“Bhikkhus, when what exists, by clinging to what, do pleasure and pain arise internally?”
“Venerable sir, our teachings are rooted in the Blessed One….”
“When there is the eye, bhikkhus, by clinging to the eye, pleasure and pain arise internally. When there is the ear … the mind, by clinging to the mind, pleasure and pain arise internally.
“What do you think, bhikkhus, is the eye permanent or impermanent?”
“Impermanent, venerable sir.”
“Is what is impermanent suffering or happiness?”
“Suffering, venerable sir.”
“But without clinging to what is impermanent, suffering, and subject to change, could pleasure and pain arise internally?”
“No, venerable sir.”
“Is the ear … the mind permanent or impermanent?… But without clinging to what is impermanent, suffering, and subject to change, could pleasure and pain arise internally?”
“No, venerable sir.”
“Seeing thus, bhikkhus, the instructed noble disciple experiences revulsion towards the eye … the mind. Experiencing revulsion, he becomes dispassionate. Through dispassion his mind is liberated. When it is liberated there comes the knowledge: ‘It’s liberated.’ He understands: ‘Destroyed is birth, the holy life has been lived, what had to be done has been done, there is no more for this state of being.’”