The introductory verse to the discourse on the mark of not-self, called hard for beings to know.
- When chanted
- Chanted immediately before the Anattalakkhaṇa Sutta, introducing it.
Historical background
The introduction says at the outset what the discourse is up against: that mark of not-self, hard for beings to know. No other prefatory verse in the book concedes difficulty in its first line.
The book gives this printing no English title of its own, so the name used in the app is supplied.
Meaning and purpose
What it promises is release from a particular thing, named twice: the right release from self-doctrine and from the perception of self. A doctrine and a perception are two different targets, and the verse keeps them apart.
The audience is specified narrowly — those strivers who had already seen the truth, for further penetration. This was not a teaching for beginners, and the introduction does not pretend otherwise.
Only in its last lines does it widen to the people chanting: for those wishing to practise the teaching, and for the good, that their aim be accomplished. The difficulty is stated first and the invitation second.
The chant
As the book prints it: page 120 →
page 120ยันตัง สัตเตหิ ทุกเขนะ เญยยัง อะนัตตะลักขะณัง
Yantaṃ sattehi dukkhena ñeyyaṃ anattalakkhaṇaṃ
That mark of not-self, hard for beings to know,
อัตตะวาทาตตะสัญญานัง สัมมะเทวะ วิโมจะนัง.
Attavādāttasaññānaṃ sammadeva vimocanaṃ.
the right release from self-doctrine and the perception of self.
สัมพุทโธ ตัง ปะกาเสสิ ทิฏฐะสัจจานะ โยคินัง
Sambuddho taṃ pakāsesi diṭṭhasaccāna yoginaṃ
The Awakened One made it known to those strivers who had seen the truth,
อุตตะริง ปะฏิเวธายะ ภาเวตุง ญาณะมุตตะมัง.
Uttariṃ paṭivedhāya bhāvetuṃ ñāṇamuttamaṃ.
for further penetration, to develop the highest knowledge.
ยันเตสัง ทิฏฐะธัมมานัง ญาเณนุปะปะริกขะตัง
Yantesaṃ diṭṭhadhammānaṃ ñāṇenupaparikkhataṃ
By which, for those who had seen the Dhamma, examined with knowledge,
สัพพาสะเวหิ จิตตานิ วิมุจจิงสุ อะเสสะโต.
Sabbāsavehi cittāni vimucciṃsu asesato.
their minds were released from all taints, without remainder.
ตะถา ญาณานุสาเรนะ สาสะนัง กาตุมิจฉะตัง
Tathā ñāṇānusārena sāsanaṃ kātumicchataṃ
So, following that knowledge, for those wishing to practise the teaching,
สาธูนัง อัตถะสิทธัตถัง ตัง สุตตันตัง ภะณามะ เส.
Sādhūnaṃ atthasiddhatthaṃ taṃ suttantaṃ bhaṇāma se.
and for the good, that their aim be accomplished — let us recite that discourse.