The identical structure as SN 23.14/16, with not-self as the final term
Length
Very short — the closing formula elided
Northern parallel
Completes the anattā/anattadhamma pair, and this vagga's own three-mark sequence
Difficulty
Approachable — best read as the close of the three-mark portion of this vagga
Why this discourse
Closes this vagga's third pair and, with it, its entire progression through the three marks: the same bare-identity-to-inherent-nature shift applied to not-self, completing impermanence, suffering, and not-self as a matched set of three pairs — six discourses in total, all built from the identical two-question template.
Reading guide
The same shift, applied to not-self
"They speak of having 'not-self nature'. What has a nature of not-self?" — anattadhamma, exactly paralleling dukkhadhamma and aniccadhamma, now for the third mark.
The identical content, restated one final time
"Form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness have a nature of not-self" — the same five aggregates, the same underlying fact as SN 23.17, restated in this discourse's own grammatical frame.
Six discourses, three marks, one template
With this discourse, the three-mark portion of this vagga is complete: SN 23.13-14 (impermanence), SN 23.15-16 (suffering), and SN 23.17-18 (not-self) each follow the identical two-question shape — bare identity, then inherent nature — first established for Māra at SN 23.11-12.
Moving to the vagga's own final terms
SN 23.19-22, this vagga's closing four discourses, will turn from the three marks to a different set of characterizing questions — liability to end, to fall, to originate, and to cease — closing Dutiyamāravagga with vocabulary already partly familiar from SN 22.126's own originate/vanish criterion.
Key terms
anattadhamma — naturally not-self, of not-self nature — this discourse's own subject, paralleling dukkhadhamma and aniccadhamma
anattā — not-self — SN 23.17's own bare term, the counterpart to this discourse's grammatical variant
dhamma — nature, quality — the shared suffix marking this discourse's shift to inherent quality
khaya/vaya/samudaya/nirodha — end / fall / origination / cessation — the four terms SN 23.19-22 will examine next, closing this vagga
peyyāla — an elision mark, compressing the standard closing formula throughout this vagga
The text
The complete discourse as given in the source, mirroring SN 23.16's own grammatical shift, now applied to not-self and completing this vagga's three-mark sequence. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
§1At Sāvatthī. Seated to one side, Venerable Rādha said to the Buddha: “Sir, they speak of having ‘not-self nature’. What has a nature of not-self?”
§2“Rādha, form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness have a nature of not-self.
§3Seeing this … They understand: ‘… there is nothing further for this place.’”
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Self-check quiz
Ten questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.
Question 1 of 10
What does this discourse ask about, completing the anattā/anattadhamma pair?
Correct: A. The grammatical variant already seen three times in this vagga.
Question 2 of 10
How does the Buddha answer?
Correct: A. Confirming the same underlying fact from a different grammatical angle.
Question 3 of 10
How many discourses, in total, does this vagga's three-mark sequence comprise?
Correct: A. SN 23.13-18, following the identical two-question template.
Question 4 of 10
What shape does each of the three mark-pairs share, first established for Māra?
Correct: A. The template established at SN 23.11-12, repeated for each subsequent mark.
Question 5 of 10
What terms will the vagga's closing four discourses (SN 23.19-22) examine?
Correct: A. Closing Dutiyamāravagga with vocabulary partly familiar from SN 22.126.
Question 6 of 10
How many aggregates does this discourse's identification apply to?
Correct: A. Form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness.
Question 7 of 10
How is the closing formula presented in this discourse?
Correct: A. Compressed throughout this vagga after SN 23.11's own full statement.
Question 8 of 10
Where is this discourse set?
Correct: A. Matching SN 23.11-17's own setting.
Question 9 of 10
What earlier discourse in this book uses similar "liable to" vocabulary to the vagga's closing four discourses?
Correct: A. Foreshadowing the vagga's own closing terms before they are formally introduced.
Question 10 of 10
Who asks the question in this discourse?
Correct: A. Continuing this saṃyutta's own central questioner.
