I know we never lost you oh dear Gauthama Siddhartha – May I thank you again knowing how much you loved …

In 2015, to deliver my requestt of wanting to go to a Monastery, my sister delivered me to Newbury Buddhist Monastery on 1st of July 2015. Without going to much details, I’d say, the head Nun, my dearest spiritual friend, Aya Upeka used to do Sutta Chating in English on Sundays. Then she would pick the 3 Suttas blessed Gauthama Siddhartha delivered as his first ever teachings

Not only did I understand that I was not crazy, but when Aya Upeka read some of the scriptures out, I couldn’t stop crying, as I knew how much not crazy I was. But, I couldn’t tell anyone. So I just liked the first three Suttas.

Recently, I wrote to Aya Upeka, as I had forgotten one of the 3 Sutta names, to ask her what the other one was. She promptly responded. So now I know the three Sutta names again.

So this is my thanks to Blessed Guathama Siddhartha, the most human human being in his time, whose presence still lingers on, as if he is sitting right next to us. And this is also my thanks to Aya Upeka, for loving me like a mother who loves her child.

The First Three Teachings of Gauthama Siddhartha, the Blessed Buddha

1. Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta: Setting the Wheel of Dhamma in Motion – https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn56/sn56.011.than.html
2. Adittapariyaya Sutta: The Fire Sermon – https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn35/sn35.028.than.html
3. Anatta-lakkhana Sutta: The Discourse on the Not-self Characteristic – https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn22/sn22.059.nymo.html

Blessed Gauthama Siddhartha, was smart enough to deliver his findings in 3 suscinct teachings. But, his task was greater than getting 5 human beings understand. So his walk of life ended up creating a lot more suttas, and commentaries of suttas. Then, those who call themselves as Buddhists, got lost in all those teachings and commentaries. But it’s ok. It all served a purpose.

But today, I would like to look at Anatta-lakkhana Sutta: The Discourse on the Not-self Characteristic. Instead of repeating an already translated Sutta, I will copy and paste the great translation Aya Upeka has shared with me.

But, while doing so, I pray to God:

Forgive me father, I know not what I am doing….

Love me father, for I know I can love more …

Help me father, to love like you love…

Anatta-lakkhana Sutta: The Discourse on the Not-self Characteristic

Thus I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was living at Benares, in the Deer Park at Isipatana (the Resort of Seers). There he addressed the bhikkhus of the group of five: “Bhikkhus.” — “Venerable sir,” they replied. The Blessed One said this.

“Bhikkhus, form is not-self. Were form self, then this form would not lead to affliction, and one could have it of form: ‘Let my form be thus, let my form be not thus.’ And since form is not-self, so it leads to affliction, and none can have it of form: ‘Let my form be thus, let my form be not thus.’

“Bhikkhus, feeling is not-self…

“Bhikkhus, perception is not-self…

“Bhikkhus, determinations are not-self…

“Bhikkhus, consciousness is not self. Were consciousness self, then this consciousness would not lead to affliction, and one could have it of consciousness: ‘Let my consciousness be thus, let my consciousness be not thus.’ And since consciousness is not-self, so it leads to affliction, and none can have it of consciousness: ‘Let my consciousness be thus, let my consciousness be not thus.’

“Bhikkhus, how do you conceive it: is form permanent or impermanent?” — “Impermanent, venerable Sir.” — “Now is what is impermanent painful or pleasant?” — “Painful, venerable Sir.” — “Now is what is impermanent, what is painful since subject to change, fit to be regarded thus: ‘This is mine, this is I, this is my self'”? — “No, venerable sir.”

“Is feeling permanent or impermanent?…

“Is perception permanent or impermanent?…

“Are determinations permanent or impermanent?…

“Is consciousness permanent or impermanent?” — “Impermanent, venerable sir.” — “Now is what is impermanent pleasant or painful?” — “Painful, venerable sir.” — “Now is what is impermanent, what is painful since subject to change, fit to be regarded thus: ‘This is mine, this is I, this is my self'”? — “No, venerable sir.”

“So, bhikkhus any kind of form whatever, whether past, future or presently arisen, whether gross or subtle, whether in oneself or external, whether inferior or superior, whether far or near, must with right understanding how it is, be regarded thus: ‘This is not mine, this is not I, this is not myself.’

“Any kind of feeling whatever…

“Any kind of perception whatever…

“Any kind of determination whatever…

“Any kind of consciousness whatever, whether past, future or presently arisen, whether gross or subtle, whether in oneself or external, whether inferior or superior, whether far or near must, with right understanding how it is, be regarded thus: ‘This is not mine, this is not I, this is not my self.’

“Bhikkhus, when a noble follower who has heard (the truth) sees thus, he finds estrangement in form, he finds estrangement in feeling, he finds estrangement in perception, he finds estrangement in determinations, he finds estrangement in consciousness.

“When he finds estrangement, passion fades out. With the fading of passion, he is liberated. When liberated, there is knowledge that he is liberated. He understands: ‘Birth is exhausted, the holy life has been lived out, what can be done is done, of this there is no more beyond.'”

That is what the Blessed One said. The bhikkhus were glad, and they approved his words.

Now during this utterance, the hearts of the bhikkhus of the group of five were liberated from taints through clinging no more.

– Nim –