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#### Saṁyutta Nikāya
3. Khandha Vagga
24. Diṭṭhi Saṁyutta
3. Dutiya Gamanam or Dutiya Vāro Vagga

#### The Book of the Kindred Sayings
3. The Book Called the Khandhā-Vagga
Containing Kindred Sayings on the Elements of Sensory Existence and other Subjects
24. Kindred Sayings on Views
3. Second Repetition

#### Sutta 38

#### Arūpī Attā Suttaṁ

# The Self Is Formless

Translated by F. L. Woodward
Edited by Mrs. Rhys Davids

Copyright The Pali Text Society
Commercial Rights Reserved
For details see Terms of Use.

[174]

[1][olds] Thus have I heard:

The Exalted One was once staying near Sāvatthī
at the Jeta Grove in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.

And there the Exalted One addressed the brethren, saying:

"Brethren!"

"Master!" responded those brethren.

The Exalted One said:

"There being what, brethren,
by clinging to what,
by depending upon what
does such a view as this arise:

'The self is formless,
it is without sickness,
after death'?"

"For us, lord, things have the Exalted One as their root
their guide,
their resort.

Well indeed if the meaning of these words
should show itself in the Exalted One."

■

"There being a body, brethren,
by clinging to body,
depending on body,
arises such a view as this:

'The self is formless,
it is without sickness,
after death.'

There being feeling, brethren,
by clinging to feeling,
depending on feeling,
arises such a view as this:

'The self is formless,
it is without sickness,
after death.'

There being perception, brethren,
by clinging to perception,
depending on perception,
arises such a view as this:

'The self is formless,
it is without sickness,
after death.'

There being the activities, brethren,
by clinging to the activities,
depending on the activities,
arises such a view as this:

'The self is formless,
it is without sickness,
after death.'

There being consciousness, brethren,
by clinging to consciousness,
depending on consciousness,
arises such a view as this:

'The self is formless,
it is without sickness,
after death.'

§

As to that, what think ye, brethren?

Is body permanent or impermanent?"

"Impermanent, lord."

"That which is impermanent,
is it weal or woe?"

"Woe, lord."

"Impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
without clinging to that
can such a view as this arise:

'The self is formless,
it is without sickness,
after death'?"

"Surely not, lord."

■

"Is feeling permanent or impermanent?"

"Impermanent, lord."

"That which is impermanent,
is it weal or woe?"

"Woe, lord."

"Impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
without clinging to that
can such a view as this arise:

'The self is formless,
it is without sickness,
after death'?"

"Surely not, lord."

■

"Is perception permanent or impermanent?"

"Impermanent, lord."

"That which is impermanent,
is it weal or woe?"

"Woe, lord."

"Impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
without clinging to that
can such a view as this arise:

'The self is formless,
it is without sickness,
after death'?"

"Surely not, lord."

■

"Are the activities permanent or impermanent?"

"Impermanent, lord."

"That which is impermanent,
is it weal or woe?"

"Woe, lord."

"Impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
without clinging to that
can such a view as this arise:

'The self is formless,
it is without sickness,
after death'?"

"Surely not, lord."

■

"Is consciousness permanent or impermanent?"

"Impermanent, lord."

"That which is impermanent,
is it weal or woe?"

"Woe, lord."

"Impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
without clinging to that
can such a view as this arise:

'The self is formless,
it is without sickness,
after death'?"

"Surely not, lord."

■

"Now what is seen,
heard,
sensed,
known,
attained,
sought after,
thought out by mind, -
is that permanent or impermanent?"

"Impermanent, lord."

"That which is impermanent,
is it weal or woe?"

"Woe, lord."

"Impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
without clinging to that
can such a view as this arise:

'The self is formless,
it is without sickness,
after death'?"

"Surely not, lord."

"But when in an Ariyan disciple
doubt as to these six points
when for him doubt as to suffering is put away,
doubt as to the arising of suffering,
as to the ceasing of suffering,
as to the way going to the ceasing of suffering is put away, -
then this Ariyan disciple is called

'Stream-winner,
saved from disaster,
assured,
bound for enlightenment.'"

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