法苑珠林 71.37

71.37

It is stated: As for the five desires, once their roots exist, they give rise to the five desires, binding sentient beings so they cannot attain liberation. Therefore, the *Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra* says: 'Ordinary people are bound by the five desires, allowing Māra Pāpīyas to carry them off at will, just as a hunter captures and strikes a monkey, shouldering it and returning home. Good sons, it is like a king residing peacefully in his own realm, whose body and mind are safe and joyful; if he goes to another's realm, he incurs many sufferings. All sentient beings are also like this: if they can abide within their own sphere, they obtain peace and joy; if they go to another's sphere, they encounter evil demons and suffer all kinds of pain and distress. One's own sphere refers to the four stations of mindfulness; another's sphere refers to the five desires.' The five desires are the visible forms, sounds, scents, tastes, and touch on the bodies of men and women. These five desires take yearning and craving as their meaning; coveting and clinging to the five sense objects is called desire. Together with the sphere contacted and conditioned by the mental consciousness, it is called the phenomenon object. These six dust-objects are not merely called 'dust'; where they travel, they also acquire the name of 'evil thieves'. Therefore, the *Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra* says: 'Just as six great thieves can rob all people of their wealth and treasures, the evil thieves of the six dust-objects are also like this, capable of robbing all sentient beings of their wealth of good. Just as six great thieves, if they enter a person's house, can plunder all that the house currently holds without distinguishing between good or bad, causing the immensely wealthy to suddenly become impoverished, these thieves of the six dust-objects are also like this: if they enter a person's faculties, they can plunder all good dharmas. Once good dharmas are exhausted, one becomes impoverished, destitute, and an icchantika. Therefore, the bodhisattva closely contemplates the six dust-objects as six great thieves.'