The Buddha teaches on the six sense bases regarding i’m better, guiding disciples toward discernment of sense experience and release from clinging.

SN 35.108 I’m Better

“Kismiṁ nu kho, bhikkhave, sati kiṁ upādāya kiṁ abhinivissa seyyohamasmīti hoti, sadisohamasmīti hoti, hīnohamasmīti hotī”ti?

“Bhagavaṁmūlakā no, bhante, dhammā …pe….

“Cakkhusmiṁ kho, bhikkhave, sati cakkhuṁ upādāya cakkhuṁ abhinivissa seyyohamasmīti hoti, sadisohamasmīti hoti, hīnohamasmīti hoti …pe… jivhāya sati …pe…

manasmiṁ sati manaṁ upādāya manaṁ abhinivissa seyyohamasmīti hoti, sadisohamasmīti hoti, hīnohamasmīti hoti.

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

“Aniccaṁ, bhante”.

“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ taṁ sukhaṁ vā”ti?

“Dukkhaṁ, bhante”.

“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ, api nu taṁ anupādāya seyyohamasmīti assa, sadisohamasmīti assa, hīnohamasmīti assā”ti?

“No hetaṁ, bhante” …pe… jivhāniccā aniccā vā”ti?

“Aniccā, bhante” …pe….

“Mano nicco anicco vā”ti?

“Anicco, bhante”.

“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ taṁ sukhaṁ vā”ti?

“Dukkhaṁ, bhante”.

“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ, api nu taṁ anupādāya seyyohamasmīti assa, sadisohamasmīti assa, hīnohamasmīti assā”ti?

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

“Evaṁ passaṁ, bhikkhave, sutavā ariyasāvako cakkhusmimpi nibbindati …pe… manasmimpi nibbindati. Nibbindaṁ virajjati; virāgā vimuccati; vimuttasmiṁ vimuttamiti ñāṇaṁ hoti.

‘Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti pajānātī”ti.

Pañcamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Kismiṁ nu kho, bhikkhave, sati kiṁ upādāya kiṁ abhinivissa seyyohamasmīti hoti, sadisohamasmīti hoti, hīnohamasmīti hotī”ti?

“Mendicants, when what exists, because of grasping what and insisting on what, do people think ‘I’m better’ or ‘I’m equal’ or ‘I’m worse’?”

“Bhagavaṁmūlakā no, bhante, dhammā …pe….

“Our teachings are rooted in the Buddha. …”

“Cakkhusmiṁ kho, bhikkhave, sati cakkhuṁ upādāya cakkhuṁ abhinivissa seyyohamasmīti hoti, sadisohamasmīti hoti, hīnohamasmīti hoti …pe…

“When there’s an eye, because of grasping the eye and insisting on the eye, people think ‘I’m better’ or ‘I’m equal’ or ‘I’m worse’. …

jivhāya sati …pe…

manasmiṁ sati manaṁ upādāya manaṁ abhinivissa seyyohamasmīti hoti, sadisohamasmīti hoti, hīnohamasmīti hoti.

When there’s a mind, because of grasping the mind and insisting on the mind, people think ‘I’m better’ or ‘I’m equal’ or ‘I’m worse’.

Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave,

What do you think, mendicants?

cakkhu niccaṁ aniccaṁ vā”ti?

Is the eye permanent or impermanent?”

“Aniccaṁ, bhante”.

“Impermanent, sir.”

“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ taṁ sukhaṁ vā”ti?

“But if it’s impermanent, is it suffering or happiness?”

“Dukkhaṁ, bhante”.

“Suffering, sir.”

“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ, api nu taṁ anupādāya seyyohamasmīti assa, sadisohamasmīti assa, hīnohamasmīti assā”ti?

“But by not grasping what’s impermanent, suffering, and perishable, would people think ‘I’m better’ or ‘I’m equal’ or ‘I’m worse’?”

“No hetaṁ, bhante” …pe…

“No, sir.” …

jivhā

niccā aniccā vā”ti?

“Aniccā, bhante” …pe….

“Mano nicco anicco vā”ti?

“Is the mind permanent or impermanent?”

“Anicco, bhante”.

“Impermanent, sir.”

“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ taṁ sukhaṁ vā”ti?

“But if it’s impermanent, is it suffering or happiness?”

“Dukkhaṁ, bhante”.

“Suffering, sir.”

“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ, api nu taṁ anupādāya seyyohamasmīti assa, sadisohamasmīti assa, hīnohamasmīti assā”ti?

“But by not grasping what’s impermanent, suffering, and perishable, would people think ‘I’m better’ or ‘I’m equal’ or ‘I’m worse’?”

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

“No, sir.”

“Evaṁ passaṁ, bhikkhave, sutavā ariyasāvako cakkhusmimpi nibbindati …pe… manasmimpi nibbindati.

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

Nibbindaṁ virajjati; virāgā vimuccati; vimuttasmiṁ vimuttamiti ñāṇaṁ hoti.

Being disillusioned, desire fades away. When desire fades away they’re freed. When they’re freed, they know they’re freed.

‘Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti pajānātī”ti.

They understand: ‘Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.’”

Pañcamaṁ.

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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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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Free from attachment

Free from attachment

Release from grasping, not taking anything as “me” or “mine,” ceasing to appropriate or identify with people, things, views, or experiences.

Also known as: free from grasping, not appropriating, not taking as mine, without acquisitions, not clinging, not grasping, not holding onto
Pāli: nirūpadhi, nānupādāya, asita, anuggaha
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Happiness

Happiness

Bodily ease and comfort; a pleasant feeling experienced with the body. In the third jhāna, one dwells experiencing this pleasure with the body. It is abandoned, along with bodily pain, for the fourth jhāna to arise.

Also known as: pleasant abiding, positive state of mind, sense of ease
Pāli: sukha
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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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Suffering

Suffering

Unpleasantness, discontentment, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, i.e. mild or intense suffering that is inherent in conditioned existence.

Also known as: discomfort, unpleasantness, discontentedness, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, distress, affliction
Pāli: dukkha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026