mn.137 Majjhima Nikāya (Middle Discourses)

Analysis of the Six Sense-Domains

Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was living at Sāvatthi, in Jeta‘s Grove, at Anāthapiṇḍika‘s park. There the Blessed One addressed the monks: “Monks!” “Auspicious sir,” those monks replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said, “Monks, I will teach you an analysis of the six sense-domains. Listen to this and carefully pay attention; I will speak.” “Yes, Bhante,” those monks replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this:

“‘The six internal sense-domains are to be known, the six external sense-domains are to be known, the six kinds of consciousness are to be known, the six kinds of contact are to be known, the eighteen kinds of mental exploration are to be known, the thirty-six modes of being are to be known. Depending on this, abandon that. There are three establishments of mindfulness which a noble being engages in which makes a teacher fit to instruct a group; of those who give instruction in practice, such a one is called an unsurpassable trainer of trainable people.’ This is the summary of the analysis of the six sense-domains.

“‘The six internal sense-domains are to be known.’ This is what was said. What does it refer to? ‘Eye-domain, ear-domain, nose-domain, tongue-domain, body-domain, mind-domain – the six internal sense-domains are to be known.’ This is what was said, and this is what it refers to.

“‘The six external sense-domains are to be known.’ This is what was said. What does it refer to? ‘Sight-domain, sound-domain, fragrance-domain, flavor-domain, tangible-domain, thought-domain – the six external sense-domains are to be known.’ This is what was said, and this is what it refers to.

“‘The six kinds of consciousness are to be known.’ This is what was said. What does it refer to? ‘Eye-consciousness, ear-consciousness, nose-consciousness, tongue-consciousness, body-consciousness, mind-consciousness – the six kinds of consciousness are to be known.’ This is what was said, and this is what it refers to.

“‘The six kinds of contact are to be known.’ This is what was said. What does it refer to? ‘Eye-contact, ear-contact, nose-contact, tongue-contact, body-contact, mind-contact – the six kinds of contact are to be known.’ This is what was said, and this is what it refers to.

“‘The eighteen kinds of mental exploration are to be known.’ This is what was said. What does it refer to? ‘Having seen a sight with the eye, one explores a sight that is a basis for elation, one explores a sight that is a basis for depression, one explores a sight that is a basis for equanimity. Having heard a sound with the ear… smelled a fragrance with the nose… tasted a flavor with the tongue… touched a tangible with the body… discerned a thought with the mind, one explores a thought that is a basis for elation, one explores a thought that is a basis for depression, one explores a thought that is a basis for equanimity. In this way there are six explorations of elation, six explorations of depression, and six explorations of equanimity; the eighteen kinds of mental exploration are to be known.’ This is what was said, and this is what it refers to.

“‘The thirty-six modes of being are to be known.’ This is what was said. What does it refer to? There are six kinds of householder elation, six kinds of renunciate elation, six kinds of householder depression, six kinds of renunciate depression, six kinds of householder equanimity, and six kinds of renunciate equanimity.

“In this case, what are the six kinds of householder elation? There are sights discernible by the eye that are desired, enjoyable, pleasing, mentally satisfying, and connected with the carnal world; when one acquires them, sees that one is acquiring them, or when one remembers what one has previously acquired in the past that has ceased or changed, then elation arises. This kind of elation is called ‘householder elation.’ There are sounds discernible by the ear… fragrances discernible by the nose… flavors discernible by the tongue… tangibles discernible by the body… thoughts discernible by the mind… These are the six kinds of householder elation.

“In this case, what are the six kinds of renunciate elation? Having known that sights are impermanent, changing, fading, and ceasing, when one accurately sees with right wisdom that ‘All prior sights as well as all present sights are impermanent, unsatisfying, and of the nature to change,’ elation arises. This kind of elation is called ‘renunciate elation.’ There are sounds discernible by the ear… fragrances discernible by the nose… flavors discernible by the tongue… tangibles discernible by the body… thoughts discernible by the mind… These are the six kinds of renunciate elation.

