Reading guide
The same closing topic, a fourth and final time
"The self is neither happy nor suffering, and is healthy after death" — identical to SN 24.44 and SN 24.70's own claims, the twenty-sixth and final topic of this saṃyutta's core catalog, now given the fourth round's own distinctive treatment.
The universal catechism, given in full for the last time
As at SN 24.71, the follow-up question pivots to the self-view formula: "is it fit to be regarded thus: 'This is mine, I am this, this is my self'?" — asked twice, once for each aggregate in turn (3.1–3.18), before the positive instruction: "you should truly see any kind of form at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near: all form—with right understanding: 'This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self'" (4.1–4.5), applied to each aggregate without exception.
This book's fullest liberation declaration
"Seeing this, a learned noble disciple grows disillusioned with form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness. Being disillusioned, desire fades away. When desire fades away they're freed. When they're freed, they know they're freed. They understand: 'Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place'" — the complete, unabridged arahant refrain, longer than SN 24.71's own short form, appropriate to closing not just this vagga but the entire saṃyutta.
A colophon Sujato actually translated
"The Linked Discourses on views are complete" (sn24.96:6.5) — unlike SN 24.18's "the eighteen expositions are finished" or SN 24.44's own two-part uddāna, both left untranslated and only described in this reading guide's own prose, this closing line is Sujato's own English rendering, quotable here exactly as it stands. It confirms, in the translator's own words, that Diṭṭhisaṃyutta — all ninety-six discourses, four vaggas, from SN 24.1's opening question about winds through this closing declaration — is complete.
Key terms
The text
§1At Sāvatthī. “Mendicants, when what exists, because of grasping what and insisting on what, does the view arise: ‘The self is neither happy nor suffering, and is healthy after death’?” “Our teachings are rooted in the Buddha. …”
§2“When form exists, because of grasping form and insisting on form, the view arises: ‘The self is neither happy nor suffering, and healthy after death.’ When feeling … perception … choices … consciousness exists, because of grasping consciousness and insisting on consciousness, the view arises: ‘The self is neither happy nor suffering, and is healthy after death.’
§3What do you think, mendicants? Is form permanent or impermanent?” “Impermanent, sir.” “But if it’s impermanent, is it suffering or happiness?” “Suffering, sir.” “But if it’s impermanent, suffering, and perishable, is it fit to be regarded thus: ‘This is mine, I am this, this is my self’?” “No, sir.” “Is feeling … perception … choices … consciousness permanent or impermanent?” “Impermanent, sir.” “But if it’s impermanent, is it suffering or happiness?” “Suffering, sir.” “But if it’s impermanent, suffering, and perishable, is it fit to be regarded thus: ‘This is mine, I am this, this is my self’?” “No, sir.”
§4“So you should truly see any kind of form at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near: <em>all</em> form—with right understanding: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’ You should truly see any kind of feeling … perception … choices … consciousness at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near: <em>all</em> consciousness—with right understanding: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’
§5Seeing this, a learned noble disciple grows disillusioned with form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness. Being disillusioned, desire fades away. When desire fades away they’re freed. When they’re freed, they know they’re freed. They understand: ‘Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.’”
§6The Linked Discourses on views are complete.
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