The Buddha teaches on the internal and external sense bases regarding with koṭṭhita on not-self, analyzing the eye, sights, consciousness, contact, and feeling for insight and release.

SN 35.164 With Koṭṭhita on Not-Self -

Ekamantaṁ …pe… vihareyyanti.

“Yo kho, koṭṭhika, anattā tatra te chando pahātabbo. Ko ca, koṭṭhika, anattā?

Cakkhu kho, koṭṭhika, anattā; tatra te chando pahātabbo. Rūpā anattā; tatra te chando pahātabbo. Cakkhuviññāṇaṁ anattā; tatra te chando pahātabbo. Cakkhusamphasso anattā; tatra te chando pahātabbo. Yampidaṁ cakkhusamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ adukkhamasukhaṁ tampi anattā; tatra te chando pahātabbo …pe…

jivhā anattā; tatra te chando pahātabbo …pe… mano anattā; tatra te chando pahātabbo. Dhammā anattā; tatra te chando pahātabbo. Manoviññāṇaṁmanosamphassoyampidaṁ manosamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ adukkhamasukhaṁ tampi anattā; tatra te chando pahātabbo.

Yo kho, koṭṭhika, anattā, tatra te chando pahātabbo”ti.

Navamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Ekamantaṁ …pe…

vihareyyanti.

“Yo kho, koṭṭhika, anattā tatra te chando pahātabbo.

“Koṭṭhita, you should give up desire for what is not-self.

Ko ca, koṭṭhika, anattā?

And what is not-self?

Cakkhu kho, koṭṭhika, anattā; tatra te chando pahātabbo.

The eye,

Rūpā anattā; tatra te chando pahātabbo.

sights,

Cakkhuviññāṇaṁ anattā; tatra te chando pahātabbo.

eye consciousness,

Cakkhusamphasso anattā; tatra te chando pahātabbo.

and eye contact are not-self: you should give up desire for them.

Yampidaṁ cakkhusamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ adukkhamasukhaṁ tampi anattā; tatra te chando pahātabbo …pe…

The pleasant, painful, or neutral feeling that arises dependent on eye contact is also not-self: You should give up desire for it.

jivhā anattā; tatra te chando pahātabbo …pe…

The ear … nose … tongue … body …

mano anattā; tatra te chando pahātabbo.

The mind,

Dhammā anattā; tatra te chando pahātabbo.

ideas,

Manoviññāṇaṁ

mind consciousness,

manosamphasso

and mind contact …

yampidaṁ manosamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ adukkhamasukhaṁ tampi anattā; tatra te chando pahātabbo.

The pleasant, painful, or neutral feeling that arises dependent on mind contact is also not-self: you should give up desire for it.

Yo kho, koṭṭhika, anattā, tatra te chando pahātabbo”ti.

Koṭṭhita, you should give up desire for what is not-self.”

Navamaṁ.

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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Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita, asammūḷha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026