The six internal sense bases and their own cause declared not-self, closing this half of the matrix on its compressed formula
Length
under 1 minute to read
Northern parallel
A rough counterpart may exist in the Chinese Saṃyukta-āgama (T99), though this reading guide does not assert a specific matching sutra number
Difficulty
★★☆☆☆ — the same argument, its third and closing term
Why this discourse
This discourse completes the internal half of Devadahavagga's closing matrix: impermanence (SN 35.140), suffering (SN 35.141), and now not-self, the third of the three marks, applied to the same six internal bases with the same cause-and-consequence logic — each base's own cause and reason for arising is also not-self, and since it's produced by what is not-self, how could it be self? A hinge rather than a destination, this discourse doesn't carry the vagga's own colophon; it simply completes one triad before the matrix immediately pivots outward to the six external objects, beginning at the very next discourse.
Reading guide
The internal triad completes
Impermanence, then suffering, now not-self — the canonical three marks, each given its own separate discourse, close out the matrix's first half here before it turns to the six external objects.
Not-self, and its own cause, not-self
The same two-step argument as its two neighbors: the eye is not-self, the cause and reason that gives rise to it is also not-self, and since it's produced by what is not-self, how could it be self?
A hinge, not a destination
Unlike SN 35.145 (the matrix's true closing discourse, three ahead), this discourse carries no vagga-level colophon of its own. It simply pivots the matrix from internal (ajjhatta) to external (bāhira), which begins immediately at the next discourse.
A foundational mark, already met at length
This project's own fullest treatment of not-self as a characteristic remains SN 22.59 (the Anattalakkhaṇasutta, already published on this site, in Book III) — this discourse's own not-self claim is compact by comparison, applied here specifically to cause as well as consequence.
Key terms
cakkhuṁ...anattā — the eye is not-self — the third of the three marks, applied here to the six internal bases
anattasambhūtaṁ...kuto attā bhavissati — produced by what is not-self, how could it be self? — the same rhetorical pattern as the previous two discourses, with anattā substituted
anicca → dukkha → anattā — the completed canonical sequence, this discourse's own place as its third and closing term for the internal bases
evaṁ passaṁ …pe… — seeing this … — the same compressed formula as SN 35.141
ajjhatta / bāhira — internal / external — the matrix's own two-part division, this discourse closing the first half before the second begins
The text
The complete discourse: the six internal bases and their own cause declared not-self, closing this half of the matrix on its compressed formula. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
§1“Mendicants, the eye is not-self. The cause and reason that gives rise to the eye is also not-self. Since the eye is produced by what is not-self, how could it be self? The ear … nose … tongue … body … mind is not-self. The cause and reason that gives rise to the mind is also not-self. Since the mind is produced by what is not-self, how could it be self?
§2Seeing this … They understand: ‘… there is nothing further for this place.’”
· · ·
Self-check quiz
5 questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.
Question 1 of 5
Which of the three marks does this discourse complete for the six internal bases?
Correct: A. Completing the canonical anicca-dukkha-anattā sequence for the internal bases.
Question 2 of 5
What rhetorical question does this discourse ask about each base's own cause?
Correct: A. The same two-step pattern as SN 35.140 and SN 35.141, with anattā substituted.
Question 3 of 5
What structural role does this discourse play within the matrix, compared to SN 35.145 three discourses ahead?
Correct: A. SN 35.145 alone carries Devadahavagga's own closing colophon.
Question 4 of 5
Where has this project already given its fullest treatment of not-self as a characteristic?
Correct: A. Already fully published on this site; this discourse's own treatment is comparatively compact.
Question 5 of 5
What division does this discourse close out before the matrix pivots?
Correct: A. Ajjhatta and bāhira, the matrix's own two-part structure.
