191. [Second Discourse on the Eye] (SA191)

Thus have I heard. At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park.

At that time the Blessed One said to the monks: “One who does not discern and does not understand the eye, does not abandon and does not become free from desire for it, is not capable of going beyond the dukkha of birth, old age, disease, and death. One who does not discern and does not understand the ear … the nose … the tongue … the body … the mind, does not abandon and does not become free from desire for it, is not capable of going beyond the dukkha of birth, old age, disease, and death.

“Monks, one who discerns and understands the eye, who abandons and becomes free from desire for it, is capable of going beyond the dukkha of birth, old age, disease, and death. One who discerns and understands the ear … the nose … the tongue … the body … the mind, who abandons and becomes free from desire for it, is capable of going beyond the dukkha of birth, old age, disease, and death.”

When the Buddha had spoken this discourse, hearing what the Buddha had said the monks were delighted and received it respectfully.

Translated by Bhikkhu Anālayo. Originally published in "On the Six Sense-spheres (1) ―A Translation of Saṁyukta-āgama Discourses 188 to 229 (Fascicle 8)", Dharma Drum Journal of Buddhist Studies, 2016, vol. 18 pp. 1–61.

Prepared for SuttaCentral by Ayya Vimala.