The Buddha teaches on the internal and external sense bases regarding giving up theory of self, analyzing the eye, sights, consciousness, contact, and feeling for insight and release.

SN 35.167 Giving Up Theory of Self

Atha kho aññataro bhikkhu …pe… etadavoca:

“kathaṁ nu kho, bhante, jānato kathaṁ passato attānudiṭṭhi pahīyatī”ti?

“Cakkhuṁ kho, bhikkhu, anattato jānato passato attānudiṭṭhi pahīyati. Rūpe anattato jānato passato attānudiṭṭhi pahīyati. Cakkhuviññāṇaṁ anattato jānato passato attānudiṭṭhi pahīyati. Cakkhusamphassaṁ anattato jānato passato attānudiṭṭhi pahīyati. Yampidaṁ cakkhusamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ adukkhamasukhaṁ tampi anattato jānato passato attānudiṭṭhi pahīyati …pe… jivhaṁ anattato jānato passato attānudiṭṭhi pahīyati …pe…

manaṁ anattato jānato passato attānudiṭṭhi pahīyati. Dhammemanoviññāṇaṁmanosamphassaṁyampidaṁ manosamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ adukkhamasukhaṁ tampi anattato jānato passato attānudiṭṭhi pahīyatī”ti.

Dvādasamaṁ.

Nandikkhayavaggo paṭhamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Nandikkhayena cattāro,
jīvakambavane duve;
Koṭṭhikena tayo vuttā,
micchā sakkāya attanoti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Atha kho aññataro bhikkhu …pe…

Then a mendicant went up to the Buddha …

etadavoca:

and said to him:

“kathaṁ nu kho, bhante, jānato kathaṁ passato attānudiṭṭhi pahīyatī”ti?

“Sir, how does one know and see so that theory of self is given up?”

“Cakkhuṁ kho, bhikkhu, anattato jānato passato attānudiṭṭhi pahīyati.

“Mendicant, knowing and seeing the eye, sights, eye consciousness, and eye contact as not-self, theory of self is given up. …

Rūpe anattato jānato passato attānudiṭṭhi pahīyati.

Cakkhuviññāṇaṁ anattato jānato passato attānudiṭṭhi pahīyati.

Cakkhusamphassaṁ anattato jānato passato attānudiṭṭhi pahīyati.

Yampidaṁ cakkhusamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ adukkhamasukhaṁ tampi anattato jānato passato attānudiṭṭhi pahīyati …pe…

jivhaṁ anattato jānato passato attānudiṭṭhi pahīyati …pe…

manaṁ anattato jānato passato attānudiṭṭhi pahīyati.

Dhamme

manoviññāṇaṁ

manosamphassaṁ

yampidaṁ manosamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ adukkhamasukhaṁ tampi anattato jānato passato attānudiṭṭhi pahīyatī”ti.

And also knowing and seeing the pleasant, painful, or neutral feeling that arises conditioned by mind contact as not-self, theory of self is given up.”

Dvādasamaṁ.

Nandikkhayavaggo paṭhamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Nandikkhayena cattāro,

jīvakambavane duve;

Koṭṭhikena tayo vuttā,

micchā sakkāya attanoti.

Topics & Qualities:

Giving

Giving

The act of generosity, sharing, or offering to others without expecting anything in return. Giving is considered a foundational virtue in Buddhist practice, fostering selflessness and compassion.

Also known as: generosity, charity, donation, almsgiving, donating, philanthropy, providing with, gift with
Pāli: dāna
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Giving up

Giving up

The mental quality of renunciation and release from attachment. It delights in simplicity and freedom rather than in sensual pleasure. Giving up is not loss but the joyful abandoning of burden, opening the way to peace and insight.

Also known as: renunciation, relinquishment, letting go, abandonment
Pāli: nekkhamma
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Last updated on July 27, 2026