“In this case, what are the six kinds of householder depression? There are sights discernible by the eye that are desired, enjoyable, pleasing, mentally satisfying, and connected with the carnal world; when one does not acquire them, sees that one is not acquiring them, or when one remembers what one has not previously acquired in the past that has ceased or changed, then depression arises. This kind of depression is called ‘householder depression.’ There are sounds discernible by the ear… fragrances discernible by the nose… flavors discernible by the tongue… tangibles discernible by the body… thoughts discernible by the mind… These are the six kinds of householder depression.

“In this case, what are the six kinds of renunciate depression? Having known that sights are impermanent, changing, fading, and ceasing, when one accurately sees with right wisdom that ‘All prior sights as well as all present sights are impermanent, unsatisfying, and of the nature to change,’ one establishes this longing for unsurpassed liberation: ‘When will I attain and remain in that dimension which the noble ones have attained and remain in?’ When one establishes this longing for unsurpassed liberation, then because of that longing depression arises. This kind of depression is called ‘renunciate depression.’ There are sounds discernible by the ear… fragrances discernible by the nose… flavors discernible by the tongue… tangibles discernible by the body… thoughts discernible by the mind… These are the six kinds of renunciate depression.

“In this case, what are the six kinds of householder equanimity? Having seen a sight with the eye, there arises the equanimity of a fool, a delusional person, an ordinary person; of an unlearned ordinary person who has not conquered their limitations and circumstances. This kind of equanimity does not transcend sight. Therefore it is called ‘householder equanimity.’ Having heard a sound with the ear… smelled a fragrance with the nose… tasted a flavor with the tongue… touched a tangible with the body… discerned a thought with the mind… These are the six kinds of householder equanimity.

“In this case, what are the six kinds of renunciate equanimity? Having known that sights are impermanent, changing, fading, and ceasing, when one accurately sees with right wisdom that ‘All prior sights as well as all present sights are impermanent, unsatisfying, and of the nature to change,’ equanimity arises. This kind of equanimity is called ‘renunciate equanimity.’ There are sounds discernible by the ear… fragrances discernible by the nose… flavors discernible by the tongue… tangibles discernible by the body… thoughts discernible by the mind… These are the six kinds of renunciate equanimity.

“‘The thirty-six modes of being are to be known.’ This is what was said, and this is what it refers to.

“‘Depending on this, abandon that.’ This is what was said. What does it refer to?

“In this case, monks, depending and relying on the six kinds of renunciate elation, abandon the six kinds of householder elation. In this way there is the abandoning of them, the transcendence of them.

“In this case, monks, depending and relying on the six kinds of renunciate depression, abandon the six kinds of householder depression. In this way there is the abandoning of them, the transcendence of them.

“In this case, monks, depending and relying on the six kinds of renunciate equanimity, abandon the six kinds of householder equanimity. In this way there is the abandoning of them, the transcendence of them.

“In this case, monks, depending and relying on the six kinds of renunciate elation, abandon the six kinds of renunciate depression. In this way there is the abandoning of them, the transcendence of them.

“In this case, monks, depending and relying on the six kinds of renunciate equanimity, abandon the six kinds of renunciate elation. In this way there is the abandoning of them, the transcendence of them.

“Monks, there is equanimity based on variety and equanimity based on unity. Monks, what is equanimity based on variety? Monks, there is equanimity regarding sights, sounds, fragrances, flavors, and tangibles – monks, this is equanimity based on variety. And, monks, what is equanimity based on unity? Monks, there is the equanimity dependent on the domain of infinite space, on the domain of infinite consciousness, on the domain of nothingness, and on the domain of neither perception nor non-perception – monks, this is equanimity based on unity.

“In this case, monks, depending and relying on the equanimity based on unity, abandon the equanimity based on variety. In this way there is the abandoning of that, the transcendence of that.

