Buddha on Self-View

"Blessed One, how does self-view come about?"

"There is the case, monk, where an uninstructed, run-of-the-mill person — who has no regard for noble ones, is not well-versed or disciplined in their Dharma; who has no regard for men of integrity, is not well-versed or disciplined in their Dharma — assumes form to be the self, or the self as possessing form, or form as in the self, or the self as in form.

"He assumes feeling to be the self, or the self as possessing feeling, or feeling as in the self, or the self as in feeling. He assumes perception to be the self, or the self as possessing perception, or perception as in the self, or the self as in perception. He assumes mental-formations to be the self, or the self as possessing mental-formations, or mental-formations as in the self, or the self as in mental-formations. He assumes consciousness to be the self, or the self as possessing consciousness, or consciousness as in the self, or the self as in consciousness.

"This, monk, is how self-view comes about."

Saying, "Very good, Blessed One," the monk delighted & approved of the Blessed One's words and then asked him a further question:  "Blessed One, how does self-view no longer come about?"

"There is the case, monk, where a well-instructed disciple of the noble ones — who has regard for noble ones, is well-versed & disciplined in their Dharma; who has regard for men of integrity, is well-versed & disciplined in their Dharma — does not assume form to be the self, or the self as possessing form, or form as in the self, or the self as in form.

"He does not assume feeling to be the self or the self as possessing feeling, or feeling as in the self, or the self as in feeling. He does not assume perception to be the self, or the self as possessing perception, or perception as in the self, or the self as in perception. He does not assume mental-formations to be the self, or the self as possessing mental-formations, or mental-formations as in the self, or the self as in mental-formations. He does not assume consciousness to be the self, or the self as possessing consciousness, or consciousness as in the self, or the self as in consciousness.

"This, monk, is how self-view no longer comes about."

(Buddha from the Maha-punnama Sutta, Majjhima Nikaya 109, Tipitaka. Notes: ‘Self-identity view’ (sakkaya-ditthi) is a barrier to awakening to our true nature; ‘noble ones’ indicates enlightened beings; Dharma here indicates both understanding & application of Buddhist teachings.)