The Buddha explains that ignorance regarding the six sense fields fuels infatuation, craving, and the five aggregates, leading to distress. Conversely, knowing and seeing the senses truly abandons craving and fulfills the Noble Eightfold Path. By coupling tranquility with penetrative vision, the practitioner comprehends the aggregates, abandons ignorance, and realizes true knowledge and liberation.

PTS 3.287–3.289

MN 149 Mahāsaḷāyatanika sutta - The Greater Discourse on the Six Sense Fields

Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ 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, he 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:

“mahāsaḷāyatanikaṁ vo, bhikkhave, desessāmi. Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.

“I will teach you a discourse on the six sense fields. Listen to this and pay close attention; I will speak.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca:

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

Not Knowing and Not Seeing

“Cakkhuṁ, bhikkhave, ajānaṁ apassaṁ yathābhūtaṁ, rūpe ajānaṁ apassaṁ yathābhūtaṁ, cakkhuviññāṇaṁ ajānaṁ apassaṁ yathābhūtaṁ, cakkhusamphassaṁ ajānaṁ apassaṁ yathābhūtaṁ, yamidaṁ cakkhusamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ vā dukkhaṁ vā adukkhamasukhaṁ vā tampi ajānaṁ apassaṁ yathābhūtaṁ, cakkhusmiṁ sārajjati, rūpesu sārajjati, cakkhuviññāṇe sārajjati, cakkhusamphasse sārajjati, yamidaṁ cakkhusamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ vā dukkhaṁ vā adukkhamasukhaṁ vā tasmimpi sārajjati.

“Not knowing and not seeing the eye as it truly is, not knowing and not seeing forms as they truly are, not knowing and not seeing eye-consciousness as it truly is, not knowing and not seeing eye-contact as it truly is, and not knowing and not seeing as it truly is whatever felt experience arises with eye-contact as condition—whether pleasant, painful, or neither-painful-nor-pleasant—he becomes infatuated with the eye, he becomes infatuated with forms, he becomes infatuated with eye-consciousness, he becomes infatuated with eye-contact, and whatever felt experience arises with eye-contact as condition—whether pleasant, painful, or neither-painful-nor-pleasant—he becomes infatuated with that too.

Tassa sārattassa saṁyuttassa sammūḷhassa assādānupassino viharato āyatiṁ pañcupādānakkhandhā upacayaṁ gacchanti. Taṇhā cassa ponobbhavikā nandīrāgasahagatā tatratatrābhinandinī, sā cassa pavaḍḍhati. Tassa kāyikāpi darathā pavaḍḍhanti, cetasikāpi darathā pavaḍḍhanti; kāyikāpi santāpā pavaḍḍhanti, cetasikāpi santāpā pavaḍḍhanti; kāyikāpi pariḷāhā pavaḍḍhanti, cetasikāpi pariḷāhā pavaḍḍhanti. So kāyadukkhampi cetodukkhampi paṭisaṁvedeti.

When he dwells infatuated, fettered, bewildered, and contemplating gratification, the five aggregates subject to clinging are built up for the future. And his craving—which brings renewed existence, is accompanied by delight and lust, and finds delight here and there—grows. His bodily distresses grow, and his mental distresses grow; his bodily torments grow, and his mental torments grow; his bodily fevers grow, and his mental fevers grow. He experiences bodily pain and mental pain.

