The Buddha teaches on the internal and external sense bases regarding retreat, analyzing the eye, sights, consciousness, contact, and feeling for insight and release.

SN 35.100 Retreat

“Paṭisallāne, bhikkhave, yogamāpajjatha. Paṭisallīno, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti. Kiñca yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti?

‘Cakkhu aniccan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti; ‘rūpā aniccā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti; ‘cakkhuviññāṇaṁ aniccan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti; ‘cakkhusamphasso anicco’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti …pe… ‘yampidaṁ manosamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ adukkhamasukhaṁ tampi aniccan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti.

Paṭisallāne, bhikkhave, yogamāpajjatha. Paṭisallīno, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yathābhūtaṁ pajānātī”ti.

Sattamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Paṭisallāne, bhikkhave, yogamāpajjatha.

“Mendicants, meditate in retreat.

Paṭisallīno, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti.

A mendicant in retreat truly understands.

Kiñca yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti?

What do they truly understand?

‘Cakkhu aniccan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti;

They truly understand that the eye is impermanent.

‘rūpā aniccā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti;

They truly understand that sights …

‘cakkhuviññāṇaṁ aniccan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti;

eye consciousness …

‘cakkhusamphasso anicco’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti …pe…

eye contact …

‘yampidaṁ manosamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ adukkhamasukhaṁ tampi aniccan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti.

the pleasant, painful, or neutral feeling that arises dependent on mind contact is impermanent.

Paṭisallāne, bhikkhave, yogamāpajjatha.

Mendicants, meditate in retreat.

Paṭisallīno, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yathābhūtaṁ pajānātī”ti.

A mendicant in retreat truly understands.”

Sattamaṁ.

Qualities:

Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita, asammūḷha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026