“Monks, depending and relying on non-identification, abandon the equanimity based on unity. In this way there is the abandoning of that, the transcendence of that.

“’‘Depending on this, abandon that.’ This is what was said, and this is what it refers to.

“‘There are three establishments of mindfulness which a noble being engages in which makes a teacher fit to instruct a group.’ This is what was said. What does it refer to?

“Here, monks, the Teacher teaches the Dhamma to his disciples out of compassion, seeking their welfare: ‘This is for your welfare, this is for your happiness.’ His disciples do not listen, do not pay attention, do not try to understand, and they act contrary to the teacher‘s instructions. Monks, in this case the Tathāgata is not dissatisfied and does not experience dissatisfaction. He remains free of corruption, mindful, and clearly aware. Monks, this is the first establishment of mindfulness which a noble being engages in which makes a teacher fit to instruct a group.

“Again, monks, the Teacher teaches the Dhamma to his disciples out compassion, seeking their welfare: ‘This is for your welfare, this is for your happiness.’ Some of his disciples do not listen, do not pay attention, do not try to understand, and act contrary to the teacher‘s instructions; and some disciples listen, pay attention, try to understand, and do not act contrary to the teacher‘s instructions. Monks, in this case the Tathāgata is not dissatisfied and does not experience dissatisfaction, and he is not satisfied and does not experience satisfaction. Circumventing both dissatisfaction and satisfaction, he remains equanimous, mindful, and clearly aware. Monks, this is the second establishment of mindfulness which a noble being engages in which makes a teacher fit to instruct a group.

“Again, monks, the Teacher teaches the Dhamma to his disciples out compassion, seeking their welfare: ‘This is for your welfare, this is for your happiness.’ His disciples listen, pay attention, try to understand, and do not act contrary to the teacher‘s instructions. Monks, in this case the Tathāgata is not satisfied and does not experience satisfaction. He remains free of corruption, mindful, and clearly aware. Monks, this is the third establishment of mindfulness which a noble being engages in which makes a teacher fit to instruct a group.

“‘There are three establishments of mindfulness which a noble being engages in which makes a teacher fit to instruct a group.’ This is what was said, and this is what it refers to.

“‘Of those who give instruction in practice, such a one is called an unsurpassable trainer of trainable people.’ This is what was said. What does it refer to? Monks, a trainable elephant is led by an elephant-trainer to run in just one direction – east or west, north or south. Monks, a trainable horse is led by a horse-trainer to run in just one direction – east or west, north or south. Monks, a trainable cow is led by a cow-trainer to run in just one direction – east or west, north or south. Monks, a trainable person is led by the Arahant, the Fully Self-Awakened One, to run in eight directions.

“Possessing form, one sees forms – this is one direction.

“Perceiving internal formlessness, one sees external forms – this is the second direction.

“One is resolved on beauty – this is the third direction.

“Completely transcending perceptions of form, with the disappearance of perceptions of resistance, and with non-attention to perceptions of variety, perceiving ‘Infinite space,’ one attains and dwells in the domain of infinite space – this is the fourth direction.

“Completely transcending the domain of infinite space, perceiving ‘Infinite consciousness,’ one attains and dwells in the domain of infinite consciousness – this is the fifth direction.

“Completely transcending the domain of infinite consciousness, perceiving ‘There is nothing,’ one attains and dwells in the domain of nothingness – this is the sixth direction.

“Completely transcending the domain of nothingness, one attains and dwells in the domain of neither perception nor non-perception – this is the seventh direction.

“Completely transcending the domain of neither perception nor non-perception, one attains and dwells in the cessation of perception and feeling – this is the eighth direction.

“Monks, a trainable person is led by the Arahant, the Fully Self-Awakened One, to run in these eight directions.’ Of those who give instruction in practice, such a one is called an unsurpassable trainer of trainable people.’ This is what was said, and this is what it refers to.”

This is what the Blessed One said. Satisfied, the monks delighted in the Blessed One‘s speech.

