The Buddha teaches on not-self, applying the analysis of the five aggregates—form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness—to insight and release.

SN 22.68 Not-Self -

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Atha kho aññataro bhikkhu …pe… ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “sādhu me, bhante, bhagavā saṅkhittena dhammaṁ desetu …pe… ātāpī pahitatto vihareyyan”ti.

“Yo kho, bhikkhu, anattā; tatra te chando pahātabbo”ti.

“Aññātaṁ, bhagavā, aññātaṁ, sugatā”ti.

“Yathā kathaṁ pana tvaṁ, bhikkhu, mayā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāsī”ti?

“Rūpaṁ kho, bhante, anattā; tatra me chando pahātabbo.

Vedanā

saññā

saṅkhārā

viññāṇaṁ anattā; tatra me chando pahātabbo.

Imassa khvāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavatā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa evaṁ vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāmī”ti.

“Sādhu sādhu, bhikkhu. Sādhu kho tvaṁ, bhikkhu, mayā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāsi.

Rūpaṁ kho, bhikkhu, anattā; tatra te chando pahātabbo.

Vedanā

saññā

saṅkhārā

viññāṇaṁ anattā; tatra te chando pahātabbo.

Imassa kho, bhikkhu, mayā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa evaṁ vitthārena attho daṭṭhabbo”ti …pe…

aññataro ca pana so bhikkhu arahataṁ ahosīti.

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

Atha kho aññataro bhikkhu …pe… ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Then a mendicant went up to the Buddha … and asked him,

“sādhu me, bhante, bhagavā saṅkhittena dhammaṁ desetu …pe… ātāpī pahitatto vihareyyan”ti.

“Sir, may the Buddha please teach me Dhamma in brief. When I’ve heard it, I’ll live alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute.”

“Yo kho, bhikkhu, anattā; tatra te chando pahātabbo”ti.

“Mendicant, give up desire for what is not-self.”

“Aññātaṁ, bhagavā, aññātaṁ, sugatā”ti.

“Understood, Blessed One! Understood, Holy One!”

“Yathā kathaṁ pana tvaṁ, bhikkhu, mayā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāsī”ti?

“But how do you see the detailed meaning of my brief statement?”

“Rūpaṁ kho, bhante, anattā; tatra me chando pahātabbo.

“Sir, form is not-self; I should give up desire for it.

Vedanā

Feeling …

saññā

Perception …

saṅkhārā

Choices …

viññāṇaṁ anattā; tatra me chando pahātabbo.

Consciousness is not-self; I should give up desire for it.

Imassa khvāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavatā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa evaṁ vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāmī”ti.

That’s how I understand the detailed meaning of the Buddha’s brief statement.”

“Sādhu sādhu, bhikkhu.

“Good, good, mendicant!

Sādhu kho tvaṁ, bhikkhu, mayā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāsi.

It’s good that you understand the detailed meaning of what I’ve said in brief like this.

Rūpaṁ kho, bhikkhu, anattā; tatra te chando pahātabbo.

Form is not-self; you should give up desire for it.

Vedanā

Feeling …

saññā

Perception …

saṅkhārā

Choices …

viññāṇaṁ anattā; tatra te chando pahātabbo.

Consciousness is not-self; you should give up desire for it.

Imassa kho, bhikkhu, mayā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa evaṁ vitthārena attho daṭṭhabbo”ti …pe…

This is how to understand the detailed meaning of what I said in brief.” …

aññataro ca pana so bhikkhu arahataṁ ahosīti.

And that mendicant became one of the perfected.

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

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
View all discourses →
Wholesome

Wholesome

Conducive to or suggestive of good health and mental well-being.

Also known as: blameless, skillful, beneficial, good, useful, healthy, nourishing, sustaining
Pāli: kusala
View all discourses →

Last updated on July 27, 2026