Saṃyutta Nikāya
IV. Saḷāyatana Vagga
35: Saḷāyatana Saṃyutta
Paññāsaṃ Tatiyaṃ
4. Devadaha Vagga
Sutta 135
Khaṇa (aka Saṇgayha) Suttaṃ
The Opportunity
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
Proofed against and modified in accordance with the revised edition at dhammatalks.org
Provenance, terms and conditons
[1][pts][bodh] "It's a gain for you, monks,
a great gain,
that you've gained the opportunity
to live the holy life.
I have seen a hell named
'Six Media of Contact.'
Whatever form one sees there
with the eye
is undesirable,
never desirable;
displeasing,
never pleasing;
disagreeable,
never agreeable.
Whatever sound one hears there
with the ear
is undesirable,
never desirable;
displeasing,
never pleasing;
disagreeable,
never agreeable.
Whatever aroma one smells there
with the nose
is undesirable,
never desirable;
displeasing,
never pleasing;
disagreeable,
never agreeable.
Whatever flavor one tastes there
with the tongue
is undesirable,
never desirable;
displeasing,
never pleasing;
disagreeable,
never agreeable.
Whatever tactile sensation one touches there
with the body
is undesirable,
never desirable;
displeasing,
never pleasing;
disagreeable,
never agreeable.
Whatever idea one cognizes there
with the intellect
is undesirable,
never desirable;
displeasing,
never pleasing;
disagreeable,
never agreeable.
"It's a gain for you, monks,
a great gain,
that you've gained the opportunity
to live the holy life.
I have seen a heaven named
'Six Media of Contact.'
Whatever form one sees there
with the eye
is desirable,
never undesirable;
pleasing,
never displeasing;
agreeable,
never disagreeable.
Whatever sound one hears there
with the ear
is desirable,
never undesirable;
pleasing,
never displeasing;
agreeable,
never disagreeable.
Whatever aroma one smells there
with the nose
is desirable,
never undesirable;
pleasing,
never displeasing;
agreeable,
never disagreeable.
Whatever flavor one tastes there
with the tongue
is desirable,
never undesirable;
pleasing,
never displeasing;
agreeable,
never disagreeable.
Whatever tactile sensation one touches there
with the body
is desirable,
never undesirable;
pleasing,
never displeasing;
agreeable,
never disagreeable.
Whatever idea one cognizes there
with the intellect
is desirable,
never undesirable;
pleasing,
never displeasing;
agreeable,
never disagreeable.
"It's a gain for you, monks,
a great gain,
that you've gained the opportunity
to live the holy life."[1]
[1] The message here is that in realms where sense objects are totally disagreeable or totally agreeable it is very difficult to practice the holy life, for in the former, one is too distracted by pain; in the latter, too distracted by pleasure.
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