The Buddha teaches on the six sense bases regarding the simile of the latex-producing tree, guiding disciples toward discernment of sense experience and release from clinging.

SN 35.231 The Simile of the Latex-Producing Tree -

“Yassa kassaci, bhikkhave, bhikkhussa bhikkhuniyā cakkhuviññeyyesu rūpesu yo rāgo so atthi, yo doso so atthi, yo moho so atthi, yo rāgo so appahīno, yo doso so appahīno, yo moho so appahīno tassa parittā cepi cakkhuviññeyyā rūpā cakkhussa āpāthaṁ āgacchanti pariyādiyantevassa cittaṁ; ko pana vādo adhimattānaṁ. Taṁ kissa hetu? Yo, bhikkhave, rāgo, so atthi, yo doso so atthi, yo moho so atthi, yo rāgo so appahīno, yo doso so appahīno, yo moho so appahīno …pe….

Yassa kassaci, bhikkhave, bhikkhussa bhikkhuniyā jivhāviññeyyesu rasesu yo rāgo so atthi …pe…. Yassa kassaci, bhikkhave, bhikkhussa bhikkhuniyā manoviññeyyesu dhammesu yo rāgo so atthi, yo doso so atthi, yo moho so atthi, yo rāgo so appahīno, yo doso so appahīno, yo moho so appahīno, tassa parittā cepi manoviññeyyā dhammā manassa āpāthaṁ āgacchanti pariyādiyantevassa cittaṁ; ko pana vādo adhimattānaṁ. Taṁ kissa hetu? Yo, bhikkhave, rāgo, so atthi, yo doso so atthi, yo moho so atthi, yo rāgo so appahīno, yo doso so appahīno, yo moho so appahīno.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, khīrarukkho assattho nigrodho pilakkho udumbaro daharo taruṇo komārako. Tamenaṁ puriso tiṇhāya kuṭhāriyā yato yato ābhindeyya āgaccheyya khīran”ti?

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

“Taṁ kissa hetu”? “Yañhi, bhante, khīraṁ taṁ atthī”ti.

“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, yassa kassaci bhikkhussa bhikkhuniyā cakkhuviññeyyesu rūpesu yo rāgo so atthi, yo doso so atthi, yo moho so atthi, yo rāgo so appahīno, yo doso so appahīno, yo moho so appahīno, tassa parittā cepi cakkhuviññeyyā rūpā cakkhussa āpāthaṁ āgacchanti pariyādiyantevassa cittaṁ; ko pana vādo adhimattānaṁ. Taṁ kissa hetu? Yo, bhikkhave, rāgo so atthi, yo doso so atthi, yo moho so atthi, yo rāgo so appahīno, yo doso so appahīno, yo moho so appahīno …pe….

Yassa kassaci, bhikkhave, bhikkhussa bhikkhuniyā jivhāviññeyyesu rasesu yo rāgo so atthi …pe…. Yassa kassaci, bhikkhave, bhikkhussa bhikkhuniyā manoviññeyyesu dhammesu yo rāgo so atthi, yo doso so atthi, yo moho so atthi, yo rāgo so appahīno, yo doso so appahīno, yo moho so appahīno, tassa parittā cepi manoviññeyyā dhammā manassa āpāthaṁ āgacchanti pariyādiyantevassa cittaṁ; ko pana vādo adhimattānaṁ. Taṁ kissa hetu? Yo, bhikkhave, rāgo so atthi, yo doso so atthi, yo moho so atthi, yo rāgo so appahīno, yo doso so appahīno, yo moho so appahīno.

Yassa kassaci, bhikkhave, bhikkhussa bhikkhuniyā cakkhuviññeyyesu rūpesu yo rāgo so natthi, yo doso so natthi, yo moho so natthi, yo rāgo so pahīno, yo doso so pahīno, yo moho so pahīno, tassa adhimattā cepi cakkhuviññeyyā rūpā cakkhussa āpāthaṁ āgacchanti nevassa cittaṁ pariyādiyanti; ko pana vādo parittānaṁ. Taṁ kissa hetu? Yo, bhikkhave, rāgo so natthi, yo doso so natthi, yo moho so natthi, yo rāgo so pahīno, yo doso so pahīno, yo moho so pahīno …pe….

