The Buddha teaches on the six sense bases regarding because of grasping, guiding disciples toward discernment of sense experience and release from clinging.

SN 35.105 Because of Grasping

“Kismiṁ nu kho, bhikkhave, sati kiṁ upādāya uppajjati ajjhattaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhan”ti?

“Bhagavaṁmūlakā no, bhante, dhammā …pe….

“Cakkhusmiṁ kho, bhikkhave, sati cakkhuṁ upādāya uppajjati ajjhattaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ …pe… manasmiṁ sati manaṁ upādāya uppajjati ajjhattaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ.

Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, cakkhu niccaṁ aniccaṁ vā”ti?

“Aniccaṁ, bhante”.

“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ taṁ sukhaṁ vā”ti?

“Dukkhaṁ, bhante”.

“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ, api nu taṁ anupādāya uppajjeyya ajjhattaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhan”ti?

“No hetaṁ, bhante” …pe….

“Jivhā niccā aniccā vā”ti? “Aniccā, bhante”. “Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ taṁ sukhaṁ vā”ti? “Dukkhaṁ, bhante”. “Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ, api nu taṁ anupādāya uppajjeyya ajjhattaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhan”ti? “No hetaṁ, bhante” …pe…. “Mano nicco anicco vā”ti?

“Anicco, bhante”.

“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ taṁ sukhaṁ vā”ti?

“Dukkhaṁ, bhante”.

“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ, api nu taṁ anupādāya uppajjeyya ajjhattaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhan”ti?

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

“Evaṁ passaṁ, bhikkhave, sutavā ariyasāvako cakkhusmimpi nibbindati …pe… manasmimpi nibbindati. Nibbindaṁ virajjati; virāgā vimuccati; vimuttasmiṁ vimuttamiti ñāṇaṁ hoti.

‘Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti pajānātī”ti.

Dutiyaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Kismiṁ nu kho, bhikkhave, sati kiṁ upādāya uppajjati ajjhattaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhan”ti?

“Mendicants, when what exists, because of grasping what, do pleasure and pain arise in oneself?”

“Bhagavaṁmūlakā no, bhante, dhammā …pe….

“Our teachings are rooted in the Buddha. …”

“Cakkhusmiṁ kho, bhikkhave, sati cakkhuṁ upādāya uppajjati ajjhattaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ …pe…

“Mendicants, when there’s an eye, because of grasping the eye, pleasure and pain arise in oneself. …

manasmiṁ sati manaṁ upādāya uppajjati ajjhattaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ.

When there’s a mind, because of grasping the mind, pleasure and pain arise in oneself.

Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave,

What do you think, mendicants?

cakkhu niccaṁ aniccaṁ vā”ti?

Is the eye permanent or impermanent?”

“Aniccaṁ, bhante”.

“Impermanent, sir.”

“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ taṁ sukhaṁ vā”ti?

“But if it’s impermanent, is it suffering or happiness?”

“Dukkhaṁ, bhante”.

“Suffering, sir.”

“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ, api nu taṁ anupādāya uppajjeyya ajjhattaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhan”ti?

“But by not grasping what’s impermanent, suffering, and perishable, would pleasure and pain arise in oneself?”

“No hetaṁ, bhante” …pe….

“No, sir.” …

“Jivhā niccā aniccā vā”ti?

“Is the ear … nose … tongue … body …

“Aniccā, bhante”.

“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ taṁ sukhaṁ vā”ti?

“Dukkhaṁ, bhante”.

“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ, api nu taṁ anupādāya uppajjeyya ajjhattaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhan”ti?

“No hetaṁ, bhante” …pe….

“Mano nicco anicco vā”ti?

mind permanent or impermanent?”

“Anicco, bhante”.

“Impermanent, sir.”

“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ taṁ sukhaṁ vā”ti?

“But if it’s impermanent, is it suffering or happiness?”

“Dukkhaṁ, bhante”.

“Suffering, sir.”

“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ, api nu taṁ anupādāya uppajjeyya ajjhattaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhan”ti?

“But by not grasping what’s impermanent, suffering, and perishable, would pleasure and pain arise in oneself?”

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

“No, sir.”

“Evaṁ passaṁ, bhikkhave, sutavā ariyasāvako cakkhusmimpi nibbindati …pe… manasmimpi nibbindati.

“Seeing this, a learned noble disciple grows disillusioned with the eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind.

Nibbindaṁ virajjati; virāgā vimuccati; vimuttasmiṁ vimuttamiti ñāṇaṁ hoti.

Being disillusioned, desire fades away. When desire fades away they’re freed. When they’re freed, they know they’re freed.

‘Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti pajānātī”ti.

They understand: ‘Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.’”

Dutiyaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Attachment

Attachment

A mental fastening onto people, things, views, or states as “me” or “mine,” unwilling to release them. This clinging can give a sense of security and sweetness.

Also known as: acquisition, bond, clinging, grasping, holding on, possession, entanglement, bound, connected, taking as mine
Pāli: upadhi, upādāna, sakiñcana, mamatta
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Desire

Desire

A wholesome motivation, interest, or objective that acts as the starting point for effort and application of will.

Also known as: aspiration, interest, wish, having an objective, intention, impulse
Pāli: chanda
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Free from attachment

Free from attachment

Release from grasping, not taking anything as “me” or “mine,” ceasing to appropriate or identify with people, things, views, or experiences.

Also known as: free from grasping, not appropriating, not taking as mine, without acquisitions, not clinging, not grasping, not holding onto
Pāli: nirūpadhi, nānupādāya, asita, anuggaha
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Happiness

Happiness

Bodily ease and comfort; a pleasant feeling experienced with the body. In the third jhāna, one dwells experiencing this pleasure with the body. It is abandoned, along with bodily pain, for the fourth jhāna to arise.

Also known as: pleasant abiding, positive state of mind, sense of ease
Pāli: sukha
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Learning

Learning

One who has broad learning and retention of the Dhamma, gained through hearing, reciting, and carefully investigating the teachings. Such learning penetrates their meaning through discernment and serves as a strong support for practice.

Also known as: having knowledge, well studied
Pāli: bahussuta, suta
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Suffering

Suffering

Unpleasantness, discontentment, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, i.e. mild or intense suffering that is inherent in conditioned existence.

Also known as: discomfort, unpleasantness, discontentedness, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, distress, affliction
Pāli: dukkha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026