Sotaṁ, bhikkhave, ajānaṁ apassaṁ yathābhūtaṁ …pe… ghānaṁ, bhikkhave, ajānaṁ apassaṁ yathābhūtaṁ …pe… jivhaṁ, bhikkhave, ajānaṁ apassaṁ yathābhūtaṁ …pe… kāyaṁ, bhikkhave, ajānaṁ apassaṁ yathābhūtaṁ …pe… manaṁ, bhikkhave, ajānaṁ apassaṁ yathābhūtaṁ, dhamme, bhikkhave, ajānaṁ apassaṁ yathābhūtaṁ, manoviññāṇaṁ, bhikkhave, ajānaṁ apassaṁ yathābhūtaṁ, manosamphassaṁ, bhikkhave, ajānaṁ apassaṁ yathābhūtaṁ, yamidaṁ manosamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ vā dukkhaṁ vā adukkhamasukhaṁ vā tampi ajānaṁ apassaṁ yathābhūtaṁ, manasmiṁ sārajjati, dhammesu sārajjati, manoviññāṇe sārajjati, manosamphasse sārajjati, yamidaṁ manosamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ vā dukkhaṁ vā adukkhamasukhaṁ vā tasmimpi sārajjati.

Not knowing and not seeing the ear as it truly is ... not knowing and not seeing the nose as it truly is ... not knowing and not seeing the tongue as it truly is ... not knowing and not seeing the body as it truly is ... not knowing and not seeing the mind as it truly is, not knowing and not seeing mental objects as they truly are, not knowing and not seeing mind-consciousness as it truly is, not knowing and not seeing mind-contact as it truly is, and not knowing and not seeing as it truly is whatever felt experience arises with mind-contact as condition—whether pleasant, painful, or neither-painful-nor-pleasant—he becomes infatuated with the mind, he becomes infatuated with mental objects, he becomes infatuated with mind-consciousness, he becomes infatuated with mind-contact, and whatever felt experience arises with mind-contact as condition—whether pleasant, painful, or neither-painful-nor-pleasant—he becomes infatuated with that too.

Tassa sārattassa saṁyuttassa sammūḷhassa assādānupassino viharato āyatiṁ pañcupādānakkhandhā upacayaṁ gacchanti. Taṇhā cassa ponobbhavikā nandīrāgasahagatā tatratatrābhinandinī, sā cassa pavaḍḍhati. Tassa kāyikāpi darathā pavaḍḍhanti, cetasikāpi darathā pavaḍḍhanti; kāyikāpi santāpā pavaḍḍhanti, cetasikāpi santāpā pavaḍḍhanti; kāyikāpi pariḷāhā pavaḍḍhanti, cetasikāpi pariḷāhā pavaḍḍhanti. So kāyadukkhampi cetodukkhampi paṭisaṁvedeti.

When he dwells infatuated, fettered, bewildered, and contemplating gratification, the five aggregates subject to clinging are built up for the future. And his craving—which brings renewed existence, is accompanied by delight and lust, and finds delight here and there—grows. His bodily distresses grow, and his mental distresses grow; his bodily torments grow, and his mental torments grow; his bodily fevers grow, and his mental fevers grow. He experiences bodily pain and mental pain.

Knowing and Seeing As It Truly Is

Cakkhuñca kho, bhikkhave, jānaṁ passaṁ yathābhūtaṁ, rūpe jānaṁ passaṁ yathābhūtaṁ, cakkhuviññāṇaṁ jānaṁ passaṁ yathābhūtaṁ, cakkhusamphassaṁ jānaṁ passaṁ yathābhūtaṁ, yamidaṁ cakkhusamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ vā dukkhaṁ vā adukkhamasukhaṁ vā tampi jānaṁ passaṁ yathābhūtaṁ, cakkhusmiṁ na sārajjati, rūpesu na sārajjati, cakkhuviññāṇe na sārajjati, cakkhusamphasse na sārajjati, yamidaṁ cakkhusamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ vā dukkhaṁ vā adukkhamasukhaṁ vā tasmimpi na sārajjati.

But knowing and seeing the eye as it truly is, knowing and seeing forms as they truly are, knowing and seeing eye-consciousness as it truly is, knowing and seeing eye-contact as it truly is, and knowing and seeing as it truly is whatever felt experience arises with eye-contact as condition—whether pleasant, painful, or neither-painful-nor-pleasant—he does not become infatuated with the eye, he does not become infatuated with forms, he does not become infatuated with eye-consciousness, he does not become infatuated with eye-contact, and whatever felt experience arises with eye-contact as condition—whether pleasant, painful, or neither-painful-nor-pleasant—he does not become infatuated with that too.

