Yamakasutta

Ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā sāriputto sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena yamakassa nāma bhikkhuno evarūpaṁ pāpakaṁ diṭṭhigataṁ uppannaṁ hoti: “tathāhaṁ bhagavatā dhammaṁ desitaṁ ājānāmi, yathā khīṇāsavo bhikkhu kāyassa bhedā ucchijjati vinassati, na hoti paraṁ maraṇā”ti.

At one time Venerable Sāriputta was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time a mendicant named Yamaka had the following harmful misconception: “As I understand the Buddha’s teaching, a mendicant who has ended the defilements is annihilated and destroyed when their body breaks up, and doesn’t exist after death.”

Assosuṁ kho sambahulā bhikkhū yamakassa kira nāma bhikkhuno evarūpaṁ pāpakaṁ diṭṭhigataṁ uppannaṁ hoti: “tathāhaṁ bhagavatā dhammaṁ desitaṁ ājānāmi, yathā khīṇāsavo bhikkhu kāyassa bhedā ucchijjati vinassati, na hoti paraṁ maraṇā”ti. Atha kho te bhikkhū yenāyasmā yamako tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmatā yamakena saddhiṁ sammodiṁsu. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū āyasmantaṁ yamakaṁ etadavocuṁ:

Several mendicants heard this rumour. They went to Yamaka and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, they sat down to one side and said to him,

“Saccaṁ kira te, āvuso yamaka, evarūpaṁ pāpakaṁ diṭṭhigataṁ uppannaṁ: ‘tathāhaṁ bhagavatā dhammaṁ desitaṁ ājānāmi, yathā khīṇāsavo bhikkhu kāyassa bhedā ucchijjati vinassati, na hoti paraṁ maraṇā’”ti? “Evaṁ khvāhaṁ, āvuso, bhagavatā dhammaṁ desitaṁ ājānāmi: ‘khīṇāsavo bhikkhu kāyassa bhedā ucchijjati vinassati, na hoti paraṁ maraṇā’”ti.

“Is it really true, Reverend Yamaka, that you have such a harmful misconception: ‘As I understand the Buddha’s teaching, a mendicant who has ended the defilements is annihilated and destroyed when their body breaks up, and doesn’t exist after death’?” “Yes, reverends, that’s how I understand the Buddha’s teaching.”

“Mā, āvuso yamaka, evaṁ avaca, mā bhagavantaṁ abbhācikkhi. Na hi sādhu bhagavato abbhācikkhanaṁ. Na hi bhagavā evaṁ vadeyya: ‘khīṇāsavo bhikkhu kāyassa bhedā ucchijjati vinassati, na hoti paraṁ maraṇā’”ti. Evampi kho āyasmā yamako tehi bhikkhūhi vuccamāno tatheva taṁ pāpakaṁ diṭṭhigataṁ thāmasā parāmāsā abhinivissa voharati: “tathāhaṁ bhagavatā dhammaṁ desitaṁ ājānāmi, yathā khīṇāsavo bhikkhu kāyassa bhedā ucchijjati vinassati, na hoti paraṁ maraṇā”ti.

“Don’t say that, Yamaka! Don’t misrepresent the Buddha, for misrepresentation of the Buddha is not good. And the Buddha would not say that.” But even though admonished by those mendicants, Yamaka obstinately stuck to that misconception and insisted on stating it.

Yato kho te bhikkhū nāsakkhiṁsu āyasmantaṁ yamakaṁ etasmā pāpakā diṭṭhigatā vivecetuṁ, atha kho te bhikkhū uṭṭhāyāsanā yenāyasmā sāriputto tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ etadavocuṁ: “yamakassa nāma, āvuso sāriputta, bhikkhuno evarūpaṁ pāpakaṁ diṭṭhigataṁ uppannaṁ: ‘tathāhaṁ bhagavatā dhammaṁ desitaṁ ājānāmi yathā khīṇāsavo bhikkhu kāyassa bhedā ucchijjati vinassati, na hoti paraṁ maraṇā’ti. Sādhāyasmā sāriputto yena yamako bhikkhu tenupasaṅkamatu anukampaṁ upādāyā”ti. Adhivāsesi kho āyasmā sāriputto tuṇhībhāvena. Atha kho āyasmā sāriputto sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito yenāyasmā yamako tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmatā yamakena saddhiṁ sammodi …pe… ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā sāriputto āyasmantaṁ yamakaṁ etadavoca:

