• Linked Discourses 22.68 Saṁyutta Nikāya 22.68
  • 7. The Perfected Ones 7. Arahantavagga

Not-Self Anattasutta

At Sāvatthī. Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Then a mendicant went up to the Buddha … and asked him, Atha kho aƱƱataro bhikkhu …pe… ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: ā€œSir, may the Buddha please teach me Dhamma in brief. When I’ve heard it, I’ll live alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute.ā€ ā€œsādhu me, bhante, bhagavā saį¹…khittena dhammaṁ desetu …pe… ātāpÄ« pahitatto vihareyyanā€ti.

ā€œMendicant, give up desire for what is not-self.ā€ ā€œYo kho, bhikkhu, anattā; tatra te chando pahātabboā€ti.

ā€œUnderstood, Blessed One! Understood, Holy One!ā€ ā€œAƱƱātaṁ, bhagavā, aƱƱātaṁ, sugatÄā€ti.

ā€œBut how do you see the detailed meaning of my brief statement?ā€ ā€œYathā kathaṁ pana tvaṁ, bhikkhu, mayā saį¹…khittena bhāsitassa vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāsÄ«ā€ti?

ā€œSir, form is not-self; I should give up desire for it. ā€œRÅ«paṁ kho, bhante, anattā; tatra me chando pahātabbo.

Feeling … Vedanā …

Perception … saƱƱā …

Choices … saį¹…khārā …

Consciousness is not-self; I should give up desire for it. viññāṇaṁ anattā; tatra me chando pahātabbo.

That’s how I understand the detailed meaning of the Buddha’s brief statement.ā€ Imassa khvāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavatā saį¹…khittena bhāsitassa evaṁ vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāmÄ«ā€ti.

ā€œGood, good, mendicant! ā€œSādhu sādhu, bhikkhu. It’s good that you understand the detailed meaning of what I’ve said in brief like this. Sādhu kho tvaṁ, bhikkhu, mayā saį¹…khittena bhāsitassa vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāsi.

Form is not-self; you should give up desire for it. Rūpaṁ kho, bhikkhu, anattā; tatra te chando pahātabbo.

Feeling … Vedanā …

Perception … saƱƱā …

Choices … saį¹…khārā …

Consciousness is not-self; you should give up desire for it. viññāṇaṁ anattā; tatra te chando pahātabbo.

This is how to understand the detailed meaning of what I said in brief.ā€ … Imassa kho, bhikkhu, mayā saį¹…khittena bhāsitassa evaṁ vitthārena attho daį¹­į¹­habboā€ti …pe…

And that mendicant became one of the perfected. aññataro ca pana so bhikkhu arahataṁ ahosīti.

Chaṭṭhaṁ.