1.
The Discourse on the Eye
188.
Thus have I heard -
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's park.
Then the Venerable Rāhula approached the Blessed One;
having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side.
Seated to one side, the Venerable Rāhula said this to the Blessed One -
"It would be good, venerable sir, if the Blessed One would expound to me the Teaching in brief, so that having heard the Teaching from the Blessed One, I might dwell alone, withdrawn, diligent, ardent, and resolute."
"What do you think, Rāhula, is the eye permanent or impermanent?" "Impermanent, venerable sir." "But what is impermanent, is that suffering or happiness?" "Suffering, venerable sir." "But what is impermanent, suffering, subject to change, is it proper to regard that - 'This is mine, this I am, this is my self'?" "No, Venerable Sir." "Is the ear permanent or impermanent?" "Impermanent, venerable sir." Etc. "Is the nose permanent or impermanent?" "Impermanent, venerable sir." Etc. "Is the tongue permanent or impermanent?" "Impermanent, venerable sir." Etc. "Is the body permanent or impermanent?" "Impermanent, venerable sir." Etc. "Is the mind permanent or impermanent?" "Impermanent, venerable sir." "But what is impermanent, is that suffering or happiness?" "Suffering, venerable sir." "But what is impermanent, suffering, subject to change, is it proper to regard that - 'This is mine, this I am, this is my self'?" "No, Venerable Sir."
"Seeing thus, Rāhula, a learned noble disciple becomes disenchanted with the eye... etc. becomes disenchanted with the ear, becomes disenchanted with the nose... becomes disenchanted with the tongue, becomes disenchanted with the body, becomes disenchanted with the mind; being disenchanted, he becomes dispassionate; through dispassion, he becomes liberated; when liberated, there is the knowledge: 'Liberated.' He understands: 'Birth is eliminated, the holy life has been lived, what had to be done has been done, there is no more coming back to any state of being.'" The first.