iti.95 Itivuttaka

Sensual Desire

This was said by the Lord…

“Bhikkhus, there are these three ways of obtaining the objects of sensual desire. What three? There are those objects of sensual desire already existent; there is the way of those who delight in creating them; and there is the way of those who gain control over objects created by others. These are the three ways…”

Those who enjoy what exists,
Those devas exercising control,
Those who delight in creating,
And others who enjoy sense-objects—
Being in this state or another
They cannot pass beyond saṁsāra.

Understanding this danger
In objects of sensual enjoyment,
Let the wise person abandon all sense pleasures,
Those both heavenly and human.

By severing the flow of craving,
The flow so difficult to overcome
Of greed for pleasing, enticing forms,
They attain to final Nibbāna
And overcome all suffering.

The noble seers, masters of knowledge,
Wise ones with perfect understanding,
By directly knowing the end of birth
Come no more to renewal of being.

- Translator: John D. Ireland

- Editor: Bhikkhu Sujato

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Provided With Pleasure

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.
“Mendicants, there are these three ways of being provided with sensual pleasures.
What three?
Some sensual pleasures are simply present; some are for those who love to create; and some are for those who control the creations of others.
These are the three ways of being provided with sensual pleasures.”
The Buddha spoke this matter.
On this it is said:
“Sensual pleasures that are simply present,
Gods Who Control the Creations of Others,
Gods Who Love to Create,
and others who indulge in sensual pleasures—
They go from this state to another,
but don’t escape transmigration.
Knowing this danger
in sensual indulgence, an astute person
would reject all sensual pleasures,
both human and divine.
Having cut the stream so hard to pass,
that’s tied to pleasant seeming things,
they become completely quenched,
completely transcending suffering.
Seers of the noble truths, knowledge masters,
the astute, understanding rightly,
directly know the ending of rebirth,
they come not back to future lives.”
This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.