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Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta
Setting Rolling the Wheel of Truth |
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On the fifth day after he arrived at the Deer Park at Isipitana
near Benares
where he delivered his first sermon to the five wandering monks and converted them
to his path, the Buddha delivered them his second sermon on Not Self.
It is known in Buddhist literature as " The Sermon on the Non Existence of
Soul." The sermon is presented below in complete detail, for the readers' benefit.
"O monks, the body cannot be considered as soul because it is liable to destruction
sensation, perception, predisposition, and consciousness also cannot be considered
as soul, because even the consciousness is subject to destruction. Is not the form
transitory? Is it permanent? Are not the sensation, perception, inclination, and
consciousness transitory? Are they permanent? And that which is transitory, is it
evil or good? And that which is transitory, evil, and liable to change, can it be
ever considered as ' this is mine' or as "this is I am " " or as " this is my eternal
soul "?
"Then o monks, all physical form whether past, present, or future, whether
subjective or objective, far or near, high or low, should be rightfully regarded
as " this is not I ", "this is not mine" and "this is not my eternal soul." In the
like manner all sensation, perception, inclinations and consciousness must be considered
as "these are not mine", "these are not I" and "these are not my eternal soul."
"Knowing thus, O monks, a true disciple will develop an aversion to the physical
form, to the sensation, perception, inclination and consciousness. There by he overcomes
his desire, becomes freed and having become freed realizes that becoming is exhausted,
that he has lived a pure life, that he had done what was expected of him and that
he has done away with mortality for ever. "
Thus ended the second sermon of the Buddha. The monks who listened to this
discourse got enlightenment immediately thereafter and became Arhats, or the perfect
ones.
Following is excerpted from Anatta-lakkhana Sutta The Discourse on
the Not-self Characteristic, Translated from Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying at Varanasi in
the Game Refuge at Isipatana. There he addressed the group of five monks:
"Form, monks, is not self. If form were the self, this form would not lend itself
to disease. It would be possible [to say] with regard to form, 'Let this form be
thus. Let this form not be thus.' But precisely because form is not self, form lends
itself to dis-ease. And it is not possible [to say] with regard to form, 'Let this
form be thus. Let this form not be thus.'
"Feeling is not self...
"Perception is not self...
"[Mental] fabrications are not self...
"Consciousness is not self. If consciousness were the self, this consciousness
would not lend itself to dis-ease. It would be possible [to say] with regard to
consciousness, 'Let my consciousness be thus. Let my consciousness not be thus.'
But precisely because consciousness is not self, consciousness lends itself to dis-ease.
And it is not possible [to say] with regard to consciousness, 'Let my consciousness
be thus. Let my consciousness not be thus.'
"What do you think, monks — Is form constant or inconstant?"
"Inconstant, lord."
"And is that which is inconstant easeful or stressful?"
"Stressful, lord."
"And is it fitting to regard what is inconstant, stressful, subject to change
as: 'This is mine. This is my self. This is what I am'?"
"No, lord."
"...Is feeling constant or inconstant?"
"Inconstant, lord."...
"...Is perception constant or inconstant?"
"Inconstant, lord."...
"...Are fabrications constant or inconstant?"
"Inconstant, lord."...
"What do you think, monks — Is consciousness constant or inconstant?"
"Inconstant, lord."
"And is that which is inconstant easeful or stressful?"
"Stressful, lord."
"And is it fitting to regard what is inconstant, stressful, subject to change
as: 'This is mine. This is my self. This is what I am'?"
"No, lord."
"Thus, monks, any body whatsoever that is past, future, or present; internal
or external; blatant or subtle; common or sublime; far or near: every body is to
be seen as it actually is with right discernment as: 'This is not mine. This is
not my self. This is not what I am.'
"Any feeling whatsoever...
"Any perception whatsoever...
"Any fabrications whatsoever...
"Any consciousness whatsoever that is past, future, or present; internal or external;
blatant or subtle; common or sublime; far or near: every consciousness is to be
seen as it actually is with right discernment as: 'This is not mine. This is not
my self. This is not what I am.'
"Seeing thus, the well-instructed disciple of the noble ones grows disenchanted
with the body, disenchanted with feeling, disenchanted with perception, disenchanted
with fabrications, disenchanted with consciousness. Disenchanted, he becomes dispassionate.
Through dispassion, he is fully released. With full release, there is the knowledge,
'Fully released.' He discerns that 'Birth is ended, the holy life fulfilled, the
task done. There is nothing further for this world.'"
That is what the Blessed One said. Gratified, the group of five monks delighted
at his words. And while this explanation was being given, the hearts of the group
of five monks, through not clinging (not being sustained), were fully released from
fermentation/effluents.
Suggested Further Reading
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