{"collection":"Samyutta Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_sn22.55/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_sn22.55","id":"suttacentral_sn22.55","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/sn22.55/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Samyutta Nikaya"],"text":"At S\u0101vatth\u012b. There the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment: \u201c\u2018It might not be, and it might not be mine. It will not be, and it will not be mine.\u2019 A mendicant who makes such a resolution can cut off the lower fetters.\u201d When he said this, one of the mendicants said to the Buddha, \u201cBut sir, how can a mendicant who makes such a resolution cut off the lower fetters?\u201d \u201cMendicant, take an unlearned ordinary person who has not seen the noble ones, and is neither skilled nor trained in their teaching. They\u2019ve not seen true persons, and are neither skilled nor trained in their teaching. They regard form as self, self as having form, form in self, or self in form. They regard feeling \u2026 perception \u2026 choices \u2026 consciousness as self, self as having consciousness, consciousness in self, or self in consciousness. They don\u2019t truly understand form\u2014which is impermanent\u2014as impermanent. They don\u2019t truly understand feeling \u2026 perception \u2026 choices \u2026 consciousness\u2014which is impermanent\u2014as impermanent. They don\u2019t truly understand form\u2014which is suffering\u2014as suffering. They don\u2019t truly understand feeling \u2026 perception \u2026 choices \u2026 consciousness\u2014which is suffering\u2014as suffering. They don\u2019t truly understand form\u2014which is not-self\u2014as not-self. They don\u2019t truly understand feeling \u2026 perception \u2026 choices \u2026 consciousness\u2014which is not-self\u2014as not-self. They don\u2019t truly understand form\u2014which is conditioned\u2014as conditioned. They don\u2019t truly understand feeling \u2026 perception \u2026 choices \u2026 consciousness\u2014which is conditioned\u2014as conditioned. They don\u2019t truly understand that form will vanish. They don\u2019t truly understand that feeling \u2026 perception \u2026 choices \u2026 consciousness will vanish. But a learned noble disciple has seen the noble ones, and is skilled and trained in the teaching of the noble ones. They\u2019ve seen true persons, and are skilled and trained in the teaching of the true persons. They don\u2019t regard form as self \u2026 They don\u2019t regard feeling \u2026 perception \u2026 choices \u2026 consciousness as self. They truly understand form\u2014which is impermanent\u2014as impermanent. They truly understand feeling \u2026 perception \u2026 choices \u2026 consciousness\u2014which is impermanent\u2014as impermanent. They truly understand form \u2026 feeling \u2026 perception \u2026 choices \u2026 consciousness\u2014which is suffering\u2014as suffering. They truly understand form \u2026 feeling \u2026 perception \u2026 choices \u2026 consciousness\u2014which is not-self\u2014as not-self. They truly understand form \u2026 feeling \u2026 perception \u2026 choices \u2026 consciousness\u2014which is conditioned\u2014as conditioned. They truly understand that form will vanish. They truly understand that feeling \u2026 perception \u2026 choices \u2026 consciousness will vanish. It\u2019s because of the vanishing of form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness that a mendicant who makes such a resolution\u2014 \u2018It might not be, and it might not be mine. It will not be, and it will not be mine\u2019\u2014 can cut off the lower fetters.\u201d \u201cSir, you say that a mendicant who makes such a resolution can cut off the lower fetters. But how are they to know and see in order to end the defilements without delay?\u201d \u201cMendicant, an unlearned ordinary person worries about things that aren\u2019t a worry. For an unlearned ordinary person worries: \u2018It might not be, and it might not be mine. It will not be, and it will not be mine.\u2019 A learned noble disciple doesn\u2019t worry about things that aren\u2019t a worry. For a learned noble disciple doesn\u2019t worry: \u2018It might not be, and it might not be mine. It will not be, and it will not be mine.\u2019 Should consciousness involved with form, supported by form, established on form continue to remain, with a sprinkling of relishing it would grow, increase, and mature. Or should consciousness involved with feeling remain \u2026 Or should consciousness involved with perception remain \u2026 Or should consciousness involved with choices, supported by choices, established on choices continue to remain, with a sprinkling of relishing it would grow, increase, and mature. Suppose, mendicant, you were to say: \u2018Apart from form, feeling, perception, and choices, I will describe the coming and going of consciousness, its passing away and reappearing, its growth, increase, and maturity.\u2019 That is not possible. If a mendicant has given up greed for the form element, the support is cut off, and there is no establishment of consciousness. If a mendicant has given up greed for the feeling element \u2026 perception element \u2026 choices element \u2026 consciousness element, the support is cut off, and there is no establishment of consciousness. Since that consciousness does not become established and does not grow, not making choices, it is freed. Being free, it\u2019s stable. Being stable, it\u2019s content. Being content, they\u2019re not anxious. Not being anxious, they personally become extinguished. They understand: \u2018Rebirth is ended \u2026 there is nothing further for this place.\u2019 The ending of the defilements without delay is for one who knows and sees this.\u201d","title":"An Inspired Saying","tradition":"Samyutta Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":775}