The six sense bases, when untamed, unguarded, unprotected, and unrestrained, lead to suffering. The Buddha contrasts this with the happiness born of restraint and offers practical guidance for cultivating it.

SN 35.94  Adantaagutta sutta - Untamed and Unguarded

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthi.

“Chayime, bhikkhave, phassāyatanā adantā aguttā arakkhitā asaṁvutā dukkhādhivāhā honti. Katame cha?

“Bhikkhus, these |six sense bases::fields of experience, fields of sense impression [phassāyatana]|, when |untamed::untrained, unrestrained, wild [adanta]|, |unguarded::unprotected, not kept watch over [agutta]|, unprotected, and |unrestrained::uncontrolled, unguarded [asaṁvuta]|, bring about |suffering::discomfort, unpleasantness, discontentment, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, i.e. mild or intense suffering [dukkha]|. What six?

Cakkhu, bhikkhave, phassāyatanaṁ adantaṁ aguttaṁ arakkhitaṁ asaṁvutaṁ dukkhādhivāhaṁ hoti …pe…

The |eye sense base::visual experience, domain of sight [cakkhu phassāyatana]|, bhikkhus, when untamed, unguarded, unprotected, and unrestrained, brings about suffering. The |ear sense base::auditory experience, domain of hearing [sota phassāyatana]|, when untamed, unguarded, unprotected, and unrestrained, brings about suffering. The |nose sense base::olfactory experience, domain of smell [ghāna phassāyatana]|, when untamed, unguarded, unprotected, and unrestrained, brings about suffering.

jivhā, bhikkhave, phassāyatanaṁ adantaṁ aguttaṁ arakkhitaṁ asaṁvutaṁ dukkhādhivāhaṁ hoti …pe…

The |tongue sense base::gustatory experience, domain of taste [jivhā phassāyatana]|, when untamed, unguarded, unprotected, and unrestrained, brings about suffering. The |body sense base::tactile experience, domain of touch [kāya phassāyatana]|, when untamed, unguarded, unprotected, and unrestrained, brings about suffering.

mano, bhikkhave, phassāyatanaṁ adantaṁ aguttaṁ arakkhitaṁ asaṁvutaṁ dukkhādhivāhaṁ hoti.

The |mind sense base::mental experience, domain of thought [mano phassāyatana]|, when untamed, unguarded, unprotected, and unrestrained, brings about suffering.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, cha phassāyatanā adantā aguttā arakkhitā asaṁvutā dukkhādhivāhā honti.

These, bhikkhus, are the six sense bases which, when untamed, unguarded, unprotected, and unrestrained, bring about suffering.

Chayime, bhikkhave, phassāyatanā sudantā suguttā surakkhitā susaṁvutā sukhādhivāhā honti. Katame cha?

Bhikkhus, these six sense bases, when well tamed, well guarded, well protected, and well restrained, bring about |happiness::contentment, ease, pleasant abiding [sukha]|. What six?

Cakkhu, bhikkhave, phassāyatanaṁ sudantaṁ suguttaṁ surakkhitaṁ susaṁvutaṁ sukhādhivāhaṁ hoti …pe…

The eye sense base, bhikkhus, when |well tamed::well trained, well controlled [sudanta]|, well guarded, well protected, and well restrained, brings about happiness. The ear sense base, when well tamed, well guarded, well protected, and well restrained, brings about happiness. The nose sense base, when well tamed, well guarded, well protected, and well restrained, brings about happiness.

jivhā, bhikkhave, phassāyatanaṁ sudantaṁ suguttaṁ surakkhitaṁ susaṁvutaṁ sukhādhivāhaṁ hoti …pe…

The tongue sense base, when well tamed, well guarded, well protected, and well restrained, brings about happiness. The body sense base, when well tamed, well guarded, well protected, and well restrained, brings about happiness.

mano, bhikkhave, phassāyatanaṁ sudantaṁ suguttaṁ surakkhitaṁ susaṁvutaṁ sukhādhivāhaṁ hoti.

The mind sense base, when well tamed, well guarded, well protected, and well restrained, brings about happiness.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, cha phassāyatanā sudantā suguttā surakkhitā susaṁvutā sukhādhivāhā hontī”ti.

These, bhikkhus, are the six sense bases which, when well tamed, well guarded, well protected, and well restrained, bring about happiness.

Idamavoca bhagavā …pe… etadavoca satthā:

The Blessed One said this. Having spoken thus, the Accomplished One further said this:

“Saḷeva phassāyatanāni bhikkhavo,
Asaṁvuto yattha dukkhaṁ nigacchati;
Tesañca ye saṁvaraṇaṁ avedisuṁ,
Saddhādutiyā viharantānavassutā.

“Just six, bhikkhus, are the bases of contact,
wherein one who is unrestrained experiences suffering;
But those who know how to restrain them,
dwell |full of faith::with faith as one’s companion, accompanied with confidence [saddhādutiya]|, |not oozing [with lust]::not seeping with lust, not corrupted, unmoved [anavassuta]|.