- Translator: Suddhāso Bhikkhu

- Editor: Aminah Borg-Luck

The Analysis of the Six Sense Fields

Hearing a sound with the ear …
Smelling an odor with the nose …
So I have heard.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.
There the Buddha addressed the mendicants,
“Mendicants!”
“Venerable sir,” they replied.
The Buddha said this:
“Mendicants, I shall teach you the analysis of the six sense fields.
Listen and pay close attention, I will speak.”
“Yes, sir,” they replied.
The Buddha said this:
“‘The six interior sense fields should be understood. The six exterior sense fields should be understood. The six classes of consciousness should be understood. The six classes of contact should be understood. The eighteen mental preoccupations should be understood. The thirty-six positions of sentient beings should be understood. Therein, relying on this, give up that. The Noble One cultivates the establishment of mindfulness in three cases, by virtue of which they are a Teacher worthy to instruct a group. Of all meditation teachers, it is he that is called the supreme guide for those who wish to train.’
This is the recitation passage for the analysis of the six sense fields.
‘The six interior sense fields should be understood.’
That’s what I said, but why did I say it?
There are the sense fields of the eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind.
‘The six interior sense fields should be understood.’
That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.
‘The six exterior sense fields should be understood.’
That’s what I said, but why did I say it?
There are the sense fields of sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touches, and thoughts.
‘The six exterior sense fields should be understood.’
That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.
‘The six classes of consciousness should be understood.’
That’s what I said, but why did I say it?
There are eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind consciousness.
‘The six classes of consciousness should be understood.’
That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.
‘The six classes of contact should be understood.’
That’s what I said, but why did I say it?
There is contact through the eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind.
‘The six classes of contact should be understood.’
That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.
‘The eighteen mental preoccupations should be understood.’
That’s what I said, but why did I say it?
Seeing a sight with the eye, one is preoccupied with a sight that’s a basis for happiness or sadness or equanimity.
Tasting a flavor with the tongue …
Feeling a touch with the body …
Becoming conscious of a thought with the mind, one is preoccupied with a thought that’s a basis for happiness or sadness or equanimity.
So there are six preoccupations with happiness, six preoccupations with sadness, and six preoccupations with equanimity. ‘The eighteen mental preoccupations should be understood.’
That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.
‘The thirty-six positions of sentient beings should be understood.’
That’s what I said, but why did I say it?
There are six kinds of lay happiness and six kinds of renunciate happiness. There are six kinds of lay sadness and six kinds of renunciate sadness. There are six kinds of lay equanimity and six kinds of renunciate equanimity.
And in this context what are the six kinds of lay happiness?
There are sights known by the eye that are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasing, connected with the world’s material delights. Happiness arises when you regard it as a gain to obtain such sights, or when you recollect sights you formerly obtained that have passed, ceased, and perished.
Such happiness is called lay happiness.
There are sounds known by the ear …
Smells known by the nose …
Tastes known by the tongue …
Touches known by the body …
Thoughts known by the mind that are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasing, connected with the world’s material delights. Happiness arises when you regard it as a gain to obtain such thoughts, or when you recollect thoughts you formerly obtained that have passed, ceased, and perished.
Such happiness is called lay happiness.
These are the six kinds of lay happiness.
And in this context what are the six kinds of renunciate happiness?
When you’ve understood the impermanence of sights—their perishing, fading away, and cessation—happiness arises as you truly understand through right understanding that both formerly and now all those sights are impermanent, suffering, and perishable.
Such happiness is called renunciate happiness.
When you’ve understood the impermanence of sounds …
smells …
tastes …
touches …
thoughts—their perishing, fading away, and cessation—happiness arises as you truly understand through right understanding that both formerly and now all those thoughts are impermanent, suffering, and perishable.
Such happiness is called renunciate happiness.
These are the six kinds of renunciate happiness.
And in this context what are the six kinds of lay sadness?
There are sights known by the eye that are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasing, connected with the world’s material delights. Sadness arises when you regard it as a loss to lose such sights, or when you recollect sights you formerly lost that have passed, ceased, and perished.
Such sadness is called lay sadness.
There are sounds known by the ear …
There are smells known by the nose …
There are tastes known by the tongue …
There are touches known by the body …
There are thoughts known by the mind that are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasing, connected with the world’s material delights. Sadness arises when you regard it as a loss to lose such thoughts, or when you recollect thoughts you formerly lost that have passed, ceased, and perished.
Such sadness is called lay sadness.
These are the six kinds of lay sadness.
And in this context what are the six kinds of renunciate sadness?