When those mendicants were unable to dissuade Yamaka from that misconception, they rose from their seats and went to see Venerable Sāriputta. They told him what had happened, and said, “May Venerable Sāriputta please go to the mendicant Yamaka out of sympathy.” Sāriputta consented with silence. Then in the late afternoon, Venerable Sāriputta came out of retreat, went to Venerable Yamaka and exchanged greetings with him. Seated to one side he said to Yamaka:

“Saccaṁ kira te, āvuso yamaka, evarūpaṁ pāpakaṁ diṭṭhigataṁ uppannaṁ: ‘tathāhaṁ bhagavatā dhammaṁ desitaṁ ājānāmi, yathā khīṇāsavo bhikkhu kāyassa bhedā ucchijjati vinassati, na hoti paraṁ maraṇā’”ti? “Evaṁ khvāhaṁ, āvuso, bhagavatā dhammaṁ desitaṁ ājānāmi, yathā khīṇāsavo bhikkhu kāyassa bhedā ucchijjati vinassati, na hoti paraṁ maraṇā”ti.

“Is it really true, Reverend Yamaka, that you have such a harmful misconception: ‘As I understand the Buddha’s teaching, a mendicant who has ended the defilements is annihilated and destroyed when their body breaks up, and doesn’t exist after death’?” “Yes, reverend, that’s how I understand the Buddha’s teaching.”

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, āvuso yamaka, rūpaṁ niccaṁ vā aniccaṁ vā”ti? “Aniccaṁ, āvuso”. “Vedanā niccā … saññā … saṅkhārā … viññāṇaṁ niccaṁ vā aniccaṁ vā”ti? “Aniccaṁ, āvuso”. “Tasmātiha …pe… evaṁ passaṁ …pe… nāparaṁ itthattāyāti pajānāti.

“What do you think, Yamaka? Is form permanent or impermanent?” “Impermanent, reverend.” “Is feeling …” … “… perception …” … “… choices …” … “… consciousness permanent or impermanent?” “Impermanent, reverend.” “So you should truly see … Seeing this … They understand: ‘… there is nothing further for this place.’

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, āvuso yamaka, rūpaṁ tathāgatoti samanupassasī”ti? “No hetaṁ, āvuso” … “vedanaṁ tathāgatoti samanupassasī”ti? “No hetaṁ, āvuso” … “saññaṁ … saṅkhāre … viññāṇaṁ tathāgatoti samanupassasī”ti? “No hetaṁ, āvuso”.

What do you think, Reverend Yamaka? Do you consider that the label ‘realized one’ applies to form?” “No, reverend.” “Do you consider that the label ‘realized one’ applies to feeling?” … “… perception?” … “… choices?” … “ … consciousness?” “No, reverend.”

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, āvuso yamaka, rūpasmiṁ tathāgatoti samanupassasī”ti? “No hetaṁ, āvuso”. “Aññatra rūpā tathāgatoti samanupassasī”ti? “No hetaṁ, āvuso”. “Vedanāya … aññatra vedanāya …pe… saññāya … aññatra saññāya … saṅkhāresu … aññatra saṅkhārehi … viññāṇasmiṁ tathāgatoti samanupassasī”ti? “No hetaṁ, āvuso”. “Aññatra viññāṇā tathāgatoti samanupassasī”ti? “No hetaṁ, āvuso”.

“What do you think, Reverend Yamaka? Do you consider that the label ‘realized one’ applies in relation to form?” “No, reverend.” “Do you consider that the label ‘realized one’ applies apart from form?” “No, reverend.” “Do you consider that the label ‘realized one’ applies in relation to feeling?” … “… apart from feeling?” … “… in relation to perception?” … “… apart from perception?” … “… in relation to choices?” … “… apart from choices?” … “… in relation to consciousness?” … “… apart from consciousness?” “No, reverend.”

