{"collection":"Samyutta Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_sn22.59/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_sn22.59","id":"suttacentral_sn22.59","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/sn22.59/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Samyutta Nikaya"],"text":"At one time the Buddha was staying near Varanasi in the deer park at Isipatana. There the Buddha addressed the group of five mendicants: \u201cMendicants!\u201d \u201cVenerable sir,\u201d they replied. The Buddha said this: \u201cMendicants, form is not-self. For if form were self, it wouldn\u2019t lead to affliction. And you could compel form: \u2018May my form be like this! May it not be like that!\u2019 But because form is not-self, it leads to affliction. And you can\u2019t compel form: \u2018May my form be like this! May it not be like that!\u2019 Feeling is not-self \u2026 Perception is not-self \u2026 Choices are not-self \u2026 Consciousness is not-self. For if consciousness were self, it wouldn\u2019t lead to affliction. And you could compel consciousness: \u2018May my consciousness be like this! May it not be like that!\u2019 But because consciousness is not-self, it leads to affliction. And you can\u2019t compel consciousness: \u2018May my consciousness be like this! May it not be like that!\u2019 What do you think, mendicants? Is form permanent or impermanent?\u201d \u201cImpermanent, sir.\u201d \u201cBut if it\u2019s impermanent, is it suffering or happiness?\u201d \u201cSuffering, sir.\u201d \u201cBut if it\u2019s impermanent, suffering, and perishable, is it fit to be regarded thus: \u2018This is mine, I am this, this is my self\u2019?\u201d \u201cNo, sir.\u201d \u201cIs feeling permanent or impermanent?\u201d \u2026 \u201cIs perception permanent or impermanent?\u201d \u2026 \u201cAre choices permanent or impermanent?\u201d \u2026 \u201cIs consciousness permanent or impermanent?\u201d \u201cImpermanent, sir.\u201d \u201cBut if it\u2019s impermanent, is it suffering or happiness?\u201d \u201cSuffering, sir.\u201d \u201cBut if it\u2019s impermanent, suffering, and perishable, is it fit to be regarded thus: \u2018This is mine, I am this, this is my self\u2019?\u201d \u201cNo, sir.\u201d \u201cSo you should truly see any kind of form at all\u2014past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near: <em>all</em> form\u2014with right understanding: \u2018This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.\u2019 Any kind of feeling at all \u2026 Any kind of perception at all \u2026 Any kind of choices at all \u2026 You should truly see any kind of consciousness at all\u2014past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near: <em>all</em> consciousness\u2014with right understanding: \u2018This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.\u2019 Seeing this, a learned noble disciple grows disillusioned with form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness. Being disillusioned, desire fades away. When desire fades away they\u2019re freed. When they\u2019re freed, they know they\u2019re freed. They understand: \u2018Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.\u2019\u201d That is what the Buddha said. Satisfied, the group of five mendicants approved what the Buddha said. And while this discourse was being spoken, the minds of the group of five mendicants were freed from defilements by not grasping.","title":"The Characteristic of Not-Self","tradition":"Samyutta Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":473}