When you’ve understood the impermanence of sights—their perishing, fading away, and cessation—you truly understand through right understanding that both formerly and now all those sights are impermanent, suffering, and perishable. Upon seeing this, you give rise to yearning for the supreme liberations:
‘Oh, when will I enter and remain in the same dimension that the noble ones enter and remain in today?’ When you give rise to yearning for the supreme liberations like this, sadness arises because of the yearning.
Such sadness is called renunciate sadness.
When you’ve understood the impermanence of sounds …
smells …
tastes …
touches …
thoughts—their perishing, fading away, and cessation—you truly understand through right understanding that both formerly and now all those thoughts are impermanent, suffering, and perishable. Upon seeing this, you give rise to yearning for the supreme liberations:
‘Oh, when will I enter and remain in the same dimension that the noble ones enter and remain in today?’ When you give rise to yearning for the supreme liberations like this, sadness arises because of the yearning.
Such sadness is called renunciate sadness.
These are the six kinds of renunciate sadness.
And in this context what are the six kinds of lay equanimity?
When seeing a sight with the eye, equanimity arises for the unlearned ordinary person—a foolish ordinary person who has not overcome their limitations and the results of deeds, and is blind to the drawbacks.
Such equanimity does not transcend the sight.
That’s why it’s called lay equanimity.
When hearing a sound with the ear …
When smelling an odor with the nose …
When tasting a flavor with the tongue …
When feeling a touch with the body …
That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.
‘Of all meditation teachers, it is he that is called the supreme guide for those who wish to train.’
When knowing a thought with the mind, equanimity arises for the unlearned ordinary person—a foolish ordinary person who has not overcome their limitations and the results of deeds, and is blind to the drawbacks.
Such equanimity does not transcend the thought.
That’s why it’s called lay equanimity.
These are the six kinds of lay equanimity.
And in this context what are the six kinds of renunciate equanimity?
When you’ve understood the impermanence of sights—their perishing, fading away, and cessation—equanimity arises as you truly understand through right understanding that both formerly and now all those sights are impermanent, suffering, and perishable.
Such equanimity transcends the sight.
That’s why it’s called renunciate equanimity.
When you’ve understood the impermanence of sounds …
smells …
tastes …
touches …
thoughts—their perishing, fading away, and cessation—equanimity arises as you truly understand through right understanding that both formerly and now all those thoughts are impermanent, suffering, and perishable.
Such equanimity transcends the thought.
That’s why it’s called renunciate equanimity.
These are the six kinds of renunciate equanimity.
‘The thirty-six positions of sentient beings should be understood.’
That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.
‘Therein, relying on this, give up that.’
That’s what I said, but why did I say it?
Therein, by relying and depending on the six kinds of renunciate happiness, give up and go beyond the six kinds of lay happiness.
That’s how they are given up.
Therein, by relying on the six kinds of renunciate sadness, give up the six kinds of lay sadness.
That’s how they are given up.
Therein, by relying on the six kinds of renunciate equanimity, give up the six kinds of lay equanimity.
That’s how they are given up.
Therein, by relying on the six kinds of renunciate happiness, give up the six kinds of renunciate sadness.
That’s how they are given up.
Therein, by relying on the six kinds of renunciate equanimity, give up the six kinds of renunciate happiness.
That’s how they are given up.
There is equanimity that is diversified, based on diversity, and equanimity that is unified, based on unity.
And what is equanimity based on diversity?
There is equanimity towards sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and touches.
This is equanimity based on diversity.
And what is equanimity based on unity?
There is equanimity based on the dimensions of infinite space, infinite consciousness, nothingness, and neither perception nor non-perception.
This is equanimity based on unity.
Therein, relying on equanimity based on unity, give up equanimity based on diversity.
That’s how it is given up.
Relying on non-identification, give up equanimity based on unity.
That’s how it is given up.
‘Therein, relying on this, give up that.’
That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.
‘The Noble One cultivates the establishment of mindfulness in three cases, by virtue of which they are a Teacher worthy to instruct a group.’
That’s what I said,
but why did I say it?
The first case is when the Teacher teaches the Dhamma out of kindness and compassion:
‘This is for your welfare. This is for your happiness.’
But their disciples don’t want to listen. They don’t pay attention or apply their minds to understand. They proceed having turned away from the Teacher’s instruction.
In this case the Realized One is not displeased, he does not feel displeasure. He remains unaffected, mindful and aware.
This is the first case in which the Noble One cultivates the establishment of mindfulness.
The next case is when the Teacher teaches the Dhamma out of kindness and compassion:
‘This is for your welfare. This is for your happiness.’
And some of their disciples don’t want to listen. They don’t pay attention or apply their minds to understand. They proceed having turned away from the Teacher’s instruction.
But some of their disciples do want to listen. They pay attention and apply their minds to understand. They don’t proceed having turned away from the Teacher’s instruction.
In this case the Realized One is not displeased,
nor is he pleased.

