Wisdom of the Masters

The Buddha's Teaching on Not Self ~ Anattalakkhana Sutta - Pali Buddhism

09.30.2023 - By Samaneri JayasaraPlay

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The Anattalakkhaṇa Sutta (Pali) or Anātmalakṣaṇa Sūtra (Sanskrit), is traditionally recorded as the second discourse delivered by Gautama Buddha. The title translates to the "Not-Self Characteristic Discourse", but is also known as the Pañcavaggiya Sutta (Pali) or Pañcavargīya Sūtra (Skt.), meaning the "Group of Five" Discourse. In this discourse, the Buddha analyzes the constituents of a person's body and mind (khandha) and demonstrates that they are each impermanent (anicca), subject to suffering (dukkha) and thus unfit for identification with a "self" (attan).

Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu

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