The Buddha teaches how contemplating the six sense bases leads to the fading away of the fetters and the ending of suffering.

SN 35.134 At Devadaha

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sakkesu viharati devadahaṁ nāma sakyānaṁ nigamo. Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:

“nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, sabbesaṁyeva bhikkhūnaṁ chasu phassāyatanesu appamādena karaṇīyanti vadāmi, na ca panāhaṁ, bhikkhave, sabbesaṁyeva bhikkhūnaṁ chasu phassāyatanesu nāppamādena karaṇīyanti vadāmi.

Ye te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū arahanto khīṇāsavā vusitavanto katakaraṇīyā ohitabhārā anuppattasadatthā parikkhīṇabhavasaṁyojanā sammadaññāvimuttā, tesāhaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhūnaṁ chasu phassāyatanesu nāppamādena karaṇīyanti vadāmi. Taṁ kissa hetu?

Kataṁ tesaṁ appamādena, abhabbā te pamajjituṁ.

Ye ca kho te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū sekkhā appattamānasā anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ patthayamānā viharanti, tesāhaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhūnaṁ chasu phassāyatanesu appamādena karaṇīyanti vadāmi. Taṁ kissa hetu?

Santi, bhikkhave, cakkhuviññeyyā rūpā manoramāpi, amanoramāpi. Tyāssa phussa phussa cittaṁ na pariyādāya tiṭṭhanti. Cetaso apariyādānā āraddhaṁ hoti vīriyaṁ asallīnaṁ, upaṭṭhitā sati asammuṭṭhā, passaddho kāyo asāraddho, samāhitaṁ cittaṁ ekaggaṁ. Imaṁ khvāhaṁ, bhikkhave, appamādaphalaṁ sampassamāno tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ chasu phassāyatanesu appamādena karaṇīyanti vadāmi …pe…

santi, bhikkhave, manoviññeyyā dhammā manoramāpi amanoramāpi. Tyāssa phussa phussa cittaṁ na pariyādāya tiṭṭhanti. Cetaso apariyādānā āraddhaṁ hoti vīriyaṁ asallīnaṁ, upaṭṭhitā sati asammuṭṭhā, passaddho kāyo asāraddho, samāhitaṁ cittaṁ ekaggaṁ. Imaṁ khvāhaṁ, bhikkhave, appamādaphalaṁ sampassamāno tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ chasu phassāyatanesu appamādena karaṇīyanti vadāmī”ti.

Paṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sakkesu viharati devadahaṁ nāma sakyānaṁ nigamo.

At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Sakyans, near the Sakyan town named Devadaha.

Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:

There the Buddha addressed the mendicants:

“nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, sabbesaṁyeva bhikkhūnaṁ chasu phassāyatanesu appamādena karaṇīyanti vadāmi, na ca panāhaṁ, bhikkhave, sabbesaṁyeva bhikkhūnaṁ chasu phassāyatanesu nāppamādena karaṇīyanti vadāmi.

“When it comes to the six fields of contact, mendicants, I don’t say that all mendicants have work to do with diligence, nor do I say that none of them have work to do with diligence.

Ye te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū arahanto khīṇāsavā vusitavanto katakaraṇīyā ohitabhārā anuppattasadatthā parikkhīṇabhavasaṁyojanā sammadaññāvimuttā, tesāhaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhūnaṁ chasu phassāyatanesu nāppamādena karaṇīyanti vadāmi.

I say that, when it comes to the six fields of contact, mendicants don’t have work to do with diligence if they are perfected, with defilements ended, having completed the spiritual journey, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, achieved their heart’s goal, utterly ended the fetter of continued existence, and become rightly freed through enlightenment.

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Why is that?

Kataṁ tesaṁ appamādena, abhabbā te pamajjituṁ.

They’ve done their work with diligence, and are incapable of negligence.

Ye ca kho te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū sekkhā appattamānasā anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ patthayamānā viharanti, tesāhaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhūnaṁ chasu phassāyatanesu appamādena karaṇīyanti vadāmi.

I say that, when it comes to the six fields of contact, mendicants do have work to do with diligence if they are trainees, who haven’t achieved their heart’s desire, but live aspiring to the supreme sanctuary from the yoke.

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Why is that?

Santi, bhikkhave, cakkhuviññeyyā rūpā manoramāpi, amanoramāpi.

There are sights known by the eye that are pleasant and also those that are unpleasant.

Tyāssa phussa phussa cittaṁ na pariyādāya tiṭṭhanti.

Though experiencing them again and again they don’t occupy the mind.

Cetaso apariyādānā āraddhaṁ hoti vīriyaṁ asallīnaṁ, upaṭṭhitā sati asammuṭṭhā, passaddho kāyo asāraddho, samāhitaṁ cittaṁ ekaggaṁ.

Their energy is roused up and unflagging, their mindfulness is established and lucid, their body is tranquil and undisturbed, and their mind is immersed in samādhi and unified.

Imaṁ khvāhaṁ, bhikkhave, appamādaphalaṁ sampassamāno tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ chasu phassāyatanesu appamādena karaṇīyanti vadāmi …pe…

Seeing this fruit of diligence, I say that those mendicants have work to do with diligence when it comes to the six fields of contact. …

santi, bhikkhave, manoviññeyyā dhammā manoramāpi amanoramāpi.

There are ideas known by the mind that are pleasant and also those that are unpleasant.

Tyāssa phussa phussa cittaṁ na pariyādāya tiṭṭhanti.

Though experiencing them again and again they don’t occupy the mind.

Cetaso apariyādānā āraddhaṁ hoti vīriyaṁ asallīnaṁ, upaṭṭhitā sati asammuṭṭhā, passaddho kāyo asāraddho, samāhitaṁ cittaṁ ekaggaṁ.

Their energy is roused up and unflagging, their mindfulness is established and lucid, their body is tranquil and undisturbed, and their mind is immersed in samādhi and unified.

Imaṁ khvāhaṁ, bhikkhave, appamādaphalaṁ sampassamāno tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ chasu phassāyatanesu appamādena karaṇīyanti vadāmī”ti.

Seeing this fruit of diligence, I say that those mendicants have work to do with diligence when it comes to the six fields of contact.”

Paṭhamaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

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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Diligence

Diligence

The protective quality of guarding the mind amidst sensory experience. By restraining the faculties, the mind remains unsoiled by attraction.

Also known as: alertness, carefulness, heedfulness, conscientiousness, vigilance
Pāli: appamāda, uṭṭhāna
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Mindfulness

Mindfulness

Active presence of mind and lucid retention; the faculty that remembers the Dhamma, anchors attention to the chosen object or present experience, and guards the mind against unwholesome states.

Also known as: recollecting, remembering, keeping in mind, presence, awareness
Pāli: sati, anussati
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Negligence

Negligence

Dwelling with unrestrained faculties, soiled by sensory attraction. Negligence is the failure to guard the mind and to arouse heedfulness, blocking the arising of wholesome states.

Also known as: carelessness, heedlessness, inattentiveness
Pāli: pamāda
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Safety

Safety

A state of complete security and refuge where there is no threat from defilements or the turbulence of becoming. It is the peace of one who has found shelter from the storms of craving and has nothing left to lose or fear.

Also known as: sanctuary, security, at peace, rest
Pāli: khema
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Vigour

Vigour

Energetic effort and resilience in practice. It is the refusal to shrink back, the 'uphill' force that initiates and sustains wholesome actions against the gravity of habit.

Also known as: energy, effort, enthusiasm, zeal, application of will, persistence
Pāli: vīriya
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Last updated on July 27, 2026