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Linked Discourses · SN 35.94

  • Linked Discourses 35.94Saṁyutta Nikāya 35.94
  • 10. The Sixes10. Saḷavagga

Untamed, UnguardedAdantaaguttasutta

At Sāvatthī.Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

“Mendicants, these six fields of contact bring suffering when they’re untamed, unguarded, unprotected, and unrestrained.“Chayime, bhikkhave, phassāyatanā adantā aguttā arakkhitā asaṁvutā dukkhādhivāhā honti. What six?Katame cha?

The field of eye contact brings suffering when it’s untamed, unguarded, unprotected, and unrestrained.Cakkhu, bhikkhave, phassāyatanaṁ adantaṁ aguttaṁ arakkhitaṁ asaṁvutaṁ dukkhādhivāhaṁ hoti …pe…

The field of ear contact … nose contact … tongue contact … body contact …jivhā, bhikkhave, phassāyatanaṁ adantaṁ aguttaṁ arakkhitaṁ asaṁvutaṁ dukkhādhivāhaṁ hoti …pe…

The field of mind contact brings suffering when it’s untamed, unguarded, unprotected, and unrestrained.mano, bhikkhave, phassāyatanaṁ adantaṁ aguttaṁ arakkhitaṁ asaṁvutaṁ dukkhādhivāhaṁ hoti.

These six fields of contact bring suffering when they’re untamed, unguarded, unprotected, and unrestrained.Ime kho, bhikkhave, cha phassāyatanā adantā aguttā arakkhitā asaṁvutā dukkhādhivāhā honti”.

These six fields of contact bring happiness when they’re well tamed, well guarded, well protected, and well restrained.Chayime, bhikkhave, phassāyatanā sudantā suguttā surakkhitā susaṁvutā sukhādhivāhā honti. What six?Katame cha?

The field of eye contact brings happiness when it’s well tamed, well guarded, well protected, and well restrained.Cakkhu, bhikkhave, phassāyatanaṁ sudantaṁ suguttaṁ surakkhitaṁ susaṁvutaṁ sukhādhivāhaṁ hoti …pe…

The field of ear contact … nose contact … tongue contact … body contact …jivhā, bhikkhave, phassāyatanaṁ sudantaṁ suguttaṁ surakkhitaṁ susaṁvutaṁ sukhādhivāhaṁ hoti …pe…

The field of mind contact brings happiness when it’s well tamed, well guarded, well protected, and well restrained.mano, bhikkhave, phassāyatanaṁ sudantaṁ suguttaṁ surakkhitaṁ susaṁvutaṁ sukhādhivāhaṁ hoti.

These six fields of contact bring happiness when they’re well tamed, well guarded, well protected, and well restrained.”Ime kho, bhikkhave, cha phassāyatanā sudantā suguttā surakkhitā susaṁvutā sukhādhivāhā hontī”ti.

That is what the Buddha said.Idamavoca bhagavā …pe… Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:etadavoca satthā:

“Mendicants, it’s just the six fields of contact“Saḷeva phassāyatanāni bhikkhavo, that lead the unrestrained to suffering.Asaṁvuto yattha dukkhaṁ nigacchati; Those who understand how to restrain themTesañca ye saṁvaraṇaṁ avedisuṁ, live with faith as partner, not festering.Saddhādutiyā viharantānavassutā.

When you’ve seen pleasant sightsDisvāna rūpāni manoramāni, and unpleasant ones, too,Athopi disvāna amanoramāni; dispel all manner of desire for the pleasant,Manorame rāgapathaṁ vinodaye, without hating what you don’t like.Na cāppiyaṁ meti manaṁ padosaye.

When you’ve heard sounds both liked and disliked,Saddañca sutvā dubhayaṁ piyāppiyaṁ, don’t fall under the thrall of sounds you like,Piyamhi sadde na samucchito siyā; dispel hate for the unliked,Athoppiye dosagataṁ vinodaye, and don’t hurt your mind <j>by thinking of what you don’t like.Na cāppiyaṁ meti manaṁ padosaye.

When you’ve smelled a pleasant, fragrant scent,Gandhañca ghatvā surabhiṁ manoramaṁ, and one that’s foul and unpleasant,Athopi ghatvā asuciṁ akantiyaṁ; dispel aversion for the unpleasant,Akantiyasmiṁ paṭighaṁ vinodaye, while not yielding to desire for the pleasant.Chandānunīto na ca kantiye siyā.

When you’ve enjoyed a sweet, delicious taste,Rasañca bhotvāna asāditañca sāduṁ, and sometimes those that are bitter,Athopi bhotvāna asādumekadā; don’t be attached to enjoying sweet tastes,Sāduṁ rasaṁ nājjhosāya bhuñje, and don’t despise the bitter.Virodhamāsādusu nopadaṁsaye.

Don’t be intoxicated by a pleasant touch,Phassena phuṭṭho na sukhena majje, and don’t tremble at a painful touch.Dukkhena phuṭṭhopi na sampavedhe; Look with equanimity at the duality <j>of pleasant and painful contacts,Phassadvayaṁ sukhadukkhe upekkhe, without favoring or opposing anything.Anānuruddho aviruddha kenaci.

People generally let their perceptions proliferate;Papañcasaññā itarītarā narā, perceiving and proliferating, they are attracted.Papañcayantā upayanti saññino; Casting aside all mental constructions of the domestic life,Manomayaṁ gehasitañca sabbaṁ, wander intent on renunciation.Panujja nekkhammasitaṁ irīyati.

When the mind is well developed like this <j>regarding the six,Evaṁ mano chassu yadā subhāvito, it doesn’t waver at contacts at all.Phuṭṭhassa cittaṁ na vikampate kvaci; Mendicants, those who have mastered greed and hateTe rāgadose abhibhuyya bhikkhavo, go beyond birth and death.”Bhavattha jātimaraṇassa pāragā”ti.

Similar passages elsewhere

Found by meaning, not by citation: the passages in other texts whose wording sits closest to a passage here.

  1. AN 2.52–63 The Chapter on Individuals 0.52near 10.2won’t lead to lasting acrimony and enmity, and the mendicants will live comfortably.”…
  2. MN 148 Six By Six 0.50near 3.1When you experience a pleasant feeling, if you don’t approve, welcome, and keep clinging to it, the underlying tendency to greed does not underlie that. When you experience a painful feeling, if you don’t sorrow or wail…