From: raj@globe1.att.com (Rajendra P Sharma) Subject: The absence of True Self Date: 30 Mar 92 17:09:17 GMT ...... The Perfect One then preached to the five monks on the absence of the True Self in anything that the senses or the mind can grasp. ...... "O monks, the thing variously called thought and mind and discriminative consciousness is the very same thing to which the ignorant common people cling, thinking, "this is my self." It would be better, monks, if they were to approach the body, rather than the mind, as the self. The body is seen enduring for many years, but this thing variously called thought and mind and discriminative consciousness, this by night and day dissolves as one thing and reappears as another." "As a monkey faring through jungle and forest catches hold of a bough, and having let go takes hold of another, even so does this thing variously called thought and mind and discriminative consciousness, this by night and day dissolves as one thing and reappears as another." The body, monks, is not the self. For if it were, it would not be subject to disease, and it would be exactly as we might wish it to be. So also with feelings, perceptions, predisposing mental formations, and discriminative consciousness. For if, monks, the consciousness were the self, it would not be subject to anguish, and it would be exactly as we might wish it to be." "Monks, what do you think? Is the body permanent or perishable?" "Perishable, Lord," answered the monks. "And that which is perishable, does it cause pain or lasting happiness?" "It causes pain, Lord." "But is it correct to regard what is perishable and painful as 'this is my ego, this is my soul, this is my true self?'" "Certainly not, Lord." "As with body, monks, so also with feelings, perceptions, predisposing mental formations, and discriminative consciousness. Would it be correct to regard any of these aggregates, perishable and painful, as 'this is my ego, this is my soul, this is my true self?'" "That is impossible, Lord." "Well, monks, that being the case, he who is able to see all things as they really are will regard all bodies, feelings, perceptions, predispositions, and discriminative consciousness, be they past, present, or future, be they internal or external, gross or subtle, far or near, as 'none of these is my ego, none of these is my soul, none of these is my true self.'" "Considering this, O monks, the wise Aryan disciple turns away from body, feelings, perceptions, predispositions, and discriminative consciousness. Turning away from them, he becomes free from craving; through being free from craving, he becomes emancipated; and in him who is emancipated the knowledge arises: 'I am free; rebirth is exhausted; lived is the life religious; nothing more remains to be done; there is no more of life under finite conditions.'" Thus spoke Sakyamuni Buddha; and well pleased were the monks with his words.............................................. ............................................................ ............................................................ [From Robert Allen Mitchell's "The Buddha: His Life Retold," Paragon House, New York, NY, 1989 (pages 58-59)] --- A "Beautiful Book to read." -----------------------