Sense Desire

Translated from the Pali by E.M. Hare.

[300]

[1] Thus have I heard:

Once the Exalted One was dwelling near Savatthī,
at Jeta Grove,
in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.

There he addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

"Yes, lord," they replied;
and the Exalted One said:

"Monks, there are these five strands of sense desire.

What five?

There are shapes, cognized by the eye,
longed for,
alluring,
pleasurable,
lovely,
bound up with passion and desire.

■

There are sounds cognized by the ear,
longed for,
alluring,
pleasurable,
lovely,
bound up with passion and desire.

■

There are smells cognized by the nose,
longed for,
alluring,
pleasurable,
lovely,
bound up with passion and desire.

■

There are tastes cognized by the tongue,
longed for,
alluring,
pleasurable,
lovely,
bound up with passion and desire.

■

There are contacts, cognized by the touch,
longed for,
alluring,
pleasurable,
lovely,
bound up with passion and desire.^[1]

[301] Monks, these are the five strands of sense desire.

Throughout this chapter Hare has this as "When these five ... then;" but it should be "To let go of these five ... the four should be made to become." Some of the preceding clauses cannot be let go prior to establishing the Satipaṭṭhānas.

— p.p.

Monks, when these five strands are put away,
four arisings of mindfulness should be made to become.

What four?

Monks, herein a monk abides contemplating the body as body,
strenuous,
mindful
and self-possessed,
having overcome both the hankering and discontent
common in the world.

■

He abides contemplating the feelings as feelings
strenuous,
mindful
and self-possessed,
having overcome both the hankering and discontent
common in the world.

■

He abides contemplating the mind as mind
strenuous,
mindful
and self-possessed,
having overcome both the hankering and discontent
common in the world.

■

He abides contemplating ideas as ideas
strenuous,
mindful
and self-possessed,
having overcome both the hankering and discontent
common in the world.

Monks, when these five strands are put away,
these four arisings of mindfulness should be made to become.

^[1] Above, p. 280 [AN 9.34 (Ed.: where he has 'forms' for rūpa)]; D. iii, 234.

Aṇguttara Nikāya IX. Navaka Nipāta VII. Satipaṭṭhāna Vagga

The Book of the Gradual Sayings IX. The Book of the Nines Chapter VII: The Arisings of Mindfulness

Sutta 65

Kāma-Guṇa Sati-Paṭṭhāna Suttaṃ

Sense Desire

Aṇguttara Nikāya
IX. Navaka Nipāta
VII. Satipaṭṭhāna Vagga

The Book of the Gradual Sayings
IX. The Book of the Nines
Chapter VII: The Arisings of Mindfulness