All realities are non-self

"Mindfulness of the Body" is one of the four "Applications of Mindfulness". There is no doubt about it that we all have a body, but we used to take it as for "mine" or "self" before we listened to the Dhamma. After having studied the Dhamma we learnt that all realities, all "dhammas", are non-self, anatta. We should have right understanding of the term "dhamma', a reality which is non-self. The Tipitaka explains all conditioned realities as citta, consciousness, cetasika, mental factors accompanying cittta and rupa, physical phenomena. Thus, if there would not be citta, cetasika and rupa, there would be no Tipitaka. The Tipitaka teaches us that the realities the Buddha penetrated at his attainment of Buddhahood are non-self. When we speak about the body we have to understand what the body, which is devoid of self, really is. Besides, the body does not arise alone, without citta and cetasikas. When there is understanding, panna, it knows the truth of realities. It does not only understand the characteristics of realities we call the "body", but it also knows the different characteristics of the mental realities, of citta and cetasikas, which appear. Panna can realize that what we used to take for "mine" or "I", or for the world, are only different types of "dhammas", realities, namely : citta, cetasika and rupa.It is most beneficial to study the Dhamma. When we study the teachings we should also verify ourselves the truth of what we learnt, we should investigate ourselves the realities which appear in our daily life. In that way we will acquire a deeper understanding of them.


Topic 77