The Buddha teaches on the six sense bases regarding the simile of the tree trunk (2nd), guiding disciples toward discernment of sense experience and release from clinging.

SN 35.242 The Simile of the Tree Trunk (2nd)

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kimilāyaṁ viharati gaṅgāya nadiyā tīre. Addasā kho bhagavā mahantaṁ dārukkhandhaṁ gaṅgāya nadiyā sotena vuyhamānaṁ. Disvāna bhikkhū āmantesi: “passatha no tumhe, bhikkhave, amuṁ mahantaṁ dārukkhandhaṁ gaṅgāya nadiyā sotena vuyhamānan”ti?

“Evaṁ, bhante” …pe… evaṁ vutte, āyasmā kimilo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“kiṁ nu kho, bhante, orimaṁ tīraṁ …pe…

“katamo ca, kimila, antopūtibhāvo. Idha, kimila, bhikkhu aññataraṁ saṅkiliṭṭhaṁ āpattiṁ āpanno hoti yathārūpāya āpattiyā na vuṭṭhānaṁ paññāyati. Ayaṁ vuccati, kimila, antopūtibhāvo”ti.

Pañcamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kimilāyaṁ viharati gaṅgāya nadiyā tīre.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Kimibilā on the bank of the Ganges river.

Addasā kho bhagavā mahantaṁ dārukkhandhaṁ gaṅgāya nadiyā sotena vuyhamānaṁ.

Seeing a large tree trunk being carried along by the current,

Disvāna bhikkhū āmantesi:

he addressed the mendicants:

“passatha no tumhe, bhikkhave, amuṁ mahantaṁ dārukkhandhaṁ gaṅgāya nadiyā sotena vuyhamānan”ti?

“Mendicants, do you see that large tree trunk being carried along by the current of the Ganges river?”

“Evaṁ, bhante” …pe…

“Yes, sir,” they replied. …

evaṁ vutte, āyasmā kimilo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

When this was said, Venerable Kimbila said to the Buddha:

“kiṁ nu kho, bhante, orimaṁ tīraṁ …pe…

“But sir, what’s the near shore and what’s the far shore? What’s sinking in the middle? What’s getting stranded on high ground? What’s getting taken by humans or non-humans? What’s getting caught up in a whirlpool? And what’s rotting away?” …

“katamo ca, kimila, antopūtibhāvo.

“And what, Kimbila, is rotting away?

Idha, kimila, bhikkhu aññataraṁ saṅkiliṭṭhaṁ āpattiṁ āpanno hoti yathārūpāya āpattiyā na vuṭṭhānaṁ paññāyati.

It’s when a mendicant has committed the kind of corrupt offense for which no rehabilitation is possible.

Ayaṁ vuccati, kimila, antopūtibhāvo”ti.

This is called ‘rotting away’.”

Pañcamaṁ.

Qualities:

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