Tassa asārattassa asaṁyuttassa asammūḷhassa ādīnavānupassino viharato āyatiṁ pañcupādānakkhandhā apacayaṁ gacchanti. Taṇhā cassa ponobbhavikā nandīrāgasahagatā tatratatrābhinandinī, sā cassa pahīyati. Tassa kāyikāpi darathā pahīyanti, cetasikāpi darathā pahīyanti; kāyikāpi santāpā pahīyanti, cetasikāpi santāpā pahīyanti; kāyikāpi pariḷāhā pahīyanti, cetasikāpi pariḷāhā pahīyanti. So kāyasukhampi cetosukhampi paṭisaṁvedeti.

When he dwells uninfatuated, unfettered, unbewildered, and contemplating unsatisfactoriness, the five aggregates subject to clinging are diminished for the future. And his craving—which brings renewed existence, is accompanied by delight and lust, and finds delight here and there—is abandoned. His bodily distresses are abandoned, and his mental distresses are abandoned; his bodily torments are abandoned, and his mental torments are abandoned; his bodily fevers are abandoned, and his mental fevers are abandoned. He experiences bodily ease and mental ease.

Yā tathābhūtassa diṭṭhi sāssa hoti sammādiṭṭhi; yo tathābhūtassa saṅkappo svāssa hoti sammāsaṅkappo; yo tathābhūtassa vāyāmo svāssa hoti sammāvāyāmo; yā tathābhūtassa sati sāssa hoti sammāsati; yo tathābhūtassa samādhi svāssa hoti sammāsamādhi. Pubbeva kho panassa kāyakammaṁ vacīkammaṁ ājīvo suparisuddho hoti. Evamassāyaṁ ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati.

For one who is thus, his view is right view; his intention is right intention; his effort is right effort; his mindfulness is right mindfulness; his collectedness is right collectedness. And earlier, his bodily action, verbal action, and livelihood were already completely purified. Thus the Noble Eightfold Path comes to fulfillment of cultivation for him.

Tassa evaṁ imaṁ ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bhāvayato cattāropi satipaṭṭhānā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, cattāropi sammappadhānā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, cattāropi iddhipādā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, pañcapi indriyāni bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, pañcapi balāni bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, sattapi bojjhaṅgā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti.

For him, as he thus cultivates this Noble Eightfold Path, the four establishments of mindfulness come to fulfillment of cultivation, the four right efforts come to fulfillment of cultivation, the four bases of psychic powers come to fulfillment of cultivation, the five faculties come to fulfillment of cultivation, the five powers come to fulfillment of cultivation, and the seven factors of awakening come to fulfillment of cultivation.

Tranquility and Penetrative Vision

Tassime dve dhammā yuganandhā vattanti— samatho ca vipassanā ca. So ye dhammā abhiññā pariññeyyā te dhamme abhiññā parijānāti. Ye dhammā abhiññā pahātabbā te dhamme abhiññā pajahati. Ye dhammā abhiññā bhāvetabbā te dhamme abhiññā bhāveti. Ye dhammā abhiññā sacchikātabbā te dhamme abhiññā sacchikaroti.

For him, these two qualities occur in tandem: Tranquility and penetrative vision. Those qualities that should be completely comprehended through direct knowledge, he completely comprehends them through direct knowledge. Those qualities that should be abandoned through direct knowledge, he abandons them through direct knowledge. Those qualities that should be cultivated through direct knowledge, he cultivates them through direct knowledge. Those qualities that should be personally experienced through direct knowledge, he personally experiences them through direct knowledge.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā pariññeyyā? ‘Pañcupādānakkhandhā’ tissa vacanīyaṁ, seyyathidaṁ—rūpupādānakkhandho, vedanupādānakkhandho, saññupādānakkhandho, saṅkhārupādānakkhandho, viññāṇupādānakkhandho. Ime dhammā abhiññā pariññeyyā.

