Aniccasaññā Sutta
In Sāvatthi.
The perception of impermanence,[i] when developed and practiced,
overcomes all desire for sensory engagement,
overcomes all desire for forms,
overcomes all desire for becoming,
overcomes all lack of awareness, [ii]
And it uproots ego conceit. [iii]
(1) Just as when a farmer tills the soil with a great plough in the autumn, tearing through all the root network in the ground, and turning them over;
In the same way, when the perception of impermanence is developed and cultivated
it overcomes all desire for sensory engagement,
it overcomes all desire for forms,
it overcomes all desire for becoming,
it overcomes all lack of awareness,
And it uproots ego conceit.
(2) Just as a grass cutter, having cut the grass would grab the remaining stalk and rip it out of the ground, shake it off and toss it upside down
In the same way, when the perception of impermanence is developed and cultivated
it overcomes all desire for sensory engagement,
it overcomes all desire for forms,
it overcomes all desire for becoming,
it overcomes all lack of awareness,
And it uproots ego conceit.
(3) Just as when a branch of a mango tree gets cut, whatever mangoes that were on the branch all fall together along with the branch;
In the same way, when the perception of impermanence is developed and cultivated
it overcomes all desire for sensory engagement,
it overcomes all desire for forms,
it overcomes all desire for becoming,
it overcomes all lack of awareness,
And it uproots ego conceit.
(4) Just as all the rafters of a peaked roof all point to the peak, lean towards the peak and culminate in the peak,
therefore, the peak is considered the highest;
In the same way, when the perception of impermanence is developed and cultivated
it overcomes all desire for sensory engagement,
it overcomes all desire for forms,
it overcomes all desire for becoming,
it overcomes all lack of awareness,
And it uproots ego conceit.
(5) Just as vetiver[iv] is considered the best fragrance amongst all roots;
In the same way, when the perception of impermanence is developed and cultivated
it overcomes all desire for sensory engagement,
it overcomes all desire for forms,
it overcomes all desire for becoming,
it overcomes all lack of awareness,
And it uproots ego conceit.
(6) Just as red sandalwood is regarded as the best fragrance of all heartwoods; [v]
In the same way, when the perception of impermanence is developed and cultivated
it overcomes all desire for sensory engagement,
it overcomes all desire for forms,
it overcomes all desire for becoming,
it overcomes all lack of awareness,
And it uproots ego conceit.
(7) Just as jasmine is regarded as the best fragrance amongst flowers;
In the same way, when the perception of impermanence is developed and cultivated
it overcomes all desire for sensory engagement,
overcomes all desire for forms,
overcomes all desire for becoming,
overcomes all lack of awareness,
And it uproots ego conceit.
(8) Just as all vassals are subjects of the wheel-turning emperor and all answer to him, the wheel-turning emperor is regarded as the foremost of kings;
In the same way, when the perception of impermanence is developed and cultivated
it overcomes all desire for sensory engagement,
it overcomes all desire for forms,
it overcomes all desire for becoming,
it overcomes all lack of awareness,
And it uproots ego conceit.
(8) Just as the radiance of all stars in the sky does not equal a fraction of the moon’s radiance, the moon’s radiance is regarded as the foremost;
In the same way, when the perception of impermanence is developed and cultivated
it overcomes all desire for sensory engagement,
overcomes all desire for forms,
overcomes all desire for becoming,
overcomes all lack of awareness,
And it uproots ego conceit.
(9) Just as in the autumn, when the sky is clear and free of clouds, the sun rises above the dark mass,
Radiant, blazing and shining forth.
Winning over all of space,
Winning over darkness,
And driving it away;[vi]
In the same way, when the perception of impermanence is developed and cultivated
it overcomes all desire for sensory engagement,
it overcomes all desire for forms,
it overcomes all desire for becoming,
it overcomes all lack of awareness,
And it uproots ego conceit.
(10) And how is the perception of impermanence developed and cultivated so that it overcomes all desire for sensory engagement, all desire for forms, all desire for becoming, all lack of awareness, and uproots ego conceit?
(A) This is form:
this is form arising,
this is form passing away; [vii]
(B) These are sensations:
These are sensations arising,
These are sensations passing away;
(C) This is perception:
These are perceptions arising,
These are perceptions passing away;
(D) These are activities:
These are mental activities arising,
These are mental activities passing away;
(E) This is consciousness:
this is consciousness arising,
this is consciousness passing away;
In the same way, when the perception of impermanence is developed and cultivated
it overcomes all desire for sensory engagement,
it overcomes all desire for forms,
it overcomes all desire for becoming,
it overcomes all lack of awareness,
And it uproots ego conceit.
[i] “Aniccasaññā, bhikkhave, bhāvitā bahulīkatā
[ii] sabbaṃ kāmarāgaṃ, rūparāgaṃ, bhavarāgaṃ, avijjaṃ pariyādiyati
[iii] sabbaṃ asmimānaṃ samūhanati.
[iv] Kāḷānusāri: There seems to be a general disagreement on the term. Bhikkhu Bodhi translates it as Black Orris Root, which is endemic and mostly known in Mediterranean regions, Bhante Sujato translates it as Spikenard (Jatamansi) which is endemic to india. Yet, both seem pale in comparison to “the highest fragrance.” I suggest vetiver, as it is endemic to India and widely renowned around the world for its prized fragrance, as a root. Its Sanskrit name are vetivera or ushira, which is close to usāri. Wisdom Lib: Kālānusāri (कालानुसारि).—(°rin?) , or °ra (once), also kārānu°, q.v. (= Pali id., or kāḷ°, some kind of sandal; in Sanskrit said to mean another fragrant substance, gum benzoin, but Sanskrit Lexx. define relatives, viz. °sāraka, °sārya, as kinds of fragrant wood or specifically sandal), some kind of sandalwood
[v] ye keci sāragandhā, lohitacandanaṃ
[vi] saradasamaye viddhe vigatavalāhake deve ādicco nataṃ abbhussakkamāno, sabbaṃ ākāsagataṃ tamagataṃ abhivihacca bhāsate ca tapate ca virocate ca;
[vii] ‘Iti rūpaṃ, iti rūpassa samudayo, iti rūpassa atthaṅgamo;
