79. Discourse on a Brief Teaching (SA79)

Thus have I heard. At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park.

At that time the Blessed One said to the monks: “Past and future bodily form is after all impermanent, what to say of present bodily form! A learned noble disciple who examines it in this way is not concerned with past bodily form and does not rejoice in future bodily form. Being disenchanted with present bodily form, he becomes free from desire for it and proceeds towards its cessation. Feeling … perception … formations … consciousness are also in this way.

“Monks, if there were no past bodily form, it would not happen that the learned noble disciple is not concerned with past bodily form. Because there is past bodily form, the learned noble disciple is not concerned with past bodily form.

“Monks, if there were no future bodily form, it would not happen that the learned noble disciple does not rejoice in future bodily form. Because there is future bodily form, the learned noble disciple does not rejoice in future bodily form.

“Monks, if there were no present bodily form, it would not happen that the learned noble disciple gives rise to disenchantment towards present bodily form, becomes free from desire for it, and proceeds towards its cessation. Because there is present bodily form, the learned noble disciple gives rise to disenchantment towards present bodily form, becomes free from desire for it and proceeds towards its cessation. Feeling … perception … formations … consciousness should also be recited in the same way.”

When the Buddha had spoken this discourse, the monks, hearing what the Buddha had said, were delighted and received it respectfully.

As for “impermanent“, so with “dukkha“, “empty” and “not self” three discourses should be recited in the same way.

Translated by Bhikkhu Anālayo. Originally published in ‘On the Five Aggregates (3)—A Translation of Saṁyukta-āgama Discourses 59 to 87’. Dharma Drum Journal of Buddhist Studies, vol. 13, pp. 1–65 (2013). New Taipei City: Dharma Drum Buddhist College.

Prepared for SuttaCentral by Bhikkhu Sujato.