Sutra on the Characteristic of Not-Self

Ven. Ñanamoli Thera, Anatta-lakkhana Sutra: "The Discourse on the Not-self Characteristic" (SN 22.59); Ellie Askew, Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Right view leads the other seven factors.

Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One (the Buddha) was living in Benares, in the Deer Park at the Resort of Seers (Isipatana). There he addressed the meditators known as the group of five: "Meditators."

— "Venerable sir," they replied. Then the Blessed One said this.

"Meditators, form [this body] is not-self. Were form self then this form would not lead to affliction, and one could have it of form: 'Let my form be thus, let my form not be 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 not be thus.'

"Meditators, feeling is not-self...

"Meditators, perception is not-self...

"Meditators, determinations [mental formations] are not-self...

"Meditators, consciousness is not self. Were consciousness self then this consciousness would not lead to affliction, and one could have it of consciousness: 'Let my consciousness be thus, let my consciousness not be 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 not be thus.'

"Meditators, how do you conceive of it: Is form permanent or impermanent?"

— "Impermanent, venerable sir."

"Now is what is impermanent painful or pleasant?"

— "Painful, venerable sir."

"Now is what is impermanent — what is painful due to being subject to change — fit to be regarded as, 'This is mine, this is I, this is myself'"?

— "No, venerable sir."

"Is feeling permanent or impermanent? ...

"Is perception permanent or impermanent? ...

"Are determinations permanent or impermanent? ...

"Is consciousness permanent or impermanent?"

— "Impermanent, venerable sir."

"Now is what is impermanent pleasant or painful?"

— "Painful, venerable sir."

"Now is what is impermanent — what is painful due to being subject to change — fit to be regarded as, 'This is mine, this is I, this is myself'"?

— "No, venerable sir."

"So meditators any kind of form whatsoever, whether past, future, or presently arisen, whether gross or subtle, whether in internal or external [oneself or other], 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 determination whatsoever...

"Any kind of consciousness whatsoever, whether past, future or presently arisen, whether gross or subtle, whether in 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.'

"Meditators, when a noble follower who has heard (the truth) sees things in this one, that person finds estrangement in form, finds estrangement in feeling, finds estrangement in perception, finds estrangement in determinations, finds estrangement in consciousness.

"When one finds estrangement, passion fades away. With the fading away of passion, one is liberated. When liberated, there arises the knowledge that one is liberated. One understands: 'Birth is exhausted, the supreme life has been lived out, what can be done is done, of this there is no more beyond.'"

That is what the Blessed One said. The meditators were glad and approved of his words.

Now during this utterance, the hearts of the group of five meditators were liberated from the taints by not clinging. There were six fully enlightened beings (arahants) in the world.