1.
The Discourse on the River
93.
At Sāvatthī.
"Just as, monks, a mountain river, carrying things downstream, going far, with a swift current.
If on both its banks kāsa reeds had grown, they would hang over it;
if kusa grass had grown, they would hang over it;
if pabbaja grass had grown, they would hang over it;
if bīraṇa grass had grown, they would hang over it;
if trees had grown, they would hang over it.
If a man being swept along by its current were to grasp the kāsa reeds, they would break apart.
On that account he would come to calamity and disaster.
If he were to grasp the kusa grass, if he were to grasp the pabbaja grass, if he were to grasp the bīraṇa grass, if he were to grasp the trees, they would break apart.
On that account he would come to calamity and disaster.
So too, monks, an ignorant worldling, who does not see the noble ones, who is not skilled in the noble teaching, who is undisciplined in the noble teaching, who does not see good persons, who is not skilled in the teaching of good persons, who is undisciplined in the teaching of good persons, regards matter as self, or self as possessing matter;
or matter as in self, or self as in matter.
That matter of his breaks apart.
On that account he comes to calamity and disaster.
Feeling...
perception...
activities...
He regards consciousness as self, or self as possessing consciousness;
or consciousness as in self, or self as in consciousness.
That consciousness of his breaks apart.
On that account he comes to calamity and disaster.
What do you think, monks, is matter permanent or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, venerable sir."
"Feeling...
perception...
activities...
consciousness permanent or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, venerable sir."
"Therefore here... etc.
Seeing thus... etc.
He understands: ... there is no more coming back to any state of being.'"
The first.