The Buddha teaches on the internal and external sense bases regarding turbulence (1st), analyzing the eye, sights, consciousness, contact, and feeling for insight and release.

SN 35.90 Turbulence (1st)

“Ejā, bhikkhave, rogo, ejā gaṇḍo, ejā sallaṁ. Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, tathāgato anejo viharati vītasallo.

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cepi ākaṅkheyya ‘anejo vihareyyaṁ vītasallo’ti,

cakkhuṁ na maññeyya, cakkhusmiṁ na maññeyya, cakkhuto na maññeyya, cakkhu meti na maññeyya; rūpe na maññeyya, rūpesu na maññeyya, rūpato na maññeyya, rūpā meti na maññeyya; cakkhuviññāṇaṁ na maññeyya, cakkhuviññāṇasmiṁ na maññeyya, cakkhuviññāṇato na maññeyya, cakkhuviññāṇaṁ meti na maññeyya; cakkhusamphassaṁ na maññeyya, cakkhusamphassasmiṁ na maññeyya, cakkhusamphassato na maññeyya, cakkhusamphasso meti na maññeyya. Yampidaṁ cakkhusamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ adukkhamasukhaṁ tampi na maññeyya, tasmimpi na maññeyya, tatopi na maññeyya, taṁ meti na maññeyya.

Sotaṁ na maññeyya …pe… ghānaṁ na maññeyya …pe… jivhaṁ na maññeyya, jivhāya na maññeyya, jivhāto na maññeyya, jivhā meti na maññeyya; rase na maññeyya …pe… jivhāviññāṇaṁ na maññeyya …pe… jivhāsamphassaṁ na maññeyya …pe… yampidaṁ jivhāsamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ adukkhamasukhaṁ tampi na maññeyya, tasmimpi na maññeyya, tatopi na maññeyya, taṁ meti na maññeyya. Kāyaṁ na maññeyya …pe… manaṁ na maññeyya, manasmiṁ na maññeyya, manato na maññeyya, mano meti na maññeyya; dhamme na maññeyya …pe… mano viññāṇaṁ …pe… manosamphassaṁ …pe… yampidaṁ manosamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ adukkhamasukhaṁ tampi na maññeyya, tasmimpi na maññeyya, tatopi na maññeyya, taṁ meti na maññeyya;

sabbaṁ na maññeyya, sabbasmiṁ na maññeyya, sabbato na maññeyya, sabbaṁ meti na maññeyya.

So evaṁ amaññamāno na kiñcipi loke upādiyati. Anupādiyaṁ na paritassati. Aparitassaṁ paccattaññeva parinibbāyati.

‘Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti pajānātī”ti.

Sattamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Ejā, bhikkhave, rogo, ejā gaṇḍo, ejā sallaṁ.

“Mendicants, turbulence is a disease, a boil, a dart.

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, tathāgato anejo viharati vītasallo.

That’s why the Realized One lives unperturbed, with dart drawn out.

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cepi ākaṅkheyya ‘anejo vihareyyaṁ vītasallo’ti,

Now, a mendicant might wish: ‘May I live unperturbed, with dart drawn out.’

cakkhuṁ na maññeyya, cakkhusmiṁ na maññeyya, cakkhuto na maññeyya, cakkhu meti na maññeyya;

So let them not conceive anything to be the eye, let them not conceive it in the eye, let them not conceive it as the eye, let them not conceive that ‘the eye is mine.’

rūpe na maññeyya, rūpesu na maññeyya, rūpato na maññeyya, rūpā meti na maññeyya;

Let them not conceive sights …

cakkhuviññāṇaṁ na maññeyya, cakkhuviññāṇasmiṁ na maññeyya, cakkhuviññāṇato na maññeyya, cakkhuviññāṇaṁ meti na maññeyya;

eye consciousness …

cakkhusamphassaṁ na maññeyya, cakkhusamphassasmiṁ na maññeyya, cakkhusamphassato na maññeyya, cakkhusamphasso meti na maññeyya.

eye contact …

Yampidaṁ cakkhusamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ adukkhamasukhaṁ tampi na maññeyya, tasmimpi na maññeyya, tatopi na maññeyya, taṁ meti na maññeyya.

Let them not conceive anything to be the pleasant, painful, or neutral feeling that arises dependent on eye contact. Let them not conceive it in that, let them not conceive it as that, and let them not conceive that ‘that is mine.’

Sotaṁ na maññeyya …pe…

Let them not conceive anything to be the ear …

ghānaṁ na maññeyya …pe…

nose …

jivhaṁ na maññeyya, jivhāya na maññeyya, jivhāto na maññeyya, jivhā meti na maññeyya;

tongue …

rase na maññeyya …pe…

jivhāviññāṇaṁ na maññeyya …pe…

jivhāsamphassaṁ na maññeyya …pe…

yampidaṁ jivhāsamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ adukkhamasukhaṁ tampi na maññeyya, tasmimpi na maññeyya, tatopi na maññeyya, taṁ meti na maññeyya.

Kāyaṁ na maññeyya …pe…

body …

manaṁ na maññeyya, manasmiṁ na maññeyya, manato na maññeyya, mano meti na maññeyya;

mind …

dhamme na maññeyya …pe…

ideas …

mano viññāṇaṁ …pe…

mind consciousness …

manosamphassaṁ …pe…

mind contact …

yampidaṁ manosamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ adukkhamasukhaṁ tampi na maññeyya, tasmimpi na maññeyya, tatopi na maññeyya, taṁ meti na maññeyya;

Let them not conceive anything to be the pleasant, painful, or neutral feeling that arises dependent on mind contact. Let them not conceive it in that, let them not conceive it as that, and let them not conceive that ‘that is mine.’

sabbaṁ na maññeyya, sabbasmiṁ na maññeyya, sabbato na maññeyya, sabbaṁ meti na maññeyya.

Let them not conceive anything to be all, let them not conceive it in all, let them not conceive it as all, let them not conceive that ‘all is mine’.

So evaṁ amaññamāno na kiñcipi loke upādiyati.

Not conceiving, they don’t grasp at anything in the world.

Anupādiyaṁ na paritassati. Aparitassaṁ paccattaññeva parinibbāyati.

Not grasping, they’re not anxious. Not being anxious, they personally become extinguished.

‘Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti pajānātī”ti.

They understand: ‘Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.’”

Sattamaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Attachment

Attachment

A mental fastening onto people, things, views, or states as “me” or “mine,” unwilling to release them. This clinging can give a sense of security and sweetness.

Also known as: acquisition, bond, clinging, grasping, holding on, possession, entanglement, bound, connected, taking as mine
Pāli: upadhi, upādāna, sakiñcana, mamatta
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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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Free from attachment

Free from attachment

Release from grasping, not taking anything as “me” or “mine,” ceasing to appropriate or identify with people, things, views, or experiences.

Also known as: free from grasping, not appropriating, not taking as mine, without acquisitions, not clinging, not grasping, not holding onto
Pāli: nirūpadhi, nānupādāya, asita, anuggaha
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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