The Word of the Buddha The Effort to Avoid

¶ 21.) And what, bhikkhus, is striving for restraint? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu, having seen a form with the eye, does not grasp at its prominent features nor is enticed by its details. For if he were to dwell with the eye faculty unguarded, unwholesome states of craving and distress might stream in. Therefore, he practices restraint in this regard, guards the eye faculty, and attains the restraint of the eye faculty. Having heard a sound with the ear, having smelled an odor with nose, having tasted a flavor with the tongue, having touched a tangible object with the body, or having cognized a mental object with the mind, he does not grasp at its prominent features nor is enticed by its details. For if he were to dwell with the mind faculty unguarded, unwholesome states of craving and distress might stream in. Therefore, he practices restraint in this regard, guards the mind faculty, and attains the restraint of the mind faculty. This, bhikkhus, is called striving for restraint.