Be Your Own IslandAttadīpasutta

At Sāvatthī.Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

“Mendicants, be your own island, your own refuge, with no other refuge. Let the teaching be your island and your refuge, with no other refuge.“Attadīpā, bhikkhave, viharatha attasaraṇā anaññasaraṇā, dhammadīpā dhammasaraṇā anaññasaraṇā.

When you live like this, you should examine rationally: ‘From what are sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress born and produced?’Attadīpānaṁ, bhikkhave, viharataṁ attasaraṇānaṁ anaññasaraṇānaṁ, dhammadīpānaṁ dhammasaraṇānaṁ anaññasaraṇānaṁ yoni upaparikkhitabbā ‘Kiṁjātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā, kiṁpahotikā’ti?

And, mendicants, from what are sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress born and produced?Kiṁjātikā ca, bhikkhave, sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā, kiṁpahotikā? It’s when an unlearned ordinary person has not seen the noble ones, and is neither skilled nor trained in the teaching of the noble ones. They’ve not seen true persons, and are neither skilled nor trained in the teaching of the true persons.Idha, bhikkhave, assutavā puthujjano ariyānaṁ adassāvī ariyadhammassa akovido ariyadhamme avinīto, sappurisānaṁ adassāvī sappurisadhammassa akovido sappurisadhamme avinīto, They regard form as self, self as having form, form in self, or self in form.rūpaṁ attato samanupassati, rūpavantaṁ vā attānaṁ; attani vā rūpaṁ, rūpasmiṁ vā attānaṁ. But that form of theirs decays and perishes,Tassa taṁ rūpaṁ vipariṇamati, aññathā ca hoti. which gives rise to sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress.Tassa rūpavipariṇāmaññathābhāvā uppajjanti sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā.

They regard feeling as self …Vedanaṁ attato samanupassati, vedanāvantaṁ vā attānaṁ; attani vā vedanaṁ, vedanāya vā attānaṁ.

They regard perception as self …Saññaṁ attato samanupassati …

They regard choices as self …saṅkhāre attato samanupassati …

They regard consciousness as self, self as having consciousness, consciousness in self, or self in consciousness.viññāṇaṁ attato samanupassati, viññāṇavantaṁ vā attānaṁ; attani vā viññāṇaṁ, viññāṇasmiṁ vā attānaṁ. But that consciousness of theirs decays and perishes,Tassa taṁ viññāṇaṁ vipariṇamati, aññathā ca hoti. which gives rise to sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress.Tassa viññāṇavipariṇāmaññathābhāvā uppajjanti sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā.

Sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress are given up when you understand the impermanence of form—its perishing, fading away, and cessation—and you truly see with right understanding that all form, whether past or present, is impermanent, suffering, and perishable.Rūpassa tveva, bhikkhave, aniccataṁ viditvā vipariṇāmaṁ virāgaṁ nirodhaṁ, ‘pubbe ceva rūpaṁ etarahi ca sabbaṁ rūpaṁ aniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhamman’ti, evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya passato ye sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā te pahīyanti. When these things are given up there’s no anxiety. Without anxiety you live happily. A mendicant who lives happily is said to be quenched in that respect.Tesaṁ pahānā na paritassati, aparitassaṁ sukhaṁ viharati, sukhavihārī bhikkhu ‘tadaṅganibbuto’ti vuccati.

Sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress are given up when you understand the impermanence of feeling …Vedanāya tveva, bhikkhave, aniccataṁ viditvā vipariṇāmaṁ virāgaṁ nirodhaṁ, ‘pubbe ceva vedanā etarahi ca sabbā vedanā aniccā dukkhā vipariṇāmadhammā’ti, evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya passato ye sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā te pahīyanti.

perception …Saññāya …

choices …saṅkhārānaṁ tveva, bhikkhave, aniccataṁ viditvā vipariṇāmaṁ virāgaṁ nirodhaṁ, ‘pubbe ceva saṅkhārā etarahi ca sabbe saṅkhārā aniccā dukkhā vipariṇāmadhammā’ti, evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya passato ye sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā te pahīyanti.

consciousness—its perishing, fading away, and cessation—and you truly see with right understanding that all consciousness, whether past or present, is impermanent, suffering, and perishable.Viññāṇassa tveva, bhikkhave, aniccataṁ viditvā vipariṇāmaṁ virāgaṁ nirodhaṁ, ‘pubbe ceva viññāṇaṁ etarahi ca sabbaṁ viññāṇaṁ aniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhamman’ti, evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya passato ye sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā te pahīyanti. When these things are given up there’s no anxiety. Without anxiety you live happily. A mendicant who lives happily is said to be quenched in that respect.”Tesaṁ pahānā na paritassati, aparitassaṁ sukhaṁ viharati, sukhavihārī bhikkhu ‘tadaṅganibbuto’ti vuccatī”ti.