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, āvuso yamaka, rūpaṁ … vedanaṁ … saññaṁ … saṅkhāre … viññāṇaṁ tathāgatoti samanupassasī”ti? “No hetaṁ, āvuso”.

“What do you think, Yamaka? Do you consider that the label ‘realized one’ applies to one who has form?” … “… feeling?” … “… perception?” … “… choices?” … “… consciousness?” “No, reverend.”

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, āvuso yamaka, ayaṁ so arūpī … avedano … asaññī … asaṅkhāro … aviññāṇo tathāgatoti samanupassasī”ti? “No hetaṁ, āvuso”. “Ettha ca te, āvuso yamaka, diṭṭheva dhamme saccato thetato tathāgate anupalabbhiyamāne, kallaṁ nu te taṁ veyyākaraṇaṁ: ‘tathāhaṁ bhagavatā dhammaṁ desitaṁ ājānāmi, yathā khīṇāsavo bhikkhu kāyassa bhedā ucchijjati vinassati, na hoti paraṁ maraṇā’”ti?

“What do you think, Yamaka? Do you consider that the label ‘realized one’ applies to that one who is without form?” … “… feeling?” … “… perception?” … “… choices?” … “… consciousness?” “No, reverend.” “In that case, Reverend Yamaka, since a realized one is not found by you as a genuine fact in this very life, is it cogent for you to declare: ‘As I understand the Buddha’s teaching, a mendicant who has ended the defilements is annihilated and destroyed when their body breaks up, and doesn’t exist after death’?”

“Ahu kho me taṁ, āvuso sāriputta, pubbe aviddasuno pāpakaṁ diṭṭhigataṁ; idañca panāyasmato sāriputtassa dhammadesanaṁ sutvā tañceva pāpakaṁ diṭṭhigataṁ pahīnaṁ, dhammo ca me abhisamito”ti.

“Reverend Sāriputta, in my ignorance, I used to have that misconception. But now that I’ve heard the teaching from Venerable Sāriputta, I’ve given up that misconception, and I’ve comprehended the teaching.”

“Sace taṁ, āvuso yamaka, evaṁ puccheyyuṁ: ‘yo so, āvuso yamaka, bhikkhu arahaṁ khīṇāsavo so kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā kiṁ hotī’ti? Evaṁ puṭṭho tvaṁ, āvuso yamaka, kinti byākareyyāsī”ti? “Sace maṁ, āvuso, evaṁ puccheyyuṁ: ‘yo so, āvuso yamaka, bhikkhu arahaṁ khīṇāsavo so kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā kiṁ hotī’ti? Evaṁ puṭṭhohaṁ, āvuso, evaṁ byākareyyaṁ: ‘rūpaṁ kho, āvuso, aniccaṁ. Yadaniccaṁ taṁ dukkhaṁ; yaṁ dukkhaṁ taṁ niruddhaṁ tadatthaṅgataṁ. Vedanā … saññā … saṅkhārā … viññāṇaṁ aniccaṁ. Yadaniccaṁ taṁ dukkhaṁ; yaṁ dukkhaṁ taṁ niruddhaṁ tadatthaṅgatan’ti. Evaṁ puṭṭhohaṁ, āvuso, evaṁ byākareyyan”ti.

“Reverend Yamaka, suppose they were to ask you: ‘When their body breaks up, after death, what happens to a perfected one, who has ended the defilements?’ How would you answer?” “Reverend, if they were to ask this, I’d answer like this: ‘Reverend, form is impermanent. What’s impermanent is suffering. What’s suffering has ceased and disappeared. Feeling … perception … choices … consciousness is impermanent. What’s impermanent is suffering. What’s suffering has ceased and disappeared.’ That’s how I’d answer such a question.”

