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

SN 35.163 With Koṭṭhita on Suffering

Atha kho āyasmā mahākoṭṭhiko …pe… bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“sādhu me, bhante …pe… vihareyyan”ti.

“Yaṁ kho, koṭṭhika, dukkhaṁ tatra te chando pahātabbo. Kiñca, koṭṭhika, dukkhaṁ?

Cakkhu kho, koṭṭhika, dukkhaṁ; tatra te chando pahātabbo. Rūpā dukkhā; tatra te chando pahātabbo. Cakkhuviññāṇaṁ dukkhaṁ; tatra te chando pahātabbo. Cakkhusamphasso dukkho; tatra te chando pahātabbo. Yampidaṁ cakkhusamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ adukkhamasukhaṁ tampi dukkhaṁ; tatra te chando pahātabbo …pe…

jivhā dukkhā; tatra te chando pahātabbo …pe… mano dukkho; tatra te chando pahātabbo. Dhammā dukkhā; tatra te chando pahātabbo. Manoviññāṇaṁ dukkhaṁ; tatra te chando pahātabbo. Manosamphasso dukkho; tatra te chando pahātabbo. Yampidaṁ manosamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ adukkhamasukhaṁ tampi dukkhaṁ; tatra te chando pahātabbo.

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

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Atha kho āyasmā mahākoṭṭhiko …pe… bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Then Venerable Mahākoṭṭhita … said to the Buddha:

“sādhu me, bhante …pe… 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 When I’ve heard it, I’ll live alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute.”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, dukkhaṁ tatra te chando pahātabbo.

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

Kiñca, koṭṭhika, dukkhaṁ?

And what is suffering?

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

The eye,

Rūpā dukkhā; tatra te chando pahātabbo.

sights,

Cakkhuviññāṇaṁ dukkhaṁ; tatra te chando pahātabbo.

eye consciousness,

Cakkhusamphasso dukkho; tatra te chando pahātabbo.

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

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

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

jivhā dukkhā; tatra te chando pahātabbo …pe…

The ear … nose … tongue … body …

mano dukkho; tatra te chando pahātabbo.

The mind,

Dhammā dukkhā; tatra te chando pahātabbo.

ideas,

Manoviññāṇaṁ dukkhaṁ; tatra te chando pahātabbo.

mind consciousness,

Manosamphasso dukkho; tatra te chando pahātabbo.

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

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

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

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

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

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

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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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