And what are the qualities that should be completely comprehended through direct knowledge? It should be said: ‘the five aggregates subject to clinging,’ namely—the form aggregate subject to clinging, the feeling aggregate subject to clinging, the perception aggregate subject to clinging, the intentional constructs aggregate subject to clinging, and the consciousness aggregate subject to clinging. These are the qualities that should be completely comprehended through direct knowledge.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā pahātabbā? Avijjā ca bhavataṇhā ca— ime dhammā abhiññā pahātabbā.

And what are the qualities that should be abandoned through direct knowledge? Ignorance and craving for existence—these are the qualities that should be abandoned through direct knowledge.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā bhāvetabbā? Samatho ca vipassanā ca— ime dhammā abhiññā bhāvetabbā.

And what are the qualities that should be cultivated through direct knowledge? Tranquility and penetrative vision—these are the qualities that should be cultivated through direct knowledge.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā sacchikātabbā? Vijjā ca vimutti ca— ime dhammā abhiññā sacchikātabbā.

And what are the qualities that should be personally experienced through direct knowledge? True knowledge and liberation—these are the qualities that should be personally experienced through direct knowledge.

Refrain for the Remaining Sense Fields

Sotaṁ, bhikkhave, jānaṁ passaṁ yathābhūtaṁ …pe… ghānaṁ bhikkhave, jānaṁ passaṁ yathābhūtaṁ …pe… jivhaṁ, bhikkhave, jānaṁ passaṁ yathābhūtaṁ …pe… kāyaṁ, bhikkhave, jānaṁ passaṁ yathābhūtaṁ …pe… manaṁ, bhikkhave, jānaṁ passaṁ yathābhūtaṁ, dhamme jānaṁ passaṁ yathābhūtaṁ, manoviññāṇaṁ jānaṁ passaṁ yathābhūtaṁ, manosamphassaṁ jānaṁ passaṁ yathābhūtaṁ, yamidaṁ manosamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ vā dukkhaṁ vā adukkhamasukhaṁ vā tampi jānaṁ passaṁ yathābhūtaṁ, manasmiṁ na sārajjati, dhammesu na sārajjati, manoviññāṇe na sārajjati, manosamphasse na sārajjati, yamidaṁ manosamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ vā dukkhaṁ vā adukkhamasukhaṁ vā tasmimpi na sārajjati.

Knowing and seeing the ear as it truly is ... knowing and seeing the nose as it truly is ... knowing and seeing the tongue as it truly is ... knowing and seeing the body as it truly is ... knowing and seeing the mind as it truly is, knowing and seeing mental objects as they truly are, knowing and seeing mind-consciousness as it truly is, knowing and seeing mind-contact as it truly is, and knowing and seeing as it truly is whatever felt experience arises with mind-contact as condition—whether pleasant, painful, or neither-painful-nor-pleasant—he does not become infatuated with the mind, he does not become infatuated with mental objects, he does not become infatuated with mind-consciousness, he does not become infatuated with mind-contact, and whatever felt experience arises with mind-contact as condition—whether pleasant, painful, or neither-painful-nor-pleasant—he does not become infatuated with that too.

Tassa asārattassa asaṁyuttassa asammūḷhassa ādīnavānupassino viharato āyatiṁ pañcupādānakkhandhā apacayaṁ gacchanti. Taṇhā cassa ponobbhavikā nandīrāgasahagatā tatratatrābhinandinī, sā cassa pahīyati. Tassa kāyikāpi darathā pahīyanti, cetasikāpi darathā pahīyanti; kāyikāpi santāpā pahīyanti, cetasikāpi santāpā pahīyanti; kāyikāpi pariḷāhā pahīyanti, cetasikāpi pariḷāhā pahīyanti. So kāyasukhampi cetosukhampi paṭisaṁvedeti.

