Recognizing the six internal sense bases as impermanent, unsatisfactory, and not-self leads to disenchantment, dispassion, and subsequently, liberation.

SN 35.1  Ajjhattānicca sutta - The Internal as Impermanent

Evaṁ me sutaṁ. Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “bhikkhavo”ti.

Thus have I heard—At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthi, in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park. There, he addressed the bhikkhus thus: “Bhikkhus.”

“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca:

“Venerable sir,” those bhikkhus replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this:

“Cakkhuṁ, bhikkhave, aniccaṁ. Yadaniccaṁ taṁ dukkhaṁ; yaṁ dukkhaṁ tadanattā. Yadanattā taṁ ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ.

“Eye, bhikkhus, is |impermanent::not lasting, transient, unreliable [anicca]|. What is impermanent is |unsatisfactory::distressful, unfulfilling, marked by discontent [dukkha]|; what is unsatisfactory is |not-self::impersonal, not oneself, non-subjective, not suitable to identify with, coreless, essenceless [anatta]|; what is not-self should be seen as, ‘This is not mine, this I am not, this is not my self,’ — thus it should be seen |with right wisdom::with correct distinctive knowledge [sammappaññāya]| as it truly is.

Sotaṁ aniccaṁ. Yadaniccaṁ …pe…

Ear is impermanent. What is impermanent is unsatisfactory; what is unsatisfactory is not-self; what is not-self should be seen as, ‘This is not mine, this I am not, this is not my self,’ — thus it should be seen with right wisdom as it truly is.

ghānaṁ aniccaṁ. Yadaniccaṁ …pe…

Nose is impermanent. What is impermanent is unsatisfactory; what is unsatisfactory is not-self; what is not-self should be seen as, ‘This is not mine, this I am not, this is not my self,’ — thus it should be seen with right wisdom as it truly is.

jivhā aniccā. Yadaniccaṁ taṁ dukkhaṁ; yaṁ dukkhaṁ tadanattā. Yadanattā taṁ ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ.

Tongue is impermanent. What is impermanent is unsatisfactory; what is unsatisfactory is not-self; what is not-self should be seen as, ‘This is not mine, this I am not, this is not my self,’ — thus it should be seen with right wisdom as it truly is.

Kāyo anicco. Yadaniccaṁ …pe…

Body is impermanent. What is impermanent is unsatisfactory; what is unsatisfactory is not-self; what is not-self should be seen as, ‘This is not mine, this I am not, this is not my self,’ — thus it should be seen with right wisdom as it truly is.

mano anicco. Yadaniccaṁ taṁ dukkhaṁ; yaṁ dukkhaṁ tadanattā. Yadanattā taṁ ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ.

Mind is impermanent. What is impermanent is unsatisfactory; what is unsatisfactory is not-self; what is not-self should be seen as, ‘This is not mine, this I am not, this is not my self,’ — thus it should be seen with right wisdom as it truly is.

Evaṁ passaṁ, bhikkhave, sutavā ariyasāvako cakkhusmimpi nibbindati, sotasmimpi nibbindati, ghānasmimpi nibbindati, jivhāyapi nibbindati, kāyasmimpi nibbindati, manasmimpi nibbindati. Nibbindaṁ virajjati; virāgā vimuccati; vimuttasmiṁ vimuttamiti ñāṇaṁ hoti.

Seeing thus, bhikkhus, the learned disciple of the Noble Ones becomes |disenchanted with::disinterested in, disillusioned with [nibbindati]| the eye, becomes disenchanted with the ear, becomes disenchanted with the nose, becomes disenchanted with the tongue, becomes disenchanted with the body, and becomes disenchanted with the mind. Disenchanted, he |becomes dispassionate::is detached [virajjati]|; through dispassion, he is liberated. When liberated, there arises the knowledge: ‘I am liberated.’

‘Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti pajānātī”ti.

He understands: ‘Birth is ended, the spiritual life has been lived, what had to be done has been done, there is no more coming to any state of existence.’”

Qualities:

Recognition of impermanence

Recognition of impermanence

Perceiving all conditioned things as unstable and transient. This recognition weakens attachment by revealing the continual arising and ceasing of phenomena, turning the mind toward wisdom and release.

Also known as: perception of impermanence, perception of instability, realization of transience
Pāli: aniccasaññā
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Recognition of not-self

Recognition of not-self

Seeing that no phenomenon can rightly be taken as “I” or “mine.” It reveals the impersonal, dependently arisen nature of all experience, undermining conceit and attachment to identity.

Also known as: perception of not being suitable to identify with, realization of being subject to change, recognition of alteration and changing nature
Pāli: anattasaññā
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Recognition of unsatisfactoriness

Recognition of unsatisfactoriness

Perceiving the inherent inadequacy and unreliability of conditioned existence. This recognition loosens craving and the pursuit of lasting satisfaction in what cannot endure.

Also known as: perception of unsatisfactoriness, recognition of discontentment
Pāli: dukkhasaññā
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Last updated on March 13, 2026