The Buddha explains how the mind can be obsessed by the senses.

AN 1.1-10  Cittapariyādāna vagga - The Chapter on the Obsession of the Mind

1.1

Evaṁ me sutaṁekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “bhikkhavo”ti.

Thus have I heard—At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthi, in Jeta’s grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s park. There, the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: “Bhikkhus.”

“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca:

“Venerable sir,” those bhikkhus replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this:

“Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekarūpampi samanupassāmi yaṁ evaṁ purisassa cittaṁ pariyādāya tiṭṭhati yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, itthirūpaṁ. Itthirūpaṁ, bhikkhave, purisassa cittaṁ pariyādāya tiṭṭhatī”ti.

“I do not see any other form, bhikkhus, that so completely obsesses a man’s mind as the |form of a woman::image of a woman, feminine form [itthirūpa]|. The form of a woman, bhikkhus, obsesses a man’s mind.”

Paṭhamaṁ.

First.

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Qualities:

Passion

Passion

Intense desire or lust that dyes the mind. It fixates on the features of objects, coloring perception with infatuation and making it difficult to see things as they truly are.

Also known as: burning fever, intense desire, strong emotion, infatuation, obsession, lust
Pāli: rāga
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Sensual desire

Sensual desire

A mental quality of desiring sensory gratification. It pulls the mind’s attention toward sights, sounds, smells, tastes, or touches in a search for satisfaction.

Also known as: passion for sensual pleasures, lust, craving for pleasure, pull toward enticing sense objects
Pāli: kāmacchanda
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Last updated on December 13, 2025