The Buddha teaches on the internal and external sense bases regarding turbulence (2nd), analyzing the eye, sights, consciousness, contact, and feeling for insight and release.

SN 35.91 Turbulence (2nd)

“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 maññeyyacakkhuviññāṇaṁcakkhusamphassaṁyampidaṁ cakkhusamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ adukkhamasukhaṁ tampi na maññeyya, tasmimpi na maññeyya, tatopi na maññeyya, taṁ meti na maññeyya. Yañhi, bhikkhave, maññati, yasmiṁ maññati, yato maññati, yaṁ meti maññati, tato taṁ hoti aññathā. Aññathābhāvī bhavasatto loko bhavameva abhinandati …pe….

Jivhaṁ na maññeyya, jivhāya na maññeyya, jivhāto na maññeyya, jivhā meti na maññeyya; rase na maññeyyajivhāviññāṇaṁjivhāsamphassaṁyampidaṁ jivhāsamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ adukkhamasukhaṁ tampi na maññeyya, tasmimpi na maññeyya, tatopi na maññeyya, taṁ meti na maññeyya. Yañhi, bhikkhave, maññati, yasmiṁ maññati, yato maññati, yaṁ meti maññati, tato taṁ hoti aññathā. Aññathābhāvī bhavasatto loko bhavameva abhinandati …pe….

Manaṁ na maññeyya, manasmiṁ na maññeyya, manato na maññeyya, mano meti na maññeyyamanoviññāṇaṁmanosamphassaṁyampidaṁ manosamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ adukkhamasukhaṁ tampi na maññeyya, tasmimpi na maññeyya, tatopi na maññeyya, taṁ meti na maññeyya. Yañhi, bhikkhave, maññati, yasmiṁ maññati, yato maññati, yaṁ meti maññati, tato taṁ hoti aññathā. Aññathābhāvī bhavasatto loko bhavameva abhinandati.

Yāvatā, bhikkhave, khandhadhātuāyatanā tampi na maññeyya, tasmimpi na maññeyya, tatopi na maññeyya, taṁ meti na maññeyya.

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

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

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

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

Let them not conceive sights …

cakkhuviññāṇaṁ

eye consciousness …

cakkhusamphassaṁ

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.’

Yañhi, bhikkhave, maññati, yasmiṁ maññati, yato maññati, yaṁ meti maññati, tato taṁ hoti aññathā.

For whatever you conceive it to be, whatever you conceive it in, whatever you conceive it as, and whatever you conceive to be ‘mine’: that becomes something else.

Aññathābhāvī bhavasatto loko bhavameva abhinandati …pe….

The world is attached to being, taking pleasure only in being, yet it becomes something else.

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

Let them not conceive anything to be the ear … nose … tongue … body …

rase na maññeyya

jivhāviññāṇaṁ

jivhāsamphassaṁ

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

Yañhi, bhikkhave, maññati, yasmiṁ maññati, yato maññati, yaṁ meti maññati, tato taṁ hoti aññathā. Aññathābhāvī bhavasatto loko bhavameva abhinandati …pe….

Manaṁ na maññeyya, manasmiṁ na maññeyya, manato na maññeyya, mano meti na maññeyya

Let them not conceive anything to be the mind …

manoviññāṇaṁ

mind consciousness …

manosamphassaṁ

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.’

Yañhi, bhikkhave, maññati, yasmiṁ maññati, yato maññati, yaṁ meti maññati, tato taṁ hoti aññathā.

For whatever you conceive it to be, whatever you conceive it in, whatever you conceive it as, and whatever you conceive to be ‘mine’: that becomes something else.

Aññathābhāvī bhavasatto loko bhavameva abhinandati.

The world is attached to being, taking pleasure only in being, yet it becomes something else.

Yāvatā, bhikkhave, khandhadhātuāyatanā tampi na maññeyya, tasmimpi na maññeyya, tatopi na maññeyya, taṁ meti na maññeyya.

As far as the aggregates, elements, and sense fields extend, they don’t conceive anything to be that, they don’t conceive it in that, they don’t conceive it as that, and they don’t conceive that ‘that is mine.’

So evaṁ amaññamāno na kiñci 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.’”

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

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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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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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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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
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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