Saṃyutta Nikāya
4. Saḷāyatana Vagga
35. Saḷāyatana Saṃyutta
§ I: Mūla-Paññāsa
2. Yamaka Vagga
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
4. The Book Called the Khandhā-Vagga
Containing Kindred Sayings on the 'Six-Fold Sphere' of Sense and Other Subjects
35. Kindred Sayings the Sixfold Sphere of Sense
§ I: The First Fifty Suttas
2. The Second Chapter on the Pairs
Sutta 17
No Ve Assāda (No Cetena 1) Suttaṃ
Without satisfaction (i)[1]
Translated by F. L. Woodward
Edited by Mrs. Rhys Davids
Copyright The Pali Text Society
Commercial Rights Reserved
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[1][bodh][than] Thus have I heard:
The Exalted One was once staying near Sāvatthī, at Jeta Grove, in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.
Then the Exalted One addressed the brethren, saying:
"Brethren."
"Lord," responded those brethren to the Exalted One.
The Exalted One said:
"Brethren, if there were not this satisfaction which comes from the eye,
beings would not lust after the eye.
But inasmuch as there is satisfaction in the eye,
therefore beings lust after the eye.
If misery, Brethren, pertained not to the eye,
beings would not be repelled by the eye.
But inasmuch as there is misery in the eye,
beings are repelled by the eye.
If there were no way of escape from the eye,
beings could not escape from the eye.
But inasmuch as there is a way of escape from the eye,
beings do escape from the eye.
■
Brethren, if there were not this satisfaction which comes from the ear,
beings would not lust after the ear.
But inasmuch as there is satisfaction in the ear,
therefore beings lust after the ear.
If misery, Brethren, pertained not to the ear,
beings would not be repelled by the ear.
But inasmuch as there is misery in the ear,
beings are repelled by the ear.
If there were no way of escape from the ear,
beings could not escape from the ear.
But inasmuch as there is a way of escape from the eye,
beings do escape from the ear.
■
Brethren, if there were not this satisfaction which comes from the nose,
beings would not lust after the nose.
But inasmuch as there is satisfaction in the nose,
therefore beings lust after the nose.
If misery, Brethren, pertained not to the nose,
beings would not be repelled by the nose.
But inasmuch as there is misery in the nose,
beings are repelled by the ear.
If there were no way of escape from the nose,
beings could not escape from the nose.
But inasmuch as there is a way of escape from the nose,
beings do escape from the nose.
■
Brethren, if there were not this satisfaction which comes from the tongue,
beings would not lust after the tongue.
But inasmuch as there is satisfaction in the tongue,
therefore beings lust after the tongue.
If misery, Brethren, pertained not to the tongue,
beings would not be repelled by the tongue.
But inasmuch as there is misery in the tongue,
beings are repelled by the tongue.
If there were no way of escape from the tongue,
beings could not escape from the tongue.
But inasmuch as there is a way of escape from the tongue,
beings do escape from the tongue.
■
Brethren, if there were not this satisfaction which comes from the body,
beings would not lust after the body.
But inasmuch as there is satisfaction in the body,
therefore beings lust after the body.
If misery, Brethren, pertained not to the body,
beings would not be repelled by the body.
But inasmuch as there is misery in the body,
beings are repelled by the body.
If there were no way of escape from the body,
beings could not escape from the body.
But inasmuch as there is a way of escape from the body,
beings do escape from the body.
■
Brethren, if there were not this satisfaction which comes from the mind,
beings would not lust after the mind.
But inasmuch as there is satisfaction in the mind,
therefore beings lust after the mind.
If misery, Brethren, pertained not to the mind,
beings would not be repelled by the mind.
But inasmuch as there is misery in the mind,
beings are repelled by the mind.
If there were no way of escape from the mind,
beings could not escape from the mind.
But inasmuch as there is a way of escape from the mind,
beings do escape from the mind.
§
So long, Brethren, as beings have not understood,
as they really are,
the satisfaction as such,
the misery as such,
the way of escape as such,
in this sixfold personal sphere of sense,
so long, Brethren, beings have not remained aloof,
detached,
separated,
with the barriers to the mind[2] done away with,
nor have the world
and its devas,
its Māras,
its Brahmas,
nor the host of recluses and brahmins,
of devas and mankind.
[7] But so soon, Brethren, as beings thoroughly understand,
as they really are
the satisfaction as such,
the misery as such,
the way of escape as such,
in this sixfold personal sphere of sense,
then, Brethren, beings
and the world
and its devas,
its Māras,
its Brahmas,
and the host of recluses and brahmins,
of devas and mankind
do remain aloof,
detached,
separated,
with the barriers to the mind done away with.
[1] Cf. K.S. iii, 29.
[2] Vimariyādi-katena cetasā. Mariyādā is a dyke or boundary, so a check or hindrance. Asekhas or adepts, says Comy., live free from these barriers. Cf. Pts. ii., 206; VM. 386; UdA. 186.