Yassa kassaci, bhikkhave, bhikkhussa bhikkhuniyā jivhāviññeyyesu rasesu …pe… manoviññeyyesu dhammesu yo rāgo so natthi, yo doso so natthi, yo moho so natthi, yo rāgo so pahīno, yo doso so pahīno, yo moho so pahīno, tassa adhimattā cepi manoviññeyyā dhammā manassa āpāthaṁ āgacchanti nevassa cittaṁ pariyādiyanti; ko pana vādo parittānaṁ. Taṁ kissa hetu? Yo, bhikkhave, rāgo so natthi, yo doso so natthi, yo moho so natthi, yo rāgo so pahīno, yo doso so pahīno, yo moho so pahīno.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, khīrarukkho assattho nigrodho pilakkho udumbaro sukkho kolāpo terovassiko. Tamenaṁ puriso tiṇhāya kuṭhāriyā yato yato ābhindeyya āgaccheyya khīran”ti?

“No hetaṁ, bhante”. “Taṁ kissa hetu”? “Yañhi, bhante, khīraṁ taṁ natthī”ti.

“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, yassa kassaci bhikkhussa bhikkhuniyā cakkhuviññeyyesu rūpesu yo rāgo so natthi, yo doso so natthi, yo moho so natthi, yo rāgo so pahīno, yo doso so pahīno, yo moho so pahīno, tassa adhimattā cepi cakkhuviññeyyā rūpā cakkhussa āpāthaṁ āgacchanti nevassa cittaṁ pariyādiyanti; ko pana vādo parittānaṁ. Taṁ kissa hetu? Yo, bhikkhave, rāgo so natthi, yo doso so natthi, yo moho so natthi, yo rāgo so pahīno, yo doso so pahīno, yo moho so pahīno …pe….

Yassa kassaci, bhikkhave, bhikkhussa bhikkhuniyā jivhāviññeyyesu rasesu …pe…. Yassa kassaci, bhikkhave, bhikkhussa bhikkhuniyā manoviññeyyesu dhammesu yo rāgo so natthi, yo doso so natthi, yo moho so natthi, yo rāgo so pahīno, yo doso so pahīno, yo moho so pahīno, tassa adhimattā cepi manoviññeyyā dhammā manassa āpāthaṁ āgacchanti, nevassa cittaṁ pariyādiyanti; ko pana vādo parittānaṁ. Taṁ kissa hetu? Yo, bhikkhave, rāgo so natthi, yo doso so natthi, yo moho so natthi, yo rāgo so pahīno, yo doso so pahīno, yo moho so pahīno”ti.

Catutthaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Yassa kassaci, bhikkhave, bhikkhussa bhikkhuniyā cakkhuviññeyyesu rūpesu yo rāgo so atthi, yo doso so atthi, yo moho so atthi, yo rāgo so appahīno, yo doso so appahīno, yo moho so appahīno tassa parittā cepi cakkhuviññeyyā rūpā cakkhussa āpāthaṁ āgacchanti pariyādiyantevassa cittaṁ; ko pana vādo adhimattānaṁ.

“Mendicants, take any monk or nun who, when it comes to sights known by the eye, still has greed, hate, and delusion, and has not given them up. If even trivial sights come into their range of vision they overcome their mind, let alone those that are compelling.

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Why is that?

Yo, bhikkhave, rāgo, so atthi, yo doso so atthi, yo moho so atthi, yo rāgo so appahīno, yo doso so appahīno, yo moho so appahīno …pe….

Because they still have greed, hate, and delusion, and have not given them up.

Yassa kassaci, bhikkhave, bhikkhussa bhikkhuniyā jivhāviññeyyesu rasesu yo rāgo so atthi …pe….

When it comes to sounds … smells … tastes … touches …

Yassa kassaci, bhikkhave, bhikkhussa bhikkhuniyā manoviññeyyesu dhammesu yo rāgo so atthi, yo doso so atthi, yo moho so atthi, yo rāgo so appahīno, yo doso so appahīno, yo moho so appahīno, tassa parittā cepi manoviññeyyā dhammā manassa āpāthaṁ āgacchanti pariyādiyantevassa cittaṁ; ko pana vādo adhimattānaṁ.

ideas known by the mind, they still have greed, hate, and delusion, and have not given them up. If even trivial thoughts come into the range of the mind they overcome their mind, let alone those that are compelling.

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Why is that?

Yo, bhikkhave, rāgo, so atthi, yo doso so atthi, yo moho so atthi, yo rāgo so appahīno, yo doso so appahīno, yo moho so appahīno.