When he dwells uninfatuated, unfettered, unbewildered, and contemplating unsatisfactoriness, the five aggregates subject to clinging are diminished for the future. And his craving—which brings renewed existence, is accompanied by delight and lust, and finds delight here and there—is abandoned. His bodily distresses are abandoned, and his mental distresses are abandoned; his bodily torments are abandoned, and his mental torments are abandoned; his bodily fevers are abandoned, and his mental fevers are abandoned. He experiences bodily ease and mental ease.

Yā tathābhūtassa diṭṭhi sāssa hoti sammādiṭṭhi; yo tathābhūtassa saṅkappo svāssa hoti sammāsaṅkappo; yo tathābhūtassa vāyāmo svāssa hoti sammāvāyāmo; yā tathābhūtassa sati sāssa hoti sammāsati; yo tathābhūtassa samādhi svāssa hoti sammāsamādhi. Pubbeva kho panassa kāyakammaṁ vacīkammaṁ ājīvo suparisuddho hoti. Evamassāyaṁ ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati.

For one who is thus, his view is right view; his intention is right intention; his effort is right effort; his mindfulness is right mindfulness; his collectedness is right collectedness. And earlier, his bodily action, verbal action, and livelihood were already completely purified. Thus the Noble Eightfold Path comes to fulfillment of cultivation for him.

Tassa evaṁ imaṁ ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bhāvayato cattāropi satipaṭṭhānā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, cattāropi sammappadhānā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, cattāropi iddhipādā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, pañcapi indriyāni bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, pañcapi balāni bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, sattapi bojjhaṅgā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti.

For him, as he thus cultivates this Noble Eightfold Path, the four establishments of mindfulness come to fulfillment of cultivation, the four right efforts come to fulfillment of cultivation, the four bases of psychic powers come to fulfillment of cultivation, the five faculties come to fulfillment of cultivation, the five powers come to fulfillment of cultivation, and the seven factors of awakening come to fulfillment of cultivation.

Tassime dve dhammā yuganandhā vattanti— samatho ca vipassanā ca. So ye dhammā abhiññā pariññeyyā te dhamme abhiññā parijānāti. Ye dhammā abhiññā pahātabbā te dhamme abhiññā pajahati. Ye dhammā abhiññā bhāvetabbā te dhamme abhiññā bhāveti. Ye dhammā abhiññā sacchikātabbā te dhamme abhiññā sacchikaroti.

For him, these two qualities occur in tandem: Tranquility and penetrative vision. Those qualities that should be completely comprehended through direct knowledge, he completely comprehends through direct knowledge. Those qualities that should be abandoned through direct knowledge, he abandons through direct knowledge. Those qualities that should be cultivated through direct knowledge, he cultivates through direct knowledge. Those qualities that should be personally experienced through direct knowledge, he personally experiences through direct knowledge.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā pariññeyyā? ‘Pañcupādānakkhandhā’ tissa vacanīyaṁ, seyyathidaṁ— rūpupādānakkhandho, vedanupādānakkhandho, saññupādānakkhandho, saṅkhārupādānakkhandho, viññāṇupādānakkhandho. Ime dhammā abhiññā pariññeyyā.

And what are the qualities that should be completely comprehended through direct knowledge? It should be said: ‘the five aggregates subject to clinging,’ namely—the form aggregate subject to clinging, the feeling aggregate subject to clinging, the perception aggregate subject to clinging, the intentional constructs aggregate subject to clinging, and the consciousness aggregate subject to clinging. These are the qualities that should be completely comprehended through direct knowledge.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā pahātabbā? Avijjā ca bhavataṇhā ca— ime dhammā abhiññā pahātabbā.

And what are the qualities that should be abandoned through direct knowledge? Ignorance and craving for existence—these are the qualities that should be abandoned through direct knowledge.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā bhāvetabbā? Samatho ca vipassanā ca— ime dhammā abhiññā bhāvetabbā.

