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

SN 35.162 With Koṭṭhita on Impermanence

Atha kho āyasmā mahākoṭṭhiko yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami …pe… ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā koṭṭhiko bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “sādhu me, bhante, bhagavā saṅkhittena dhammaṁ desetu, yamahaṁ bhagavato dhammaṁ sutvā eko vūpakaṭṭho appamatto ātāpī pahitatto vihareyyan”ti.

“Yaṁ kho, koṭṭhika, aniccaṁ tatra te chando pahātabbo. Kiñca, koṭṭhika, aniccaṁ? Cakkhu kho, koṭṭhika, aniccaṁ; tatra te chando pahātabbo. Rūpā aniccā; tatra te chando pahātabbo. Cakkhuviññāṇaṁ aniccaṁ; tatra te chando pahātabbo. Cakkhusamphasso anicco; tatra te chando pahātabbo. Yampidaṁ cakkhusamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ adukkhamasukhaṁ tampi aniccaṁ; tatra te chando pahātabbo …pe…

jivhā aniccā; tatra te chando pahātabbo. Rasā aniccā; tatra te chando pahātabbo. Jivhāviññāṇaṁ aniccaṁ; tatra te chando pahātabbo. Jivhāsamphasso anicco; tatra te chando pahātabbo. Yampidaṁ jivhāsamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ adukkhamasukhaṁ tampi aniccaṁ; tatra te chando pahātabbo …pe… mano anicco; tatra te chando pahātabbo. Dhammā aniccā; tatra te chando pahātabbo. Manoviññāṇaṁ aniccaṁ; tatra te chando pahātabbo. Manosamphasso anicco; tatra te chando pahātabbo. Yampidaṁ manosamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ adukkhamasukhaṁ tampi aniccaṁ; tatra te chando pahātabbo.

Yaṁ kho, koṭṭhika, aniccaṁ tatra te chando pahātabbo”ti.

Sattamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Atha kho āyasmā mahākoṭṭhiko yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami …pe… ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā koṭṭhiko bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Then Venerable Mahākoṭṭhita went up to the Buddha … and asked him,

“sādhu me, bhante, bhagavā saṅkhittena dhammaṁ desetu, yamahaṁ bhagavato dhammaṁ sutvā eko vūpakaṭṭho appamatto ātāpī pahitatto vihareyyan”ti.

“Sir, may the Buddha please teach me Dhamma in brief. When I’ve heard it, I’ll live alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute.”

“Yaṁ kho, koṭṭhika, aniccaṁ tatra te chando pahātabbo.

“Koṭṭhita, you should give up desire for what is impermanent.

Kiñca, koṭṭhika, aniccaṁ?

And what is impermanent?

Cakkhu kho, koṭṭhika, aniccaṁ; tatra te chando pahātabbo.

The eye,

Rūpā aniccā; tatra te chando pahātabbo.

sights,

Cakkhuviññāṇaṁ aniccaṁ; tatra te chando pahātabbo.

eye consciousness,

Cakkhusamphasso anicco; tatra te chando pahātabbo.

and eye contact are impermanent: you should give up desire for them.

Yampidaṁ cakkhusamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ adukkhamasukhaṁ tampi aniccaṁ; tatra te chando pahātabbo …pe…

The pleasant, painful, or neutral feeling that arises dependent on eye contact is also impermanent: you should give up desire for it.

jivhā aniccā; tatra te chando pahātabbo.

The ear … nose … tongue … body …

Rasā aniccā; tatra te chando pahātabbo.

Jivhāviññāṇaṁ aniccaṁ; tatra te chando pahātabbo.

Jivhāsamphasso anicco; tatra te chando pahātabbo.

Yampidaṁ jivhāsamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ adukkhamasukhaṁ tampi aniccaṁ; tatra te chando pahātabbo …pe…

mano anicco; tatra te chando pahātabbo.

The mind,

Dhammā aniccā; tatra te chando pahātabbo.

ideas,

Manoviññāṇaṁ aniccaṁ; tatra te chando pahātabbo.

mind consciousness,

Manosamphasso anicco; tatra te chando pahātabbo.

and mind contact are impermanent: you should give up desire for them.

Yampidaṁ manosamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ adukkhamasukhaṁ tampi aniccaṁ; tatra te chando pahātabbo.

The pleasant, painful, or neutral feeling that arises dependent on mind contact is also impermanent: you should give up desire for it.

Yaṁ kho, koṭṭhika, aniccaṁ tatra te chando pahātabbo”ti.

Koṭṭhita, you should give up desire for what is impermanent.”

Sattamaṁ.

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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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