Because they still have greed, hate, and delusion, and have not given them up.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, khīrarukkho assattho nigrodho pilakkho udumbaro daharo taruṇo komārako.

Suppose there was a latex-producing tree—such as a peepal, a banyan, a wavy leaf fig, or a cluster fig—that’s a tender young sapling.

Tamenaṁ puriso tiṇhāya kuṭhāriyā yato yato ābhindeyya āgaccheyya khīran”ti?

If a man were to chop it here and there with a sharp axe, would latex come out?”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

“Yes, sir.

“Taṁ kissa hetu”?

Why is that?

“Yañhi, bhante, khīraṁ taṁ atthī”ti.

Because it still has latex.”

“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, yassa kassaci bhikkhussa bhikkhuniyā cakkhuviññeyyesu rūpesu yo rāgo so atthi, yo doso so atthi, yo moho so atthi, yo rāgo so appahīno, yo doso so appahīno, yo moho so appahīno, tassa parittā cepi cakkhuviññeyyā rūpā cakkhussa āpāthaṁ āgacchanti pariyādiyantevassa cittaṁ; ko pana vādo adhimattānaṁ.

“In the same way, take any monk or nun who, when it comes to sights known by the eye, still has greed, hate, and delusion, and has not given them up. If even trivial sights come into their range of vision they overcome their mind, let alone those that are compelling.

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Why is that?

Yo, bhikkhave, rāgo so atthi, yo doso so atthi, yo moho so atthi, yo rāgo so appahīno, yo doso so appahīno, yo moho so appahīno …pe….

Because they still have greed, hate, and delusion, and have not given them up.

Yassa kassaci, bhikkhave, bhikkhussa bhikkhuniyā jivhāviññeyyesu rasesu yo rāgo so atthi …pe….

When it comes to sounds … smells … tastes … touches …

Yassa kassaci, bhikkhave, bhikkhussa bhikkhuniyā manoviññeyyesu dhammesu yo rāgo so atthi, yo doso so atthi, yo moho so atthi, yo rāgo so appahīno, yo doso so appahīno, yo moho so appahīno, tassa parittā cepi manoviññeyyā dhammā manassa āpāthaṁ āgacchanti pariyādiyantevassa cittaṁ; ko pana vādo adhimattānaṁ.

ideas known by the mind, they still have greed, hate, and delusion, and have not given them up. If even trivial thoughts come into the range of the mind they overcome their mind, let alone those that are compelling.

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Why is that?

Yo, bhikkhave, rāgo so atthi, yo doso so atthi, yo moho so atthi, yo rāgo so appahīno, yo doso so appahīno, yo moho so appahīno.

Because they still have greed, hate, and delusion, and have not given them up.

Yassa kassaci, bhikkhave, bhikkhussa bhikkhuniyā cakkhuviññeyyesu rūpesu yo rāgo so natthi, yo doso so natthi, yo moho so natthi, yo rāgo so pahīno, yo doso so pahīno, yo moho so pahīno, tassa adhimattā cepi cakkhuviññeyyā rūpā cakkhussa āpāthaṁ āgacchanti nevassa cittaṁ pariyādiyanti; ko pana vādo parittānaṁ.

Take any monk or nun who, when it comes to sights known by the eye, has no greed, hate, and delusion left, and has given them up. If even compelling sights come into their range of vision they don’t overcome their mind, let alone those that are trivial.

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Why is that?

Yo, bhikkhave, rāgo so natthi, yo doso so natthi, yo moho so natthi, yo rāgo so pahīno, yo doso so pahīno, yo moho so pahīno …pe….

Because they have no greed, hate, and delusion left, and have given them up.

Yassa kassaci, bhikkhave, bhikkhussa bhikkhuniyā jivhāviññeyyesu rasesu …pe… manoviññeyyesu dhammesu yo rāgo so natthi, yo doso so natthi, yo moho so natthi, yo rāgo so pahīno, yo doso so pahīno, yo moho so pahīno, tassa adhimattā cepi manoviññeyyā dhammā manassa āpāthaṁ āgacchanti nevassa cittaṁ pariyādiyanti; ko pana vādo parittānaṁ.

When it comes to sounds … smells … tastes … touches … ideas known by the mind, they have no greed, hate, and delusion left, and have given them up. If even compelling ideas come into the range of the mind they don’t overcome their mind, let alone those that are trivial.

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Why is that?

Yo, bhikkhave, rāgo so natthi, yo doso so natthi, yo moho so natthi, yo rāgo so pahīno, yo doso so pahīno, yo moho so pahīno.

