Saṃyutta Nikāya
3. Khandha Vagga
22. Khandha Saṃyutta
6. Upāya Vagga

Sutta 59

Pañca or Anatta-Lakkhana Suttaṃ

The Group of Five

Translated from the Pāḷi
by
Michael M. Olds

[1][bit][pts][nymo][than][mend][bodh] I Hear Tell:

Once upon a time the Lucky Man
Benares residing,
The Deer Park,
Seer's Landing.

There the The Lucky Man said this to the Group of Five beggars:

"Beggars!"

"Bhante!" they replied,

and the Lucky Man said to them:

"Form, beggars: not-self.

For if form, beggars, were self,
it would follow
that there would not be oppression from form,
and of form it would be possible to say:

'Let my form be thus.

Let my form not be thus.'

However, beggars, form: not self.

Therefore of form
it follows
that there is oppression from form,
and of form it is not possible to say:

'Let my form be thus.

Let my form not be thus.'

Sense-experience, beggars: not-self.

For if sense-experience, beggars, were self,
it would follow
that there would not be oppression from sense-experience,
and of sense-experience it would be possible to say:

'Let my sense-experience be thus.

Let my sense-experience not be thus.'

However, beggars, sense-experience: not self.

Therefore of sense-experience
it follows
that there is oppression from sense-experience,
and of sense-experience it is not possible to say:

'Let my sense-experience be thus.

Let my sense-experience not be thus.'

Sense-perception, beggars: not-self.

For if sense-perception, beggars, were self,
it would follow
that there would not be oppression from sense-perception,
and of sense-perception it would be possible to say:

'Let my sense-perception be thus.

Let my sense-perception not be thus.'

However, beggars, sense-perception: not self.

Therefore of sense-perception
it follows
that there is oppression from sense-perception,
and of sense-perception it is not possible to say:

'Let my sense-perception be thus.

Let my sense-perception not be thus.'

Own-making, beggars: not-self.

For if own-making, beggars, were self,
it would follow
that there would not be oppression from own-making,
and of own-making it would be possible to say:

'Let my own-making be thus.

Let my own-making not be thus.'

However, beggars, own-making: not self.

Therefore of own-making
it follows
that there is oppression from own-making,
and of own-making it is not possible to say:

'Let my own-making be thus.

Let my own-making not be thus.'

Sense-consciousness, beggars: not-self.

For if sense-consciousness, beggars, were self,
it would follow
that there would not be oppression from sense-consciousness,
and of sense-consciousness it would be possible to say:

'Let my sense-consciousness be thus.

Let my sense-consciousness not be thus.'

However, beggars, sense-consciousness: not self.

Therefore of sense-consciousness
it follows
that there is oppression from sense-consciousness,
and of sense-consciousness it is not possible to say:

'Let my sense-consciousness be thus.

Let my sense-consciousness not be thus.'

What do you think, beggars?

Form: stable or unstable?"

"Unstable, bhante"

"That which is unstable:
painful or pleasant?"

"Painful, bhante."

"That which is unstable,
painful,
a distorted thing,
is it reasonable to have of such the view:

'This is mine,'
I am this,
this is my self'?"

"It is not, bhante."

"Sense-experience: stable or unstable?"

"Unstable, bhante"

"That which is unstable:
painful or pleasant?"

"Painful, bhante."

"That which is unstable,
painful,
a distorted thing,
is it reasonable to have of such the view:

'This is mine,'
I am this,
this is my self'?"

"It is not, bhante."

"Sense-perception: stable or unstable?"

"Unstable, bhante"

"That which is unstable:
painful or pleasant?"

"Painful, bhante."

That which is unstable,
painful,
a distorted thing,
is it reasonable to have of such the view:

'This is mine,'
I am this,
this is my self'?"

"It is not, bhante."

"The own-made: stable or unstable?"

"Unstable, bhante"

"That which is unstable:
painful or pleasant?"

"Painful, bhante."

"That which is unstable,
painful,
a distorted thing,
is it reasonable to have of such the view:

'This is mine,'
I am this,
this is my self'?"

"It is not, bhante."

"Sense-consciousness: stable or unstable?"

"Unstable, bhante"

"That which is unstable:
painful or pleasant?"

"Painful, bhante."

That which is unstable,
painful,
a distorted thing,
is it reasonable to have of such the view:

'This is mine,'
I am this,
this is my self'?"

"It is not, bhante."

"Therefore, beggars:
whatever there is of form
past, future, present;
internal or external;
material or immaterial;
discarded or exalted;
romote or nearby;
of all form: