Saṁyutta Nikāya:
III. Khandhā Vagga:
22: Khandhāsaṁyutta

So Attā (aka Eso Attā) Suttaṁ

Sutta 151

This is the Self of Me¹

 

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Thus have I heard:

The Exalted One was once staying near Sāvatthī
at the Jeta Grove in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.

And there the Exalted One addressed the brethren, saying:

"Brethren!"

"Master!" responded those brethren.

The Exalted One said:

"There being what, brethren,
by clinging to what,
depending upon what,
does this view arise:

'That is the self,
that is the world,
that hereafter² shall I become,
permanent,
lasting,
eternal,
by nature unchangeable?'"

"For us, lord, things have the Exalted One as their root
their guide,
their resort.

Well indeed if the meaning of these words
should show itself in the Exalted One."

■

"There being a body, brethren,
by clinging to body,
depending on body,
one holds the view:
'That is the self,
that is the world,
that hereafter shall I become,
permanent,
lasting,
eternal,
by nature unchangeable'.

"There being feeling, brethren,
by clinging to feeling,
depending on feeling,
one holds the view:
'This is mine;
this am I;
this is the self of me'.

"There being perception, brethren,
by clinging to perception,
depending on perception,
one holds the view:
'That is the self,
that is the world,
that hereafter shall I become,
permanent,
lasting,
eternal,
by nature unchangeable'.

"There being the activities, brethren,
by clinging to the activities,
depending on the activities,
one holds the view:
'That is the self,
that is the world,
that hereafter shall I become,
permanent,
lasting,
eternal,
by nature unchangeable'.

"There being consciousness, brethren,
by clinging to consciousness,
depending on consciousness,
one holds the view:
'That is the self,
that is the world,
that hereafter shall I become,
permanent,
lasting,
eternal,
by nature unchangeable'.

■

As to that, what think ye, brethren?|| ||

Is body permanent or impermanent?"

"Impermanent, lord."

"That which is impermanent,
is it weal or woe?"

"Woe, lord."

"Then what is impermanent,
woeful,
unstable in nature,
can such a view as:

'That is the self,
that is the world,
that hereafter shall I become,
permanent,
lasting,
eternal,
by nature unchangeable'

arise without a clinging to that?"

"Surely not, lord."

■

"Is feeling permanent or impermanent?"

"Impermanent, lord."

"That which is impermanent,
is it weal or woe?"

"Woe, lord."

"Then what is impermanent,
woeful,
unstable in nature,
can such a view as:

'That is the self,
that is the world,
that hereafter shall I become,
permanent,
lasting,
eternal,
by nature unchangeable'

arise without a clinging to that?"

"Surely not, lord."

■

"Is perception permanent or impermanent?"

"Impermanent, lord."

"That which is impermanent,
is it weal or woe?"

"Woe, lord."

"Then what is impermanent,
woeful,
unstable in nature,
can such a view as:

'That is the self,
that is the world,
that hereafter shall I become,
permanent,
lasting,
eternal,
by nature unchangeable'

arise without a clinging to that?"

"Surely not, lord."

■

"Are the activities permanent or impermanent?"

"Impermanent, lord."

"That which is impermanent,
is it weal or woe?"

"Woe, lord."

"Then what is impermanent,
woeful,
unstable in nature,
can such a view as:

'That is the self,
that is the world,
that hereafter shall I become,
permanent,
lasting,
eternal,
by nature unchangeable'

arise without a clinging to that?"

"Surely not, lord."

■

"Is consciousness permanent or impermanent?"

"Impermanent, lord."

"That which is impermanent,
is it weal or woe?"

"Woe, lord."

"Then what is impermanent,
woeful,
unstable in nature,
can such a view as:

'That is the self,
that is the world,
that hereafter shall I become,
permanent,
lasting,
eternal,
by nature unchangeable'

arise without a clinging to that?"

"Surely not, lord."

 

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"Wherefore, brethren, he who thus sees
conceives disgust at body,
at feeling,
at perception,
at the activities,
at consciousness.

Being disgusted
he is repelled by them;
by that repulsion he is released;
by that release he is set free;
knowledge arises:
in the freed man is the freed thing,
and he knows:

"Destroyed is rebirth;
lived is the righteous life;
done is the task;
for life in these conditions
there is no hereafter."

 

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¹ Title in text omits the 'me' of the refrain.

² Pecca (gerund), sup. § 81, 'after death.'