Because they have no greed, hate, and delusion left, and have given them up.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, khīrarukkho assattho nigrodho pilakkho udumbaro sukkho kolāpo terovassiko.

Suppose there was a latex-producing tree—such as a peepal, a banyan, a wavy leaf fig, or a cluster fig—that’s dried up, withered, and decrepit.

Tamenaṁ puriso tiṇhāya kuṭhāriyā yato yato ābhindeyya āgaccheyya khīran”ti?

If a man were to chop it here and there with a sharp axe, would latex come out?”

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

“No, sir.

“Taṁ kissa hetu”?

Why is that?

“Yañhi, bhante, khīraṁ taṁ natthī”ti.

Because it has no latex left.”

“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, yassa kassaci bhikkhussa bhikkhuniyā cakkhuviññeyyesu rūpesu yo rāgo so natthi, yo doso so natthi, yo moho so natthi, yo rāgo so pahīno, yo doso so pahīno, yo moho so pahīno, tassa adhimattā cepi cakkhuviññeyyā rūpā cakkhussa āpāthaṁ āgacchanti nevassa cittaṁ pariyādiyanti; ko pana vādo parittānaṁ.

“In the same way, take any monk or nun who, when it comes to sights known by the eye, has no greed, hate, and delusion left, and has given them up. If even compelling sights come into their range of vision they don’t overcome their mind, let alone those that are trivial.

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Why is that?

Yo, bhikkhave, rāgo so natthi, yo doso so natthi, yo moho so natthi, yo rāgo so pahīno, yo doso so pahīno, yo moho so pahīno …pe….

Because they have no greed, hate, and delusion left, and have given them up.

Yassa kassaci, bhikkhave, bhikkhussa bhikkhuniyā jivhāviññeyyesu rasesu …pe….

When it comes to sounds … smells … tastes … touches …

Yassa kassaci, bhikkhave, bhikkhussa bhikkhuniyā manoviññeyyesu dhammesu yo rāgo so natthi, yo doso so natthi, yo moho so natthi, yo rāgo so pahīno, yo doso so pahīno, yo moho so pahīno, tassa adhimattā cepi manoviññeyyā dhammā manassa āpāthaṁ āgacchanti, nevassa cittaṁ pariyādiyanti; ko pana vādo parittānaṁ.

ideas known by the mind, they have no greed, hate, and delusion left, and have given them up. If even compelling thoughts come into the range of the mind they don’t overcome their mind, let alone those that are trivial.

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Why is that?

Yo, bhikkhave, rāgo so natthi, yo doso so natthi, yo moho so natthi, yo rāgo so pahīno, yo doso so pahīno, yo moho so pahīno”ti.

Because they have no greed, hate, and delusion left, and have given them up.”

Catutthaṁ.

Qualities:

Aversion

Aversion

A rejecting mental quality rooted in perception, where one instinctively turns away from or resists unpleasant experiences or objects; it manifests as a tendency to push away discomfort, obstructing patience and acceptance.

Also known as: animosity, hate, hostility, fault-finding mindset, upset
Pāli: dosa, paṭighasaññā, vera
View all discourses →
Craving

Craving

A driving ‘thirst’ that reaches out toward experiences, identities, or outcomes as the place to find satisfaction—“if only I had that.” It spins stories of lack, binds the mind to becoming, and invariably leads to suffering.

Also known as: wanting, yearning, longing, lit. thirst
Pāli: taṇha, abhijjhā
View all discourses →
Delusion

Delusion

A fundamental distortion of reality that sustains confusion, clouds discernment, and fuels further doubt.

Also known as: illusion, hallucination, misapprehension, distorted view
Pāli: moha, micchāñāṇa
View all discourses →
Greed

Greed

A grasping mental quality of craving, possessiveness, or lustful wanting that clings to objects or experiences; it fuels attachment and obstructs renunciation and contentment

Also known as: acquisitiveness, avarice, covetousness, rapacity, money grabbing, grabbiness
Pāli: lobha, gedha
View all discourses →
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
View all discourses →
Vision

Vision

The corrective clarity that clearly sees into the true nature of things as they actually are.

Also known as: knowledge and vision, seeing clearly, seeing things as they are, seeing the truth, seeing the dhamma
Pāli: dassana, ñāṇadassana, yathābhūtañāṇadassana
View all discourses →

Last updated on July 27, 2026