venerable sir."
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| A more realistic artist's rendition of what the situation would have actually looked like, as the newly enlightened Siddhartha, 35, now "the Buddha" [the Awakened One], delivering his second sutra to old Brahmin wandering ascetics who had formerly accompanied him in his yoga, extreme austerities, and search for enlightenment and liberation from all suffering (WQ/Sadhguru). |
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"So, meditators, any kind of form whatsoever -- whether past, future, or presently arisen, whether obvious or subtle, whether internal or external, whether inferior or superior, whether far or near -- must, with right understanding as to how it really is, be regarded as: 'This is not mine, this is not I, this is not myself.'"Any kind of feeling whatsoever...
"Any kind of perception whatsoever...
"Any kind of formation whatsoever...
"Any kind of consciousness whatsoever -- whether past, future, or presently arisen, whether obvious or subtle, whether internal or external, whether inferior or superior, whether far or near -- must, with right understanding as to how it really is, be regarded as: 'This is not mine, this is not I, this is not my self.'
"Meditators, when a noble [awakened, enlightened] follower who has heard (the Truth, the Dharma) sees things in this way, that person
- finds estrangement in form
- finds estrangement in feeling
- finds estrangement in perception
- finds estrangement in formations
- finds estrangement in consciousness.
When liberated, there is knowledge that one is liberated. One understands: 'Rebirth is exhausted, the supreme life has been fully lived out, what can be done has been done, and of this there is no more beyond.'"
That is what the Blessed One said. The monastics were glad, and they lauded his words.
Now during this utterance, the hearts of those five meditators (called "the group of five" ascetics) were liberated from taints by letting go fully and no more clinging [to anything as self].
— SN 22.59
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