Exploring the Path - Pāli Course

At one time the Bhagavā was staying at Bārāṇasi, in the Deer Park at Isipatana. Here he addressed the pañcavaggiya bhikkhus, the group of five.

“Bhikkhus.”

“Bhadante,” they replied.

The Bhagavā spoke thus:

“Bhikkhus, body is not self. Were body self, then this very body would not be subject to disease and the body could be obtained thus: ‘Let my body be such and such, let my body be not thus.’ But as body is not self, so it is subject to disease, and the body cannot be obtained thus: ‘Let my body be such and such, let my body be not thus.’

“Sensation is not self. Were sensation self, Bhikkhus, then this very sensation would not undergo change and sensation could be obtained thus: ‘Let my sensation be such and such, let my sensation be not thus.’ But as sensation is not self, so it undergoes change and sensation cannot be obtained thus: ‘Let my sensation be such and such, let my sensation be not thus.’

“Perception is not self. Were perception self, Bhikkhus, then this very perception would not undergo change and perception could be obtained thus: ‘Let my perception be such and such, let my perception be not thus.’ But as perception is not self, so it undergoes change and perception cannot be obtained thus: ‘Let my perception be such and such, let my perception be not thus.’

“Mental conditioned reaction is not self. Were mental conditioned reaction self, Bhikkhus, then this very mental conditioned reaction would not undergo change and mental conditioned reaction could be obtained thus: ‘Let my mental conditioned reaction be such and such, let my mental conditioned reaction be not thus.’ But as mental conditioned reaction is not self, so it undergoes change and mental conditioned reaction cannot be obtained thus: ‘Let my mental conditioned reaction be such and such, let my mental conditioned reaction be not thus.’

“Consciousness is not self. Were consciousness self, Bhikkhus, then this very consciousness would not be subject to change and consciousness could be obtained thus: ‘Let my Consciousness be such and such, let my consciousness be not thus.’ But as Consciousness is not self, so it is subject to change, and consciousness cannot be obtained thus: ‘Let my Consciousness be such and such, let my consciousness be not thus.’

“Now what do you think, Bhikkhus, is body permanent or impermanent?” — “Impermanent, Bhante.” “Now whatever is impermanent is it painful or pleasant?” — “It is painful, Bhante.” “Now can, whatever is impermanent and what is painful and therefore subject to change, be considered thus: “This is mine, this is I, this is my self?” — "No, Bhante.”

“Now what do you think, Bhikkhus, is sensation…; perception…; mental conditioned reaction…; consciousness permanent or impermanent?” — “Impermanent, Bhante.” “Now whatever is impermanent is it painful or pleasant?” — “It is painful, Bhante.” “Now can, whatever is impermanent and what is painful and therefore subject to change, be considered thus: ‘This is mine, this is I, this is my self?’” — “No, Bhante.”

“Therefore, Bhikkhus, any kind of body whatsoever, whether arisen in the past, future or present, whether gross or subtle, whether internal or external, whether inferior or superior, whether far or near, must be realized with full wisdom in its true characteristic, thus: ‘This is not mine, this is not I, this is not myself.’

“Whatever sensation, whether arisen in the past, future or present, whether gross or subtle, whether internal or external, whether inferior or superior, whether far or near, must be realized with full wisdom in its true characteristic, thus: ‘This is not mine, this is not I, this is not myself.’

“Whatever perception, whether arisen in the past, future or present, whether gross or subtle, whether internal or external, whether inferior or superior, whether far or near, must be realized with full wisdom in its true characteristic, thus: ‘This is not mine, this is not I, this is not myself.’

“Whatever mentally conditioned reactions, whether arisen in the past, future or present, whether gross or subtle, whether internal or external, whether inferior or superior, whether far or near, must be realized with full wisdom in its true characteristic, thus: ‘This is not mine, this is not I, this is not myself.’

“Whatever consciousness, whether arisen in the past, future or present, whether gross or subtle, whether internal or external, whether inferior or superior, whether far or near, must be realized with full wisdom in its true characteristic, thus: ‘This is not mine, this is not I, this is not myself.’

“Bhikkhus, when a noble follower of the Enlightened One perceives in this way, he gets disgusted with corporality, he gets disgusted by sensation, gets disgusted by perception, gets disgusted by mental conditioned reactions and he by disgusted of consciousness.

“When he thus gets disgusted, he gets freed from attachment. Being free from attachment, he gets liberated. When thus liberated, knowledge about this very liberation arises and he understands: ‘Birth is exhausted, the holy life has been lived, what could be done is done, there will be no further existence.’”

That is what the Bhagavā said. Elated in their minds, the Bhikkhus approved his words.

Now during this exposition, the Bhikkhus of the group of five were liberated from all mental impurities and of any further attachment.

* Anattalakkhaṇasuttaṃ