“Sādhu sādhu, āvuso yamaka. Tena hāvuso yamaka, upamaṁ te karissāmi etasseva atthassa bhiyyoso mattāya ñāṇāya. Seyyathāpi, āvuso yamaka, gahapati vā gahapatiputto vā aḍḍho mahaddhano mahābhogo; so ca ārakkhasampanno. Tassa kocideva puriso uppajjeyya anatthakāmo ahitakāmo ayogakkhemakāmo jīvitā voropetukāmo. Tassa evamassa: ‘ayaṁ kho gahapati vā gahapatiputto vā aḍḍho mahaddhano mahābhogo; so ca ārakkhasampanno; nāyaṁ sukaro pasayha jīvitā voropetuṁ. Yannūnāhaṁ anupakhajja jīvitā voropeyyan’ti. So taṁ gahapatiṁ vā gahapatiputtaṁ vā upasaṅkamitvā evaṁ vadeyya: ‘upaṭṭhaheyyaṁ taṁ, bhante’ti. Tamenaṁ so gahapati vā gahapatiputto vā upaṭṭhāpeyya. So upaṭṭhaheyya pubbuṭṭhāyī pacchānipātī kiṅkārapaṭissāvī manāpacārī piyavādī. Tassa so gahapati vā gahapatiputto vā mittatopi naṁ saddaheyya; suhajjatopi naṁ saddaheyya; tasmiñca vissāsaṁ āpajjeyya. Yadā kho, āvuso, tassa purisassa evamassa: ‘saṁvissattho kho myāyaṁ gahapati vā gahapatiputto vā’ti, atha naṁ rahogataṁ viditvā tiṇhena satthena jīvitā voropeyya.

“Good, good, Reverend Yamaka! Well then, I shall give you a simile to make the meaning even clearer. Suppose there was a householder or householder’s son who was rich, with a lot of money and great wealth, and a bodyguard for protection. Then along comes a person who wants to harm, injure, and threaten him, and take his life. They’d think: ‘This householder or householder’s son is rich, with a lot of money and great wealth, and a bodyguard for protection. It won’t be easy to take his life by force. Why don’t I get close to him, then take his life?’ So he goes up to that householder or householder’s son and says: ‘Sir, I would serve you.’ They would serve that householder or householder’s son. They’d get up before him and go to bed after him, and be obliging, behaving nicely and speaking politely. The householder or householder’s son would consider them as a friend and companion, and come to trust them. But when that person realizes that they’ve gained the trust of the householder or householder’s son, then, when they know he’s alone, they’d take his life with a sharp knife.

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, āvuso yamaka, yadā hi so puriso amuṁ gahapatiṁ vā gahapatiputtaṁ vā upasaṅkamitvā evaṁ āha: ‘upaṭṭhaheyyaṁ taṁ, bhante’ti, tadāpi so vadhakova. Vadhakañca pana santaṁ na aññāsi: ‘vadhako me’ti. Yadāpi so upaṭṭhahati pubbuṭṭhāyī pacchānipātī kiṅkārapaṭissāvī manāpacārī piyavādī, tadāpi so vadhakova. Vadhakañca pana santaṁ na aññāsi: ‘vadhako me’ti. Yadāpi naṁ rahogataṁ viditvā tiṇhena satthena jīvitā voropeti, tadāpi so vadhakova. Vadhakañca pana santaṁ na aññāsi: ‘vadhako me’”ti. “Evamāvuso”ti. “Evameva kho, āvuso, assutavā puthujjano ariyānaṁ adassāvī ariyadhammassa akovido ariyadhamme avinīto, sappurisānaṁ adassāvī sappurisadhammassa akovido sappurisadhamme avinīto rūpaṁ attato samanupassati, rūpavantaṁ vā attānaṁ; attani vā rūpaṁ, rūpasmiṁ vā attānaṁ. Vedanaṁ … saññaṁ … saṅkhāre … viññāṇaṁ attato samanupassati, viññāṇavantaṁ vā attānaṁ; attani vā viññāṇaṁ, viññāṇasmiṁ vā attānaṁ.

