The view ‘This is my self’ arises from clinging to the five aggregates. Recognizing any arising clinging to these and seeing the aggregates as impermanent, unsatisfactory, and subject to change leads to stream-entry.

SN 24.2 Etaṁmama sutta - This is Mine

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthi.

“Kismiṁ nu kho, bhikkhave, sati, kiṁ upādāya, kiṁ abhinivissa evaṁ diṭṭhi uppajjati: ‘etaṁ mama, esohamasmi, eso me attā’”ti?

“When what exists, |bhikkhus,::::| by |clinging to::grasping (at), acquiring, appropriating, taking possession (of), identifying (with) [upādāya]| what, by |fixating::adhering, doubling down; lit. completely entering down [abhinivissa]| on what, does such a view arise: ‘This is mine, I am this, this is my self’?”

“Bhagavaṁmūlakā no, bhante, dhammā …pe…

“Venerable sir, our teachings are rooted in the Blessed One, guided by the Blessed One, and take refuge in the Blessed One. It would be good if the Blessed One would explain the meaning of this statement. Having heard it from the Blessed One, the bhikkhus will remember it.”

“rūpe kho, bhikkhave, sati, rūpaṁ upādāya, rūpaṁ abhinivissa evaṁ diṭṭhi uppajjati: ‘etaṁ mama, esohamasmi, eso me attā’ti. Vedanāya sati …pe… saññāya satisaṅkhāresu sativiññāṇe sati, viññāṇaṁ upādāya, viññāṇaṁ abhinivissa evaṁ diṭṭhi uppajjati: ‘etaṁ mama, esohamasmi, eso me attā’ti.

“When form exists, |bhikkhus,::::| by clinging to form, by fixating on form, such a view arises: ‘This is mine, I am this, this is my self.’ When |feeling::pleasant, neutral, or painful sensation, feeling, second of the five aggregates [vedanā]| exists, bhikkhus, by clinging to feeling, by fixating on feeling, such a view arises: ‘This is mine, I am this, this is my self.’ When |perception::The mental process of recognizing and giving meaning to experience. It marks sensory information by signs, labels, or associations drawn from memory and the field of contact. Perception shapes how one experiences the world; third of the five aggregates [sañña]| exists, bhikkhus, by clinging to perception, by fixating on perception, such a view arises: ‘This is mine, I am this, this is my self.’ When |intentional constructs::the constructive activity that shapes each moment of experience, expressed as bodily, verbal, and mental formations; the accumulated conditioning — patterns, tendencies, and habits — produced by prior action [saṅkhārā]| exist, bhikkhus, by clinging to intentional constructs, by fixating on intentional constructs, such a view arises: ‘This is mine, I am this, this is my self.’ When |consciousness::quality of awareness — distinctive knowing that arises in dependence on the meeting of eye and form, ear and sound, nose and odor, tongue and taste, body and tangible object, mind and mind object [viññāṇa]| exists, |bhikkhus,::::| by clinging to consciousness, by fixating on consciousness, such a view arises: ‘This is mine, I am this, this is my self.’

Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, rūpaṁ niccaṁ aniccaṁ vā”ti?

What do you |think::presume, suppose, imagine, conceive [maññati]|, |bhikkhus,::::| is form |permanent::stable, not in flux [nicca]| or |impermanent::not lasting, transient, unreliable [anicca]|?”

“Aniccaṁ, bhante” …pe…

“Impermanent, venerable sir.”

“vedanāsaññāsaṅkhārāviññāṇaṁ niccaṁ aniccaṁ vā”ti?

“Are feeling, perception, intentional constructs, and consciousness permanent or impermanent?”

“Aniccaṁ, bhante” …pe…

“Impermanent, venerable sir.”

api nu taṁ anupādāya evaṁ diṭṭhi uppajjeyya: ‘etaṁ mama, esohamasmi, eso me attā’”ti?

“But by not clinging to it, would such a view arise: ‘This is mine, I am this, this is my self’?”

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

“No, venerable sir.”

“Yampidaṁ diṭṭhaṁ sutaṁ mutaṁ viññātaṁ pattaṁ pariyesitaṁ anuvicaritaṁ manasā tampi niccaṁ aniccaṁ vā”ti?

“That which is seen, heard, |sensed::smelled, tasted, felt, or thought [muta]|, cognized, attained, sought after, and pondered over by the mind—is that permanent or impermanent?”

“Aniccaṁ, bhante”.

“Impermanent, venerable sir.”

