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Mahakhandhako, The Great Chapter sections 1-4

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I. <strong>The</strong> First Teachings - 71<br />

‘Evaṁ me viññāṇaṁ hotu, evaṁ me viññāṇaṁ mā ahosī.’ ti<br />

‘Let my consciousness be thus, let my consciousness be not thus.”<br />

Taṁ kiṁ maññatha bhikkhave:<br />

What do you think of this, monks:<br />

“Rūpaṁ niccaṁ vā aniccaṁ vā?” ti<br />

“(Is) bodily form permanent or impermanent?”<br />

“Aniccaṁ Bhante.”<br />

“Impermanent, venerable Sir.”<br />

“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vā taṁ sukhaṁ vā?” ti<br />

“But that which is impermanent, (is) that unpleasant or pleasant?”<br />

“Dukkhaṁ Bhante.”<br />

“Unpleasant, venerable Sir.”<br />

“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ,<br />

“But that which is impermanent, unpleasant and changeable,<br />

kallaṁ nu taṁ samanupassituṁ:<br />

is it proper to regard it thus:<br />

‘Etaṁ mama esoham-asmi eso me Attā?’ ” ti<br />

‘This is mine, this I am, this is my Self?’ ”<br />

“No hetaṁ Bhante.”<br />

“Certainly not, venerable Sir.” 133<br />

“Vedanā niccā vā aniccā vā?” ti<br />

“(Is) feeling permanent or impermanent?”<br />

“Aniccā Bhante.”<br />

“Impermanent, venerable Sir.”<br />

“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vā taṁ sukhaṁ vā?” ti<br />

“But that which is impermanent, (is) that unpleasant or pleasant?”<br />

“Dukkhaṁ Bhante.”<br />

“Unpleasant, venerable Sir.”<br />

“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ,<br />

“But that which is impermanent, unpleasant and changeable,<br />

133 It is interesting that the second argument against the concept of a Self relies on the notion<br />

of suitability to uphold its truth.

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