[dosakkhayo]

Sabbāsavasutta 8.1

Tassa evaṁ ayoniso manasikaroto channaṁ diṭṭhīnaṁ aññatarā diṭṭhi uppajjati.

(1) ‘Atthi me attā’ti vā assa saccato thetato diṭṭhi uppajjati;

(2) ‘natthi me attā’ti vā assa saccato thetato diṭṭhi uppajjati;

(3) ‘attanāva attānaṁ sañjānāmī’ti vā assa saccato thetato diṭṭhi uppajjati;

(4) ‘attanāva anattānaṁ sañjānāmī’ti vā assa saccato thetato diṭṭhi uppajjati;

(5) ‘anattanāva attānaṁ sañjānāmī’ti vā assa saccato thetato diṭṭhi uppajjati;

(6) ‘yo me ayaṁ attā vado vedeyyo tatra tatra kalyāṇapāpakānaṁ kammānaṁ vipākaṁ paṭisaṁvedeti so kho pana me ayaṁ attā nicco dhuvo sassato avipariṇāmadhammo sassatisamaṁ tatheva ṭhassatī’ti.

–

I would like to know the meaning of these six sentences to explain why those thoughts are harmful in more detail.

[Lal]

1. The words atta, attā, anatta, anattā, attha, etc., have very different meanings depending on the context.

• Thus, each sutta needs to be discussed in the context of the whole sutta. The problem with most current translations is that they use just one meaning of “self” with “atta.” 
• The same word can be used in different contexts with very different meanings in any language. 
• In English, there are cases like this: The word “right” can mean two different things: “you are right” and “turn right.” There are many such words with different meanings depending on the context.

2. I have discussed that in many posts regarding “atta/anatta”: “Anatta – A Systematic Analysis.”

• In the context of the Sabbasava Sutta (discussing wrong views), the mundane meaning applies: “Anattā (Mundane Interpretation) – No “Unchanging Self”“

3. Thus, in the context of the Sabbasava Sutta, the English translation in “Sabbāsava Sutta (MN 2)” happens to give the correct meaning.

• P.S. The Sabbasava Sutta discusses the wrong views prevalent in the time of the Buddha regarding whether a “soul” type entity exists. The Sanskrit word “ātman” or “āthma”  (meaning “soul” or a “permanent self”) applies. 
• P.S. However, the English translation in the “Anattalakkhaṇa Sutta (SN 22.59)” is NOT correct because it tries to use the same meaning as in the Sabbasava Sutta. See “Anatta in Anattalakkhaṇa Sutta – Part 1“
• The Anattalakkhana Sutta discusses Tilakkhana, which is about the nature of the world in the context of anicca, dukkha, and anatta. Also see “Anatta – the Opposite of Which Atta?” and other posts in “Anatta – A Systematic Analysis.”

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dosakkhayo

[dosakkhayo]

OK. I got the point. Thank you lal. It is very helpful to me.

[Author]

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