“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ taṁ sukhaṁ vā”ti?

“And that which is impermanent—is it |unsatisfactory::uncomfortable, unpleasant [dukkha]| or |pleasant::comfortable, easy, good [sukha]|?”

“Dukkhaṁ, bhante”.

“Unsatisfactory, venerable sir.”

“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ, api nu taṁ anupādāya evaṁ diṭṭhi uppajjeyya: ‘etaṁ mama, esohamasmi, eso me attā’”ti?

“And that which is impermanent, unsatisfactory, and |subject to change::of the nature of alteration, decay [vipariṇāmadhamma]|—by not clinging to it, would such a view arise: ‘This is mine, this I am, this is my self’?”

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

“No, venerable sir.”

“Yato kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvakassa imesu ca ṭhānesu kaṅkhā pahīnā hoti, dukkhepissa kaṅkhā pahīnā hoti …pe… dukkhanirodhagāminiyā paṭipadāyapissa kaṅkhā pahīnā hoti ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako sotāpanno avinipātadhammo niyato sambodhiparāyano”ti.

“When|, bhikkhus,::::| a disciple of the Noble Ones has abandoned |doubt::uncertainty, perplexity, hesitation—especially in relation to faith, truth, or decision-making on the path [kaṅkhā]| in these cases, and has abandoned doubt about |suffering::discomfort, unpleasantness, discontentment, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, i.e. mild or intense suffering [dukkha]|, has abandoned doubt about the arising of suffering, has abandoned doubt about the cessation of suffering, and has abandoned doubt about the way of practice leading to the cessation of suffering—this noble disciple|, bhikkhus,::::| is called a |stream-enterer::A stream-enterer is an individual who has attained the first stage of awakening, having completely abandoned the three fetters: 1) personal existence view - identity view, belief in a self, 2) doubt or perplexity regarding suffering, its arising, its ending, and the way of practice leading to the end of suffering, and 3) adherence to rules and observances as a means of liberation [sotāpanna]|, not liable to states of suffering, fixed in destiny, |with full awakening as his destination::culminating in enlightenment [sambodhiparāyaṇa]|.”

Topics & Qualities:

Attachment

Attachment

A mental fastening onto people, things, views, or states as “me” or “mine,” unwilling to release them. This clinging can give a sense of security and sweetness.

Also known as: acquisition, bond, clinging, grasping, holding on, possession, entanglement, bound, connected, taking as mine
Pāli: upadhi, upādāna, sakiñcana, mamatta
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Doubt

Doubt

Paralyzing indecision about the path or practice. Doubt obstructs confidence and clarity.

Also known as: confusion, indecisiveness, uncertainty, wavering, perplexity
Pāli: vicikiccha, kaṅkhā, vimati
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Recognition of impermanence

Recognition of impermanence

Perceiving all conditioned things as unstable and transient. This recognition weakens attachment by revealing the continual arising and ceasing of phenomena, turning the mind toward wisdom and release.

Also known as: perception of impermanence, perception of instability, realization of transience
Pāli: aniccasaññā
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Recognition of not-self

Recognition of not-self

Seeing that no phenomenon can rightly be taken as “I” or “mine.” It reveals the impersonal, dependently arisen nature of all experience, undermining conceit and attachment to identity.

Also known as: perception of not being suitable to identify with, realization of being subject to change, recognition of alteration and changing nature
Pāli: anattasaññā
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Recognition of unsatisfactoriness

Recognition of unsatisfactoriness

Perceiving the inherent inadequacy and unreliability of conditioned existence. This recognition loosens craving and the pursuit of lasting satisfaction in what cannot endure.

Also known as: perception of unsatisfactoriness, recognition of discontentment
Pāli: dukkhasaññā
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Stream Entry

Stream Entry

The first stage of awakening, where one overcomes the fetters of 1.) personal existence view: view of being someone, that one is an embodied being, 2.) doubt or perplexity regarding suffering, its arising, its ending, and the way of practice leading to the end of suffering, and 3.) adherence to rules and observances as a means of liberation. One who has entered the stream is no longer bound for the lower realms, is fixed in destiny, and is bound for full awakening. The four factors of stream-entry are: 1.) association with persons of integrity, 2.) hearing the true teaching, 3.) radical attention, and 4.) practice in accordance with the Dhamma.

Also known as: entering the stream, fruition of stream-entry
Pāli: sotāpatti, sotāpanna
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Last updated on July 7, 2026