sn.45.30 Saṁyutta Nikāya (Linked Discourses)

Uttiya

At Savatthī. Then the Venerable Uttiya approached the Blessed One … and said to him:

“Here, venerable sir, when I was alone in seclusion a reflection arose in my mind thus: ‘Five cords of sensual pleasure have been spoken of by the Blessed One. But what now are those five cords of sensual pleasure?’”

“Good, good, Uttiya! These five cords of sensual pleasure have been spoken of by me. What five? Forms cognizable by the eye that are desirable, lovely, agreeable, pleasing, sensually enticing, tantalizing. Sounds cognizable by the ear … Odours cognizable by the nose … Tastes cognizable by the tongue … Tactile objects cognizable by the body that are desirable, lovely, agreeable, pleasing, sensually enticing, tantalizing. These are the five cords of sensual pleasure spoken of by me.

“The Noble Eightfold Path, Uttiya, is to be developed for the abandoning of these five cords of sensual pleasure. And what is the Noble Eightfold Path? It is: right view … right concentration. This Noble Eightfold Path is to be developed for the abandoning of these five cords of sensual pleasure.”

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh

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With Uttiya

At Sāvatthī.
Then Venerable Uttiya went up to the Buddha … and asked him,
“Just now, sir, as I was in private retreat this thought came to mind.
‘The Buddha has spoken of the five kinds of sensual stimulation.
What are they?’”
“Good, good, Uttiya!
I have spoken of these five kinds of sensual stimulation.
What five?
Sights known by the eye that are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing.
Sounds known by the ear …
Smells known by the nose …
Tastes known by the tongue …
Touches known by the body that are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing.
These are the five kinds of sensual stimulation that I’ve spoken of.
The noble eightfold path should be developed to give up these five kinds of sensual stimulation.
What is the noble eightfold path?
It is right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion.
This is the noble eightfold path that should be developed to give up these five kinds of sensual stimulation.”