8.2. Three Types of Anatta
This common Pāḷi expression reveals three different types of selves
ayaṃ kho pana, bhikkhave, sakkāyasamudayagāminī paṭipadā – cakkhuṃ ‘etaṃ mama, esohamasmi, eso me attā’ti samanupassati
MN 148 chachakkasutta
This is the way, monks, which leads to the arising of a sense of self. Regarding the eye, one considers, 'This is mine, this is me / I am this, this is my self.'
The first, etaṃ mama, is a self in relation in things, which can possess, own and control things. The self that has.
The second, esohamasmi, is a psychological self which we identify with.
The third, eso me attā, is a spiritual self or soul, an everlasting self, beyond the material realm. The one that is.
The Buddha denied the independent existence of any of these three kinds of self. In all situations he encouraged the identification and eradication of any sense of self, wheresoever it arises.
ayaṃ kho pana, bhikkhave, sakkāyanirodhagāminī paṭipadā – cakkhuṃ ‘netaṃ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti samanupassati.
MN 148 chachakkasutta
This is the way, monks, which leads to the ending of a sense of self. Regarding the eye, one considers, 'This is not mine, this is not me / I am not this, this is not my self.'
Meditation on the three kinds of self
Let's continue in a practical way, recognising the absence of any of the three kinds of self.
Transcript
The Buddha said that this meditation on anatta is the path of practice which leads to ending of self-identification.
The eye is not mine, I am not the eye, the eye is not me, the eye is not my self.
Visible forms are not mine, I am not visible forms, visible forms are not me, visible forms are not my self.
Eye consciousness is not mine, I am not eye consciousness, eye consciousness is not me, eye consciousness is not my self.
The conscious experience of seeing is not mine, I am not the conscious experience of seeing, the conscious experience of seeing is not me, the conscious experience of seeing is not my self.
vedanā which arise from seeing are not mine, I am not vedanā, vedanā are not me, vedanā are not my self.
Craving and aversion are not mine, I am not craving and aversion, craving and aversion are not me, craving and aversion are not my self.
The ear is not mine, I am not the ear, the ear is not me, the ear is not my self.
Sounds are not mine, I am not sounds, sounds are not me, sounds are not my self.
Ear consciousness is not mine, I am not ear consciousness, ear consciousness is not me, ear consciousness is not my self.
The conscious experience of hearing is not mine, I am not the conscious experience of hearing, the conscious experience of hearing is not me, the conscious experience of hearing is not my self.
vedanā which arise from hearing are not mine, I am not vedanā, vedanā are not me, vedanā are not my self.
Craving and aversion are not mine, I am not craving and aversion, craving and aversion are not me, craving and aversion are not my self.
The nose is not mine, I am not the nose, the nose is not me, the nose is not my self.
Smells are not mine, I am not smells, smells are not me, smells are not my self.
Nose consciousness is not mine, I am not nose consciousness, nose consciousness is not me, nose consciousness is not my self.
The conscious experience of smelling is not mine, I am not the conscious experience of smelling, the conscious experience of smelling is not me, the conscious experience of smelling is not my self.
vedanā which arise from smelling are not mine, I am not vedanā, vedanā are not me, vedanā are not my self.
Craving and aversion are not mine, I am not craving and aversion, craving and aversion are not me, craving and aversion are not my self.
The tongue is not mine, I am not the tongue, the tongue is not me, the tongue is not my self.
Flavours are not mine, I am not flavours, flavours are not me, flavours are not my self.
Tongue consciousness is not mine, I am not tongue consciousness, tongue consciousness is not me, tongue consciousness is not my self.
The conscious experience of tasting is not mine, I am not the conscious experience of tasting, the conscious experience of tasting is not me, the conscious experience of tasting is not my self.
vedanā which arise from tasting are not mine, I am not vedanā, vedanā are not me, vedanā are not my self.
Craving and aversion are not mine, I am not craving and aversion, craving and aversion are not me, craving and aversion are not my self.
The body is not mine, I am not the body, the body is not me, the body is not my self.
Tangible sensations are not mine, I am not tangible sensations, tangible sensations are not me, tangible sensations are not my self.
Body consciousness is not mine, I am not body consciousness, body consciousness is not me, body consciousness is not my self.
Conscious physical experience is not mine, I am not conscious physical experience, conscious physical experience is not me, conscious physical experience is not my self.
vedanā which arise from physical experience are not mine, I am not vedanā, vedanā are not me, vedanā are not my self.
Craving and aversion are not mine, I am not craving and aversion, craving and aversion are not me, craving and aversion are not my self.
The mind is not mine, I am not the mind, the mind is not me, the mind is not my self.
Mental phenomena are not mine, I am not mental phenomena, mental phenomena are not me, mental phenomena are not my self.
Mind consciousness is not mine, I am not mind consciousness, mind consciousness is not me, mind consciousness is not my self.
Conscious mental experience is not mine, I am not conscious mental experience, conscious mental experience is not me, conscious mental experience is not my self.
vedanā which arise from mental experience are not mine, I am not vedanā, vedanā are not me, vedanā are not my self.
Craving and aversion are not mine, I am not craving and aversion, craving and aversion are not me, craving and aversion are not my self.
Now come back to open awareness.
Know whatever you are experiencing at right now.
This is not mine, I am not this, this is not me, this is not my self.
vedanā which arise from this are not mine, I am not vedanā, vedanā are not me, vedanā are not my self.
Craving and aversion are not mine, I am not craving and aversion, craving and aversion are not me, craving and aversion are not my self.
Continue with this meditation.
Examine every experience in the light of this.
This is not mine, I am not this, this is not me, this is not my self.
The Buddha said that this is the path of practice which leads to ending of self-identification.
Spend the day with this meditation. Work with each phrase by itself for a few hours, then all three together.
Q&A
Q: Do you have any questions or doubts at this point?