The Buddha teaches on the six sense bases regarding taking pleasure (interior), guiding disciples toward discernment of sense experience and release from clinging.

SN 35.19 Taking Pleasure (Interior)

“Yo, bhikkhave, cakkhuṁ abhinandati, dukkhaṁ so abhinandati. Yo dukkhaṁ abhinandati, ‘aparimutto so dukkhasmā’ti vadāmi.

Yo sotaṁ …pe… yo ghānaṁ …pe… yo jivhaṁ abhinandati, dukkhaṁ so abhinandati. Yo dukkhaṁ abhinandati, ‘aparimutto so dukkhasmā’ti vadāmi. Yo kāyaṁ …pe… yo manaṁ abhinandati, dukkhaṁ so abhinandati. Yo dukkhaṁ abhinandati, ‘aparimutto so dukkhasmā’ti vadāmi.

Yo ca kho, bhikkhave, cakkhuṁ nābhinandati, dukkhaṁ so nābhinandati. Yo dukkhaṁ nābhinandati, ‘parimutto so dukkhasmā’ti vadāmi.

Yo sotaṁ …pe… yo ghānaṁ …pe… yo jivhaṁ nābhinandati, dukkhaṁ so nābhinandati. Yo dukkhaṁ nābhinandati, ‘parimutto so dukkhasmā’ti vadāmi. Yo kāyaṁ …pe… yo manaṁ nābhinandati, dukkhaṁ so nābhinandati. Yo dukkhaṁ nābhinandati, ‘aparimutto so dukkhasmā’ti vadāmi.”

Sattamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Yo, bhikkhave, cakkhuṁ abhinandati, dukkhaṁ so abhinandati.

“Mendicants, if you take pleasure in the eye, you take pleasure in suffering.

Yo dukkhaṁ abhinandati, ‘aparimutto so dukkhasmā’ti vadāmi.

If you take pleasure in suffering, you’re not free from suffering, I say.

Yo sotaṁ …pe…

If you take pleasure in the ear …

yo ghānaṁ …pe…

nose …

yo jivhaṁ abhinandati, dukkhaṁ so abhinandati.

tongue …

Yo dukkhaṁ abhinandati, ‘aparimutto so dukkhasmā’ti vadāmi.

Yo kāyaṁ …pe…

body …

yo manaṁ abhinandati, dukkhaṁ so abhinandati.

mind, you take pleasure in suffering.

Yo dukkhaṁ abhinandati, ‘aparimutto so dukkhasmā’ti vadāmi.

If you take pleasure in suffering, you’re not free from suffering, I say.

Yo ca kho, bhikkhave, cakkhuṁ nābhinandati, dukkhaṁ so nābhinandati.

If you don’t take pleasure in the eye, you don’t take pleasure in suffering.

Yo dukkhaṁ nābhinandati, ‘parimutto so dukkhasmā’ti vadāmi.

If you don’t take pleasure in suffering, you’re free from suffering, I say.

Yo sotaṁ …pe…

If you don’t take pleasure in the ear …

yo ghānaṁ …pe…

nose …

yo jivhaṁ nābhinandati, dukkhaṁ so nābhinandati.

tongue …

Yo dukkhaṁ nābhinandati, ‘parimutto so dukkhasmā’ti vadāmi.

Yo kāyaṁ …pe…

body …

yo manaṁ nābhinandati, dukkhaṁ so nābhinandati.

mind, you don’t take pleasure in suffering.

Yo dukkhaṁ nābhinandati, ‘aparimutto so dukkhasmā’ti vadāmi.”

If you don’t take pleasure in suffering, you’re free from suffering, I say.”

Sattamaṁ.

Qualities:

Delight

Delight

A mental quality of relishing and taking pleasure in what is experienced—especially in sensuality or the prospect of continued becoming. When it fastens onto gratification, it nourishes craving and keeps the mind circling around what it wants to experience again.

Also known as: relishing, enjoyment, taking pleasure
Pāli: nandi, ārāmatā
View all discourses →
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
View all discourses →

Last updated on July 27, 2026