The Buddha teaches Rāhula to contemplate eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind consciousness as impermanent, suffering, and not-self—not fit to be regarded as “mine, I am this, my self”—until disenchantment, fading of desire, and liberation arise.

SN 18.3 Consciousness

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, rāhula, cakkhuviññāṇaṁ niccaṁ aniccaṁ vā”ti?

“Aniccaṁ, bhante”

“sotaviññāṇaṁ …pe… ghānaviññāṇaṁjivhāviññāṇaṁkāyaviññāṇaṁmanoviññāṇaṁ niccaṁ aniccaṁ vā”ti?

“Aniccaṁ, bhante”

“evaṁ passaṁ, rāhula, sutavā ariyasāvako cakkhuviññāṇasmimpi nibbindati …pe… sotaviññāṇasmimpi nibbindatighānaviññāṇasmimpi nibbindatijivhāviññāṇasmimpi nibbindatikāyaviññāṇasmimpi nibbindatimanoviññāṇasmimpi nibbindati; nibbindaṁ virajjati …pe… pajānātī”ti.

Tatiyaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

At Sāvatthī.

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, rāhula,

“What do you think, Rāhula?

cakkhuviññāṇaṁ niccaṁ aniccaṁ vā”ti?

Is eye consciousness permanent or impermanent?”

“Aniccaṁ, bhante”

“Impermanent, sir.” …

“sotaviññāṇaṁ …pe…

“… ear consciousness …

ghānaviññāṇaṁ

nose consciousness …

jivhāviññāṇaṁ

tongue consciousness …

kāyaviññāṇaṁ

body consciousness …

manoviññāṇaṁ niccaṁ aniccaṁ vā”ti?

Is mind consciousness permanent or impermanent?”

“Aniccaṁ, bhante”

“Impermanent, sir.” …

“evaṁ passaṁ, rāhula, sutavā ariyasāvako cakkhuviññāṇasmimpi nibbindati …pe… sotaviññāṇasmimpi nibbindatighānaviññāṇasmimpi nibbindatijivhāviññāṇasmimpi nibbindatikāyaviññāṇasmimpi nibbindatimanoviññāṇasmimpi nibbindati;

“Seeing this, a learned noble disciple grows disillusioned with eye consciousness, ear consciousness, nose consciousness, tongue consciousness, body consciousness, and mind consciousness.

nibbindaṁ virajjati …pe…

Being disillusioned, desire fades away. …”

pajānātī”ti.

Tatiyaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Desire

Desire

A wholesome motivation, interest, or objective that acts as the starting point for effort and application of will.

Also known as: aspiration, interest, wish, having an objective, intention, impulse
Pāli: chanda
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Learning

Learning

One who has broad learning and retention of the Dhamma, gained through hearing, reciting, and carefully investigating the teachings. Such learning penetrates their meaning through discernment and serves as a strong support for practice.

Also known as: having knowledge, well studied
Pāli: bahussuta, suta
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Last updated on July 27, 2026