The Related Suttas Collection 22.83

9. Senior Bhikkhus

With Ānanda

At Sāvatthī.

There Ānanda addressed the bhikkhus: “Friends, bhikkhus!”

“Friend,” they replied. Ānanda said this:

“Friends, the venerable named Puṇṇa son of Mantāṇī was very helpful to me when I was just ordained. He gave me this advice: ‘Friend Ānanda, the notion “I am” occurs because of grasping, not by not grasping. Grasping what? The notion “I am” occurs because of grasping form, feeling, perception, functioning patterns, and consciousness, not by not grasping.

Suppose there was a woman or man who was young, youthful, and fond of adornments, and they check their own reflection in a clean bright mirror or a clear bowl of water. They’d look because of grasping, not by not grasping. In the same way, the notion “I am” occurs because of grasping form, feeling, perception, functioning patterns, and consciousness, not by not grasping.

What do you think, Friend Ānanda? Is form permanent or impermanent?’

‘Impermanent, friend.’

‘Is feeling … perception … functioning patterns … consciousness permanent or impermanent?’

‘Impermanent, friend.’ …

‘So you should truly see … Seeing this … They understand: “… there is no return to any state of existence.”’

Friends, the venerable named Puṇṇa son of Mantāṇī was very helpful to me when I was just ordained. He gave me this advice. And now that I’ve heard this teaching from Venerable Puṇṇa son of Mantāṇī, I’ve comprehended the teaching.”