Disvāna rūpāni manoramāni,
Athopi disvāna amanoramāni;
Manorame rāgapathaṁ vinodaye,
Na cāppiyaṁ meti manaṁ padosaye.

Having seen forms that are |delightful::pleasant; lit. pleasing to mind [manorama]|,
and afterwards those that |bring no joy::unpleasant; lit. not mind pleasing [amanorama]|;
Dispel the |path of lust::sensuality [rāgapatha]| for the delightful,
and do not |spoil::corrupt, pollute [padosayati]| the mind, thinking, ‘It is |disagreeable::unpleasant [appiya]|.’

Saddañca sutvā dubhayaṁ piyāppiyaṁ,
Piyamhi sadde na samucchito siyā;
Athoppiye dosagataṁ vinodaye,
Na cāppiyaṁ meti manaṁ padosaye.

Having heard sounds, both pleasant and unpleasant,
do not be |enamored with::infatuated with [samucchita]| the pleasant sound;
And when hearing the unpleasant, dispel aversion,
do not spoil the mind, thinking, ‘It is disagreeable.’

Gandhañca ghatvā surabhiṁ manoramaṁ,
Athopi ghatvā asuciṁ akantiyaṁ;
Akantiyasmiṁ paṭighaṁ vinodaye,
Chandānunīto na ca kantiye siyā.

Having smelled a fragrance, sweet and delightful,
and also having smelled what is foul and unpleasant;
Dispel |aversion::mental resistance, irritation, conflict [paṭigha]| toward the unpleasant,
and do not be |led by desire::pulled along by the impulse [chandānunīta]| for the pleasant.

Rasañca bhotvāna asāditañca sāduṁ,
Athopi bhotvāna asādumekadā;
Sāduṁ rasaṁ nājjhosāya bhuñje,
Virodhamāsādusu nopadaṁsaye.

Having tasted and enjoyed a delicious flavor,
and at times having tasted what is |unappealing::bad tasting, bland [asāduṁ]|;
Do not eat |fixating on::clinging to [nājjhosāya]| the sweet taste,
and do not show aversion toward the unappealing.

Phassena phuṭṭho na sukhena majje,
Dukkhena phuṭṭhopi na sampavedhe;
Phassadvayaṁ sukhadukkhe upekkhe,
Anānuruddho aviruddha kenaci.

Touched by pleasant |contact::sense impingement, raw experience, touch [phassa]|, do not |become intoxicated::become arrogant, be with self-importance [majja]|,
and do not |tremble::quake, shake [sampavedhati]| when touched by |pain::unease, discomfort, unpleasantness, discontentment [dukkha]|;
Be |even minded::composed, mentally balanced, poised, non-reactive [upekkha]| in both |pleasure and pain::ease and discomfort, happiness and sorrow [sukhadukkha]|,
not drawn to anything, nor repelled by anything.

Papañcasaññā itarītarā narā,
Papañcayantā upayanti saññino;
Manomayaṁ gehasitañca sabbaṁ,
Panujja nekkhammasitaṁ irīyati.

People, beset by |proliferation of perceptions::diverse concepts [papañcasañña]|,
|proliferating::forming various opinions [papañcayanta]|, they engage with what they perceive;
Having dispelled all that is |mind made::mentally produced [manomaya]| and |worldly::connected with home [gehasita]|,
one travels relying on |renunciation::going out state, rejection of sensual pleasure [nekkhamma]|.

Evaṁ mano chassu yadā subhāvito,
Phuṭṭhassa cittaṁ na vikampate kvaci;
Te rāgadose abhibhuyya bhikkhavo,
Bhavattha jātimaraṇassa pāragā”ti.

When the mind is thus well developed in six,
the heart, though touched, does not tremble anywhere;
Having overcome |lust and aversion::desire and hatred, passion and blame [rāgadosa]|, bhikkhus,
become those who have gone beyond birth and death!”

Topics & Qualities:

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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Faith

Faith

Also known as: confidence, trust, belief, conviction
Pāli: saddha, pasanna
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Giving up

Giving up

Also known as: renunciation, relinquishment, letting go, abandonment
Pāli: nekkhamma
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Sense restraint

Sense restraint

A practice of guarding the sense doors by not grasping at the general features or details of sense objects when seeing, hearing, sensing, and cognizing.

Also known as: guarding the sense faculties, watching the sense doors, not grasping at the prominent features or details of sense objects, moderation in eating
Pāli: indriya saṁvara
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Adventurousness

Adventurousness

A restless, thrill-seeking bent of mind that delights in novelty and roaming rather than in restraint. When untrained, it pulls one outward to stimulation and risk, making it hard to settle, listen, or practice steadily.

Also known as: audacious, bold, wild, unrestrained, untamed, with wanderlust
Pāli: adanta
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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
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Non-restraint

Non-restraint

Also known as: unguarded in sense faculties, not watching the sense doors, grasping at prominent features or details of sense objects
Pāli: asaṁvara, asaṁyama
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Passion

Passion

Also known as: burning fever, intense desire, strong emotion, infatuation, obsession, lust
Pāli: rāga
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Last updated on November 24, 2025