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

SN 35.20 Taking Pleasure (Exterior)

“Yo, bhikkhave, rūpe abhinandati, dukkhaṁ so abhinandati. Yo dukkhaṁ abhinandati, ‘aparimutto so dukkhasmā’ti vadāmi. Yo sadde …pe… gandherasephoṭṭhabbedhamme abhinandati, dukkhaṁ so abhinandati. Yo dukkhaṁ abhinandati, ‘aparimutto so dukkhasmā’ti vadāmi.

“Yo ca kho, bhikkhave, rūpe nābhinandati, dukkhaṁ so nābhinandati. Yo dukkhaṁ nābhinandati, ‘aparimutto so dukkhasmā’ti vadāmi. Yo sadde …pe… gandherasephoṭṭhabbedhamme nābhinandati, dukkhaṁ so nābhinandati. Yo dukkhaṁ nābhinandati, ‘aparimutto so dukkhasmā’ti vadāmi.”

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

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

“Mendicants, if you take pleasure in sights, 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 sadde …pe…

gandhe

rase

phoṭṭhabbe

dhamme abhinandati, dukkhaṁ so abhinandati.

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

“Yo ca kho, bhikkhave, rūpe nābhinandati, dukkhaṁ so nābhinandati.

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

Yo sadde …pe…

gandhe

rase

phoṭṭhabbe

dhamme nābhinandati, dukkhaṁ so nābhinandati.

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

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

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
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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