Saṃyuktāgama, Volume 1 (30)

Thus I have heard. At one time, the Buddha was dwelling in the Bamboo Grove of Kalandaka near Rājagṛha. At that time, the Venerable Śāriputra was on Vulture Peak Mountain. Then, a householder’s son named Sujāta, who traveled daily, came to Vulture Peak Mountain, approached the Venerable Śāriputra, and after exchanging greetings, sat to one side. He said to Śāriputra: "If ascetics and brahmins, regarding impermanent form—changeable, unstable form—declare 'I am superior,' 'I am equal,' or 'I am inferior,' why do ascetics and brahmins entertain such thoughts without perceiving reality?"

"If ascetics and brahmins, regarding the impermanent, changeable, unstable feelings, perceptions, formations, and consciousness, declare 'I am superior,' 'I am equal,' or 'I am inferior,' why do ascetics and brahmins entertain such thoughts without perceiving reality? If ascetics and brahmins, regarding impermanent form, unstable form, changeable form, declare 'I am superior,' 'I am equal,' or 'I am inferior,' upon what basis do they conceive [such notions] without perceiving reality?"

"Regarding the impermanent, changeable, unstable feelings, perceptions, formations, and consciousness, declaring 'I am superior,' 'I am equal,' or 'I am inferior'—upon what basis do they conceive [such notions] without perceiving reality? Sujāta, what do you think? Is form permanent or impermanent?" He replied, "Impermanent." "Sujāta, if it is impermanent, is it suffering?" He replied, "It is suffering." "Sujāta, if it is impermanent and suffering, is it a changing phenomenon? What do you think? Would a noble disciple therein perceive form as self, as belonging to self, or as containing each other?" He replied, "No, Venerable Sir."

"Sujāta, what do you think? Are feelings, perceptions, formations, and consciousness permanent or impermanent?" He replied, "Impermanent." "If they are impermanent, are they suffering?" He replied, "They are suffering." "Sujāta, if consciousness is impermanent and suffering, is it a changing phenomenon? What do you think? Would a noble disciple therein perceive consciousness as self, as belonging to self, or as containing each other?" He replied, "No, Venerable Sir."

"Sujāta, you should understand: form—whether past, future, or present; internal or external; gross or subtle; pleasing or displeasing; far or near—all that form is not self, not belonging to self, and does not contain each other. This is called knowing reality as it is. Similarly, feelings, perceptions, formations, and consciousness—whether past, future, or present; internal or external; gross or subtle; pleasing or displeasing; far or near—all that consciousness is not self, not belonging to self, and does not contain each other. This is called knowing reality as it is. Sujāta, thus, regarding form, feelings, perceptions, formations, and consciousness, one becomes disenchanted, becomes dispassionate, becomes liberated. With liberation comes the knowledge: 'Birth is exhausted, the holy life has been lived, what had to be done has been done, there is no more coming back to any state of existence.'"