Friends:
Only by Guarding the 6
Sense Doors is one in Full Control!
Here friends, having seen a form with the eye, one remains
neither attracted
towards any nice form, nor repelled by any disgusting form...
Having heard a sound with the ear, one remains neither captivated by any
fine sound, nor repulsed by any horrible sound...
Having smelled a smell with the nose, one remains neither allured by any
pleasant smell, nor rejected by any unpleasant smell...
Having tasted a taste with the tongue, one remains neither fascinated by
any delightful taste, nor reversed by any disgusting taste...
Having touched a touch with the body, one remains neither tempted by
any delicate touch, nor disgusted by any unpleasant touch...
Having thought a idea with the mind, one remains neither enticed by any
agreeable thought, nor disappointed by any disagreeable thought...
One resides having established constant
awareness of the
body & within
an infinite mind. Thereby one comes to know
directly that release of mind
and that release by understanding, wherein all harmful & detrimental states
irreversibly cease without remaining traces left behind... It is in this
way,
friends, that one lives with the sense doors guarded...
Notes:
Awareness of the body means seeing it as an
afflicting skin-bag of bones,
bowels, tendons, excrement & urine, with nine holes oozing with filth...
Such continuous
Awareness disables any arising of desire, lust & greed!
Dwelling within an
infinite mind means constant
attention to the aspects of:
Universal Friendliness, Endless Pity, Mutual Joy,
& Imperturbable Equanimity.
Such continuous good-will prevents any arising of
hate, anger & irritation!
One should dwell like the snake, which sees the mouse hide in
ant-hill with
six openings! By lying rolled up on the anthill - constantly watching - the
snake remains on the thought: Out of which hole may this mouse appear?
Even so one thinks: Through which sense door may the next contact appear?
Source:
The Grouped Sayings by the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya 35:132 IV 117-21
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=948507
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/samyutta/index.html
Updated:
19 Oct 2008
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Guarding_the_Sense_Doors.htm