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

SN 35.119 The Question of Pañcasikha

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati gijjhakūṭe pabbate. Atha kho pañcasikho gandhabbadevaputto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho pañcasikho gandhabbadevaputto bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“ko nu kho, bhante, hetu, ko paccayo yena m’idhekacce sattā diṭṭheva dhamme no parinibbāyanti? Ko pana, bhante, hetu, ko paccayo yena m’idhekacce sattā diṭṭheva dhamme parinibbāyantī”ti?

“Santi kho, pañcasikha, cakkhuviññeyyā rūpā …pe…

santi kho, pañcasikha, manoviññeyyā dhammā, iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā. Tañce bhikkhu abhinandati abhivadati ajjhosāya tiṭṭhati. Tassa taṁ abhinandato abhivadato ajjhosāya tiṭṭhato tannissitaṁ viññāṇaṁ hoti tadupādānaṁ. Saupādāno, pañcasikha, bhikkhu no parinibbāyati. Ayaṁ kho, pañcasikha, hetu, ayaṁ paccayo yena m’idhekacce sattā diṭṭheva dhamme no parinibbāyanti.

Santi ca kho, pañcasikha, cakkhuviññeyyā rūpā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā …pe…

santi kho, pañcasikha, manoviññeyyā dhammā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā. Tañce bhikkhu nābhinandati nābhivadati nājjhosāya tiṭṭhati, tassa taṁ anabhinandato anabhivadato anajjhosāya tiṭṭhato na tannissitaṁ viññāṇaṁ hoti, na tadupādānaṁ. Anupādāno, pañcasikha, bhikkhu parinibbāyati. Ayaṁ kho, pañcasikha, hetu, ayaṁ paccayo yena m’idhekacce sattā diṭṭheva dhamme parinibbāyantī”ti.

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati gijjhakūṭe pabbate.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, on the Vulture’s Peak Mountain.

Atha kho pañcasikho gandhabbadevaputto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho pañcasikho gandhabbadevaputto bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

And then the centaur Pañcasikha went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and said to him:

“ko nu kho, bhante, hetu, ko paccayo yena m’idhekacce sattā diṭṭheva dhamme no parinibbāyanti?

“What is the cause, sir, what is the reason why some sentient beings are not fully extinguished in this very life?

Ko pana, bhante, hetu, ko paccayo yena m’idhekacce sattā diṭṭheva dhamme parinibbāyantī”ti?

What is the cause, sir, what is the reason why some sentient beings are fully extinguished in this very life?”

“Santi kho, pañcasikha, cakkhuviññeyyā rūpā …pe…

“Pañcasikha, there are sights known by the eye …

santi kho, pañcasikha, manoviññeyyā dhammā, iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā.

ideas known by the mind, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing.

Tañce bhikkhu abhinandati abhivadati ajjhosāya tiṭṭhati.

If a mendicant approves, welcomes, and keeps clinging to them,

Tassa taṁ abhinandato abhivadato ajjhosāya tiṭṭhato tannissitaṁ viññāṇaṁ hoti tadupādānaṁ.

their consciousness has that as support and fuel for grasping.

Saupādāno, pañcasikha, bhikkhu no parinibbāyati.

A mendicant with fuel for grasping does not become extinguished.

Ayaṁ kho, pañcasikha, hetu, ayaṁ paccayo yena m’idhekacce sattā diṭṭheva dhamme no parinibbāyanti.

That’s the cause, that’s the reason why some sentient beings are not fully extinguished in this very life.

Santi ca kho, pañcasikha, cakkhuviññeyyā rūpā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā …pe…

There are sights known by the eye …

santi kho, pañcasikha, manoviññeyyā dhammā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā.

ideas known by the mind, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing.

Tañce bhikkhu nābhinandati nābhivadati nājjhosāya tiṭṭhati, tassa taṁ anabhinandato anabhivadato anajjhosāya tiṭṭhato na tannissitaṁ viññāṇaṁ hoti, na tadupādānaṁ.

If a mendicant doesn’t approve, welcome, and keep clinging to them, their consciousness doesn’t have that as support and fuel for grasping.

Anupādāno, pañcasikha, bhikkhu parinibbāyati.

A mendicant free of grasping becomes extinguished.

Ayaṁ kho, pañcasikha, hetu, ayaṁ paccayo yena m’idhekacce sattā diṭṭheva dhamme parinibbāyantī”ti.

That’s the cause, that’s the reason why some sentient beings are fully extinguished in this very life.”

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

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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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