What do you think, Yamaka? When that person went to the householder or householder’s son and offered to serve him, weren’t they a killer then, though he didn’t know that this was his killer? And when they got up before him and went to bed after him, being obliging, behaving nicely and speaking politely, weren’t they a killer then, though he didn’t know that this was his killer? And when, knowing he was alone, they took his life with a sharp knife, weren’t they a killer then, though he didn’t know that this was his killer?” “Yes, reverend.” “In the same way, an unlearned ordinary person has not seen the noble ones, and is neither skilled nor trained in the teaching of the noble ones. They’ve not seen true persons, and are neither skilled nor trained in the teaching of the true persons. They regard form as self, self as having form, form in self, or self in form. They regard feeling … perception … choices … They regard consciousness as self, self as having consciousness, consciousness in self, or self in consciousness.

So aniccaṁ rūpaṁ ‘aniccaṁ rūpan’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti. Aniccaṁ vedanaṁ ‘aniccā vedanā’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti. Aniccaṁ saññaṁ ‘aniccā saññā’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti. Anicce saṅkhāre ‘aniccā saṅkhārā’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti. Aniccaṁ viññāṇaṁ ‘aniccaṁ viññāṇan’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti.

They don’t truly understand form—which is impermanent—as impermanent. They don’t truly understand feeling … perception … choices … consciousness—which is impermanent—as impermanent.

Dukkhaṁ rūpaṁ ‘dukkhaṁ rūpan’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti. Dukkhaṁ vedanaṁ … dukkhaṁ saññaṁ … dukkhe saṅkhāre … dukkhaṁ viññāṇaṁ ‘dukkhaṁ viññāṇan’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti.

They don’t truly understand form—which is suffering—as suffering. They don’t truly understand feeling … perception … choices … consciousness—which is suffering—as suffering.

Anattaṁ rūpaṁ ‘anattā rūpan’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti. Anattaṁ vedanaṁ … anattaṁ saññaṁ … anatte saṅkhāre … anattaṁ viññāṇaṁ ‘anattaṁ viññāṇan’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti.

They don’t truly understand form—which is not-self—as not-self. They don’t truly understand feeling … perception … choices … consciousness—which is not-self—as not-self.

Saṅkhataṁ rūpaṁ ‘saṅkhataṁ rūpan’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti. Saṅkhataṁ vedanaṁ … saṅkhataṁ saññaṁ … saṅkhate saṅkhāre … saṅkhataṁ viññāṇaṁ ‘saṅkhataṁ viññāṇan’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti.

They don’t truly understand form—which is conditioned—as conditioned. They don’t truly understand feeling … perception … choices … consciousness—which is conditioned—as conditioned.

Vadhakaṁ rūpaṁ ‘vadhakaṁ rūpan’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti. Vadhakaṁ vedanaṁ ‘vadhakā vedanā’ti … vadhakaṁ saññaṁ ‘vadhakā saññā’ti … vadhake saṅkhāre ‘vadhakā saṅkhārā’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti. Vadhakaṁ viññāṇaṁ ‘vadhakaṁ viññāṇan’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti.

They don’t truly understand form—which is a killer—as a killer. They don’t truly understand feeling … perception … choices … consciousness—which is a killer—as a killer.

So rūpaṁ upeti upādiyati adhiṭṭhāti ‘attā me’ti. Vedanaṁ … saññaṁ … saṅkhāre … viññāṇaṁ upeti upādiyati adhiṭṭhāti ‘attā me’ti. Tassime pañcupādānakkhandhā upetā upādinnā dīgharattaṁ ahitāya dukkhāya saṁvattanti.

They’re attracted to form, grasp it, and fixate on the thought, ‘my self’. They’re attracted to feeling … perception … choices … consciousness, grasp it, and fixate on the thought, ‘my self’. And when you’ve gotten involved with and grasped these five grasping aggregates, they lead to your lasting harm and suffering.

Sutavā ca kho, āvuso, ariyasāvako ariyānaṁ dassāvī …pe… sappurisadhamme suvinīto na rūpaṁ attato samanupassati, na rūpavantaṁ attānaṁ; na attani rūpaṁ, na rūpasmiṁ attānaṁ. Na vedanaṁ … na saññaṁ … na saṅkhāre … na viññāṇaṁ attato samanupassati, na viññāṇavantaṁ attānaṁ; na attani viññāṇaṁ, na viññāṇasmiṁ attānaṁ.

