The Related Discourses

1. The Aggregates

16. Teaching Liberation

1. Thus I have heard:[1] One time, the Buddha was staying at Anāthapiṇḍada’s Park in Jeta’s Grove of Śrāvastī.

2. It was then that the Bhagavān addressed the monks, “Form is impermanent. What’s impermanent is painful, what’s painful is not self, and what’s not self doesn’t belong to self. Such observation is called true and correct observation. Thus, feeling … perception … volition … consciousness is impermanent. What’s impermanent is painful, what’s painful is not self, and what’s not self doesn’t belong to self. Such observation is called true and correct observation.

3. “Noble disciples who thus observe are liberated from form and liberated from sensation … perception … volition … consciousness. I say that this is complete liberation from birth, old age, illness, death, grief, sorrow, pain, and vexation.”

4. When the monks heard what the Buddha taught, they rejoiced and approved.

Notes

1. This sūtra is parallel with SN 22.15 and similar to SN 22.16-17. [back]

Translator: Charles Patton

Last Revised: 6 April 2021