194. [Discourse on Giving Rise to Delight] (SA194)

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: “If one gives rise to delight in relation to the eye, then one gives rise to delight in relation to what is dukkha. If one gives rise to delight in relation to dukkha, I say, one is not liberated from dukkha. [If] one gives rise to delight in relation to the ear … the nose … the tongue … the body … the mind, then one gives rise to delight in relation to dukkha. [If] one gives rise to delight in relation to what is dukkha, I say, one is not liberated from dukkha.

“Monks, if one does not give rise to delight in relation to the eye, then one does not give rise to delight in relation to what is dukkha. One who does not give rise to delight in relation to dukkha, I say, is liberated from dukkha. [If] one does not give rise to delight in relation to the ear … the nose … the tongue … the body … the mind, then one does not give rise to delight in relation to what is dukkha. One who does not give rise to delight in relation to dukkha, I say, is liberated from dukkha.”

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.