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SN 35.3PTS SN 4.21 min read

The Interior as Not-Self

Ajjhattānattasutta

The six interior sense fields are not-self. When a noble disciple truly sees them like this, they become disillusioned and liberated.

Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral

  • 0.1Saṁyutta Nikāya 35.3Linked Discourses 35.3
  • 0.21. Aniccavagga1. Impermanence

0.3AjjhattānattasuttaThe Interior as Not-Self

1.1“Cakkhuṁ, bhikkhave, anattā.“Mendicants, the eye is not-self.1.2Yadanattā taṁ ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ.And what’s not-self should be truly seen with right understanding like this: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’

1.3Sotaṁ anattā …pe…The ear,1.4ghānaṁ anattā …nose,1.5jivhā anattā …tongue,1.6kāyo anattā …body,1.7mano anattā.and mind are not-self.1.8Yadanattā taṁ ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ.And what’s not-self should be truly seen with right understanding like this: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’

1.9Evaṁ passaṁ …pe…Seeing this …1.10nāparaṁ itthattāyāti pajānātī”ti.They understand: ‘… there is nothing further for this place.’”

1.11Tatiyaṁ.