By Venerable Ananda

1. I heard thus. At one time the Blessed One lived in the monastery offered by Anāthapiṇḍika in Jeta's grove in Sāvatthi.

2. Then venerable Ānanda approached the Blessed One worshipped, sat on a side and said:

3. “Good if the Blessed One would teach me in short, so that I could abide secluded and diligent to dispel.”

4. “Ānanda, is matter permanent or impermanent?”

“Venerable sir, it is impermanent.”

“That which is impermanent, is it unpleasant or pleasant?”

“Venerable sir, it is unpleasant.”

“That impermanent, unpleasant, changing thing—is it suitable to be considered, `it is mine, I am that, and it is my self'?”

“Venerable sir, it is not suitable.”

5-8. “Ānanda, are feelings, perceptions, intentions, and consciousness permanent or impermanent?”

“Venerable sir, they are impermanent.”

“Those that are impermanent, are they unpleasant or pleasant?”

“Venerable sir, they are unpleasant.”

“Those impermanent, unpleasant, changing things are they suitable to be considered, `They are mine, I am those, and they are my self”?”

“Venerable sir, they are not suitable.”

9. “Therefore Ānanda, whatever matter, feelings, perceptions, intentions, and consciousness in the past, future or at present, seized or not, rough or fine, unexalted or exalted, far or near, are not mine, I am not those and they are not my self.

14. “Ānanda, the learned noble disciple seeing it thus, turns from matter, feelings, perceptions, intentions, and consciousness. Turning, looses interest. Without interest he is released and knows, “I am released, the holy life is lived to the end, duties are done, I have nothing more to wish'.”