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

SN 35.135 Opportunity

“Lābhā vo, bhikkhave, suladdhaṁ vo, bhikkhave, khaṇo vo paṭiladdho brahmacariyavāsāya. Diṭṭhā mayā, bhikkhave, chaphassāyatanikā nāma nirayā. Tattha yaṁ kiñci cakkhunā rūpaṁ passati aniṭṭharūpaṁyeva passati, no iṭṭharūpaṁ; akantarūpaṁyeva passati, no kantarūpaṁ; amanāparūpaṁyeva passati, no manāparūpaṁ.

Yaṁ kiñci sotena saddaṁ suṇāti …pe…

yaṁ kiñci ghānena gandhaṁ ghāyati …pe…

yaṁ kiñci jivhāya rasaṁ sāyati …pe…

yaṁ kiñci kāyena phoṭṭhabbaṁ phusati …pe…

yaṁ kiñci manasā dhammaṁ vijānāti aniṭṭharūpaṁyeva vijānāti, no iṭṭharūpaṁ; akantarūpaṁyeva vijānāti, no kantarūpaṁ; amanāparūpaṁyeva vijānāti, no manāparūpaṁ. Lābhā vo, bhikkhave, suladdhaṁ vo, bhikkhave, khaṇo vo paṭiladdho brahmacariyavāsāya. Diṭṭhā mayā, bhikkhave, chaphassāyatanikā nāma saggā. Tattha yaṁ kiñci cakkhunā rūpaṁ passati iṭṭharūpaṁyeva passati, no aniṭṭharūpaṁ; kantarūpaṁyeva passati, no akantarūpaṁ; manāparūpaṁyeva passati, no amanāparūpaṁ …pe…

yaṁ kiñci jivhāya rasaṁ sāyati …pe…

yaṁ kiñci manasā dhammaṁ vijānāti iṭṭharūpaṁyeva vijānāti, no aniṭṭharūpaṁ; kantarūpaṁyeva vijānāti, no akantarūpaṁ; manāparūpaṁyeva vijānāti, no amanāparūpaṁ. Lābhā vo, bhikkhave, suladdhaṁ vo, bhikkhave, khaṇo vo paṭiladdho brahmacariyavāsāyā”ti.

Dutiyaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Lābhā vo, bhikkhave, suladdhaṁ vo, bhikkhave,

“You’re fortunate, mendicants, so very fortunate,

khaṇo vo paṭiladdho brahmacariyavāsāya.

to have the opportunity to lead the spiritual life.

Diṭṭhā mayā, bhikkhave, chaphassāyatanikā nāma nirayā.

I’ve seen the hell named ‘Related to the Six Fields of Contact’.

Tattha yaṁ kiñci cakkhunā rūpaṁ passati aniṭṭharūpaṁyeva passati, no iṭṭharūpaṁ; akantarūpaṁyeva passati, no kantarūpaṁ; amanāparūpaṁyeva passati, no manāparūpaṁ.

There, whatever sight you see with your eye is unlikable, not likable; undesirable, not desirable; unpleasant, not pleasant.

Yaṁ kiñci sotena saddaṁ suṇāti …pe…

Whatever sound you hear …

yaṁ kiñci ghānena gandhaṁ ghāyati …pe…

Whatever odor you smell …

yaṁ kiñci jivhāya rasaṁ sāyati …pe…

Whatever flavor you taste …

yaṁ kiñci kāyena phoṭṭhabbaṁ phusati …pe…

Whatever touch you feel …

yaṁ kiñci manasā dhammaṁ vijānāti aniṭṭharūpaṁyeva vijānāti, no iṭṭharūpaṁ; akantarūpaṁyeva vijānāti, no kantarūpaṁ; amanāparūpaṁyeva vijānāti, no manāparūpaṁ.

Whatever idea you know with your mind is unlikable, not likable; undesirable, not desirable; unpleasant, not pleasant.

Lābhā vo, bhikkhave, suladdhaṁ vo, bhikkhave,

You’re fortunate, mendicants, so very fortunate,

khaṇo vo paṭiladdho brahmacariyavāsāya.

to have the opportunity to lead the spiritual life.

Diṭṭhā mayā, bhikkhave, chaphassāyatanikā nāma saggā.

I’ve seen the heaven called ‘Related to the Six Fields of Contact’.

Tattha yaṁ kiñci cakkhunā rūpaṁ passati iṭṭharūpaṁyeva passati, no aniṭṭharūpaṁ; kantarūpaṁyeva passati, no akantarūpaṁ; manāparūpaṁyeva passati, no amanāparūpaṁ …pe…

There, whatever sight you see with your eye is likable, not unlikable; desirable, not undesirable; pleasant, not unpleasant.

yaṁ kiñci jivhāya rasaṁ sāyati …pe…

Whatever sound … odor … flavor … touch …

yaṁ kiñci manasā dhammaṁ vijānāti iṭṭharūpaṁyeva vijānāti, no aniṭṭharūpaṁ; kantarūpaṁyeva vijānāti, no akantarūpaṁ; manāparūpaṁyeva vijānāti, no amanāparūpaṁ.

Whatever idea you know with your mind is likable, not unlikable; desirable, not undesirable; pleasant, not unpleasant.

Lābhā vo, bhikkhave, suladdhaṁ vo, bhikkhave,

You’re fortunate, mendicants, so very fortunate,

khaṇo vo paṭiladdho brahmacariyavāsāyā”ti.

to have the opportunity to lead the spiritual life.”

Dutiyaṁ.

Qualities:

Ill will

Ill will

A mental quality of actively opposing or rejecting others in thought, manifesting as deliberate thoughts or intentions that oppose kindness and compassion; it fuels conflict and obstructs goodwill.

Also known as: actively opposing or rejecting others in thought, thought of malevolence towards another, hostile reflections towards another
Pāli: byāpāda
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Spiritual life

Spiritual life

A life of celibacy, contemplation, and ethical discipline lived for the sake of liberation; oriented toward inner development rather than sensual pleasures

Also known as: abstinence, celibacy, chastity, holy life, sexual restraint
Pāli: brahmacariya
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Last updated on July 27, 2026