Saṁyutta Nikāya — Discursos Conectados — 22.59 — The Characteristic of Not-Self

1At one time the Buddha was staying near Varanasi in the deer park at Isipatana. There the Buddha addressed the group of five mendicants:

2“Mendicants!”

3“Venerable sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this:

4“Mendicants, form is not-self. For if form were self, it wouldn’t lead to affliction. And you could compel form: ‘May my form be like this! May it not be like that!’ But because form is not-self, it leads to affliction. And you can’t compel form: ‘May my form be like this! May it not be like that!’

5Feeling is not-self …

6Perception is not-self …

7Choices are not-self …

8Consciousness is not-self. For if consciousness were self, it wouldn’t lead to affliction. And you could compel consciousness: ‘May my consciousness be like this! May it not be like that!’ But because consciousness is not-self, it leads to affliction. And you can’t compel consciousness: ‘May my consciousness be like this! May it not be like that!’

9What do you think, mendicants? Is form permanent or impermanent?”

10“Impermanent, sir.”

11“But if it’s impermanent, is it suffering or happiness?”

12“Suffering, sir.”

13“But if it’s impermanent, suffering, and perishable, is it fit to be regarded thus: ‘This is mine, I am this, this is my self’?”

14“No, sir.”

15“Is feeling permanent or impermanent?” …

16“Is perception permanent or impermanent?” …

17“Are choices permanent or impermanent?” …

18“Is consciousness permanent or impermanent?”

19“Impermanent, sir.”

20“But if it’s impermanent, is it suffering or happiness?”

21“Suffering, sir.”

22“But if it’s impermanent, suffering, and perishable, is it fit to be regarded thus: ‘This is mine, I am this, this is my self’?”

23“No, sir.”

24“So you should truly see any kind of form at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near: <em>all</em> form—with right understanding: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’

25Any kind of feeling at all …

26Any kind of perception at all …

27Any kind of choices at all …

28You should truly see any kind of consciousness at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near: <em>all</em> consciousness—with right understanding: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’

29Seeing this, a learned noble disciple grows disillusioned with form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness. Being disillusioned, desire fades away. When desire fades away they’re freed. When they’re freed, they know they’re freed.

30They understand: ‘Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.’”

31That 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.