And what are the qualities that should be cultivated through direct knowledge? Tranquility and penetrative vision—these are the qualities that should be cultivated through direct knowledge.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā sacchikātabbā? Vijjā ca vimutti ca— ime dhammā abhiññā sacchikātabbā”ti.

And what are the qualities that should be personally experienced through direct knowledge? True knowledge and liberation—these are the qualities that should be personally experienced through direct knowledge.

Idamavoca bhagavā. Attamanā te bhikkhū bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandunti.

The Blessed One said this. The bhikkhus were delighted and pleased with the Blessed One’s words.

Topics & Qualities:

Complete comprehension

Complete comprehension

The thorough understanding of phenomena as they truly are—fully knowing their arising, passing, and the unsatisfactoriness inherent in them while they persist.

Also known as: full understanding, knowing full well, seeing things as they are
Pāli: pariññāya, sammadaññā, sampajañña, saṅkhāya
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Craving

Craving

A driving ‘thirst’ that reaches out toward experiences, identities, or outcomes as the place to find satisfaction—“if only I had that.” It spins stories of lack, binds the mind to becoming, and invariably leads to suffering.

Also known as: wanting, yearning, longing, lit. thirst
Pāli: taṇha, abhijjhā
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Direct knowledge

Direct knowledge

A deep, firsthand realization or knowing that arises from personal experience, not from study or conceptual understanding; it is an immediate, unmediated apprehension of truth.

Also known as: experiential understanding, direct experience
Pāli: abhiñña
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Dispassion

Dispassion

The fading of desire and attraction toward conditioned things. It arises through seeing the impermanent and unsatisfactory nature of experience. It is the natural fragrance of understanding and the forerunner of release.

Also known as: detachment, disinterest, fading of desire, disentanglement
Pāli: virāga, visaṁyutta
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Ignorance

Ignorance

A fundamental blindness to the true nature of reality. It is not merely a lack of information, but an active misperception that views the transient as permanent and the unsatisfactory as a source of happiness, thereby fueling the cycle of suffering.

Also known as: illusion of knowing, fundamental unawareness of the true nature of reality, misunderstanding of how things have come to be, not knowing the four noble truths
Pāli: avijjā
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Liberation

Liberation

Liberation can imply a temporary release of the mind, i.e. liberated from certain unwholesome mental qualities or complete liberation from all unwholesome qualities of the mind, i.e. Nibbāna.

Also known as: freedom, release, emancipation, deliverance
Pāli: vimutti, vimokkha, cetovimutti, paññāvimutti, akuppā cetovimutti
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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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Penetrative vision

Penetrative vision

Penetrative vision that discerns phenomena as they arise and pass away, clearly seeing their conditioned nature without clinging.

Also known as: insight into phenomena, clear seeing of the Dhammas
Pāli: vipassanā, dhammavipassanā, anupadadhammavipassanā
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Perceiving drawback

Perceiving drawback

The contemplative perception that discerns the danger, inadequacy, and unsatisfactoriness of conditioned pleasures, leading the mind to turn away from clinging.

Also known as: observing the disadvantage, contemplating the unsatisfactoriness
Pāli: ādīnavānupassī
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Perceiving gratification

Perceiving gratification

The contemplative perception that focuses on the attractive or pleasurable aspect of experience, fueling delight and attachment to sense pleasures.

Also known as: following pleasure, seeing enjoyment, sign of beautiful
Pāli: assādānupassī
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Self-making

Self-making

Spiritual or worldly striving to “be someone,” the “I must become something” energy

Also known as: an aspiration for identity, craving to be, drive for status or attainment, romanticizing some better self or future state
Pāli: bhavataṇhā, bhavesanā
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Tranquility

Tranquility

A mental quality of calm and stillness that arises when the body and mind are unburdened by agitation.

Also known as: calmness, peacefulness, serenity
Pāli: passaddhi, santi, upasama, upasanta
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Last updated on September 27, 2026

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