sn.35.97 Saṁyutta Nikāya (Linked Discourses)

Dwelling Negligently

“Bhikkhus, I will teach you about one who dwells negligently, and about one who dwells diligently. Listen to that….

“And how, bhikkhus, does one dwell negligently? If one dwells without restraint over the eye faculty, the mind is soiled among forms cognizable by the eye. If the mind is soiled, there is no gladness. When there is no gladness, there is no rapture. When there is no rapture, there is no tranquillity. When there is no tranquillity, one dwells in suffering. The mind of one who suffers does not become concentrated. When the mind is not concentrated, phenomena do not become manifest. Because phenomena do not become manifest, one is reckoned as ‘one who dwells negligently.’

“If one dwells without restraint over the ear faculty, the mind is soiled among sounds cognizable by the ear…. If one dwells without restraint over the mind faculty, the mind is soiled among mental phenomena cognizable by the mind…. Because phenomena do not become manifest, one is reckoned as ‘one who dwells negligently.’

“It is in such a way, bhikkhus, that one dwells negligently.

“And how, bhikkhus, does one dwell diligently? If one dwells with restraint over the eye faculty, the mind is not soiled among forms cognizable by the eye. If the mind is not soiled, gladness is born. When one is gladdened, rapture is born. When the mind is uplifted by rapture, the body becomes tranquil. One tranquil in body experiences happiness. The mind of one who is happy becomes concentrated. When the mind is concentrated, phenomena become manifest. Because phenomena become manifest, one is reckoned as ‘one who dwells diligently.’

“If one dwells with restraint over the ear faculty, the mind is not soiled among sounds cognizable by the ear…. If one dwells with restraint over the mind faculty, the mind is not soiled among mental phenomena cognizable by the mind…. Because phenomena become manifest, one is reckoned as ‘one who dwells diligently.’

“It is in such a way, bhikkhus, that one dwells diligently.”

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh

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One Who Lives Negligently

When there’s no joy, there’s no rapture.
When there’s no rapture, there’s no tranquility.
When there’s no tranquility, there’s suffering.
When one is suffering, the mind does not become immersed in samādhi.
“Mendicants, I will teach you who lives negligently and who lives diligently.
Listen …
And how does someone live negligently?
When you live with the eye faculty unrestrained, your mind becomes polluted when it comes to sights known by the eye.
When the mind is polluted, there’s no joy.
When there’s no joy, there’s no rapture.
When there’s no rapture, there’s no tranquility.
When there’s no tranquility, there’s suffering.
When one is suffering, the mind does not become immersed in samādhi.
When the mind is not immersed in samādhi, principles do not become clear.
Because principles have not become clear, you’re considered to live negligently.
When you live with the ear … nose … tongue … body …


mind faculty unrestrained, your mind becomes polluted when it comes to thoughts known by the mind.
When the mind is polluted, there’s no joy.
When the mind is not immersed in samādhi, principles do not become clear.
Because principles have not become clear, you’re considered to live negligently.
That’s how someone lives negligently.
And how does someone live diligently?
When you live with the eye faculty restrained, your mind doesn’t become polluted when it comes to sights known by the eye.
When the mind isn’t polluted, joy springs up.
Being joyful, rapture springs up.
When the mind is full of rapture, the body becomes tranquil.
When the body is tranquil, one feels bliss.
And when blissful, the mind becomes immersed in samādhi.
When the mind is immersed in samādhi, principles become clear.
Because principles have become clear, you’re considered to live diligently.
When you live with the ear … nose … tongue … body …

mind faculty restrained, your mind doesn’t become polluted when it comes to thoughts known by the mind.
When the mind isn’t polluted, joy springs up.
Being joyful, rapture springs up.
When the mind is full of rapture, the body becomes tranquil.
When the body is tranquil, one feels bliss.
And when blissful, the mind becomes immersed in samādhi.
When the mind is immersed in samādhi, principles become clear.
Because principles have become clear, you’re considered to live diligently.
That’s how someone lives diligently.”