A learned noble disciple has seen the noble ones, and is skilled and trained in the teaching of the noble ones. They’ve seen true persons, and are skilled and trained in the teaching of the true persons. They don’t regard form as self, self as having form, form in self, or self in form. They don’t regard feeling … perception … choices … consciousness as self, self as having consciousness, consciousness in self, or self in consciousness.

So aniccaṁ rūpaṁ ‘aniccaṁ rūpan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti. Aniccaṁ vedanaṁ … aniccaṁ saññaṁ … anicce saṅkhāre … aniccaṁ viññāṇaṁ ‘aniccaṁ viññāṇan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti.

They truly understand form—which is impermanent—as impermanent. They truly understand feeling … perception … choices … consciousness—which is impermanent—as impermanent.

Dukkhaṁ rūpaṁ ‘dukkhaṁ rūpan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti. Dukkhaṁ vedanaṁ … dukkhaṁ saññaṁ … dukkhe saṅkhāre … dukkhaṁ viññāṇaṁ ‘dukkhaṁ viññāṇan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti.

They truly understand form—which is suffering—as suffering. They truly understand feeling … perception … choices … consciousness—which is suffering—as suffering.

Anattaṁ rūpaṁ ‘anattā rūpan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti. Anattaṁ vedanaṁ … anattaṁ saññaṁ … anatte saṅkhāre … anattaṁ viññāṇaṁ ‘anattā viññāṇan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti.

They truly understand form—which is not-self—as not-self. They truly understand feeling … perception … choices … consciousness—which is not-self—as not-self.

Saṅkhataṁ rūpaṁ ‘saṅkhataṁ rūpan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti. Saṅkhataṁ vedanaṁ … saṅkhataṁ saññaṁ … saṅkhate saṅkhāre … saṅkhataṁ viññāṇaṁ ‘saṅkhataṁ viññāṇan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti.

They truly understand form—which is conditioned—as conditioned. They truly understand feeling … perception … choices … consciousness—which is conditioned—as conditioned.

Vadhakaṁ rūpaṁ ‘vadhakaṁ rūpan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti. Vadhakaṁ vedanaṁ … vadhakaṁ saññaṁ … vadhake saṅkhāre ‘vadhakā saṅkhārā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti. Vadhakaṁ viññāṇaṁ ‘vadhakaṁ viññāṇan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti.

They truly understand form—which is a killer—as a killer. They truly understand feeling … perception … choices … consciousness—which is a killer—as a killer.

So rūpaṁ na upeti, na upādiyati, nādhiṭṭhāti: ‘attā me’ti. Vedanaṁ … saññaṁ … saṅkhāre … viññāṇaṁ na upeti, na upādiyati, nādhiṭṭhāti: ‘attā me’ti. Tassime pañcupādānakkhandhā anupetā anupādinnā dīgharattaṁ hitāya sukhāya saṁvattantī”ti. “Evametaṁ, āvuso sāriputta, hoti yesaṁ āyasmantānaṁ tādisā sabrahmacārino anukampakā atthakāmā ovādakā anusāsakā. Idañca pana me āyasmato sāriputtassa dhammadesanaṁ sutvā anupādāya āsavehi cittaṁ vimuttan”ti. Tatiyaṁ.

When it comes to form, they are not attracted, do not grasp, and do not fixate on the thought, ‘my self’. When it comes to feeling … When it comes to perception … When it comes to choices … When it comes to consciousness, they are not attracted, do not grasp, and do not fixate on the thought, ‘my self’. And when you’re not attracted to and don’t grasp these five grasping aggregates, they lead to your lasting welfare and happiness.” “Reverend Sāriputta, this is how it is when you have such venerables as spiritual companions to advise and instruct you out of kindness and sympathy. And after hearing this teaching by Venerable Sāriputta, my mind is freed from the defilements by not grasping.”