Rejecting both displeasure and pleasure, he remains equanimous, mindful and aware.
This is the second case in which the Noble One cultivates the establishment of mindfulness.
The next case is when the Teacher teaches the Dhamma out of kindness and compassion:
‘This is for your welfare. This is for your happiness.’
And their disciples want to listen. They pay attention and apply their minds to understand. They don’t proceed having turned away from the Teacher’s instruction.
In this case the Realized One is not pleased, he does not feel pleasure. He remains unaffected, mindful and aware.
This is the third case in which the Noble One cultivates the establishment of mindfulness.
‘The Noble One cultivates the establishment of mindfulness in three cases, by virtue of which they are a Teacher worthy to instruct a group.’
That’s what I said, but why did I say it?
Driven by an elephant trainer, an elephant in training proceeds in just one direction:
east, west, north, or south.
Driven by a horse trainer, a horse in training proceeds in just one direction:
east, west, north, or south.
Driven by an ox trainer, an ox in training proceeds in just one direction:
east, west, north, or south.
But driven by the Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha, a person in training proceeds in eight directions:
Having physical form, they see visions.
This is the first direction.
Not perceiving physical form internally, they see visions externally.
This is the second direction.
They’re focused only on beauty.
This is the third direction.
Going totally beyond perceptions of form, with the ending of perceptions of impingement, not focusing on perceptions of diversity, aware that ‘space is infinite’, they enter and remain in the dimension of infinite space.
This is the fourth direction.
Going totally beyond the dimension of infinite space, aware that ‘consciousness is infinite’, they enter and remain in the dimension of infinite consciousness.
This is the fifth direction.
Going totally beyond the dimension of infinite consciousness, aware that ‘there is nothing at all’, they enter and remain in the dimension of nothingness.
This is the sixth direction.
Going totally beyond the dimension of nothingness, they enter and remain in the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception.
This is the seventh direction.
Going totally beyond the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception, they enter and remain in the cessation of perception and feeling.
This is the eighth direction.
Driven by the Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha, a person in training proceeds in these eight directions.
‘Of all meditation teachers, it is he that is called the supreme guide for those who wish to train.’
That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.”
That is what the Buddha said.
Satisfied, the mendicants were happy with what the Buddha said.