Sakka’s Questions 2.5: 2.4. Indriyasaṃvara

2.5.1

Itiha sakko devānamindo bhagavato bhāsitaṃ abhinanditvā anumoditvā bhagavantaṃ uttari pañhaṃ apucchi:

And then Sakka asked another question:

2.5.2

“Kathaṃ paṭipanno pana, mārisa, bhikkhu indriyasaṃvarāya paṭipanno hotī”ti?

“But good fellow, how does a mendicant practice for restraint of the sense faculties?”

2.5.3

“Cakkhuviññeyyaṃ rūpampāhaṃ, devānaminda, duvidhena vadāmi—

“Lord of gods, I say that there are two kinds of sight known by the eye:

2.5.4

sevitabbampi, asevitabbampi.

that which you should cultivate, and that which you should not cultivate.

2.5.5

Sotaviññeyyaṃ saddampāhaṃ, devānaminda, duvidhena vadāmi—

There are two kinds of sound known by the ear …

2.5.6

sevitabbampi, asevitabbampi.

2.5.7

Ghānaviññeyyaṃ gandhampāhaṃ, devānaminda, duvidhena vadāmi—

smells known by the nose …

2.5.8

sevitabbampi, asevitabbampi.

2.5.9

Jivhāviññeyyaṃ rasampāhaṃ, devānaminda, duvidhena vadāmi—

tastes known by the tongue …

2.5.10

sevitabbampi, asevitabbampi.

2.5.11

Kāyaviññeyyaṃ phoṭṭhabbampāhaṃ, devānaminda, duvidhena vadāmi—

touches known by the body …

2.5.12

sevitabbampi, asevitabbampi.

2.5.13

Manoviññeyyaṃ dhammampāhaṃ, devānaminda, duvidhena vadāmi—

ideas known by the mind:

2.5.14

sevitabbampi, asevitabbampī”ti.

that which you should cultivate, and that which you should not cultivate.”

2.5.15

Evaṃ vutte, sakko devānamindo bhagavantaṃ etadavoca:

When the Buddha said this, Sakka said to him:

2.5.16

“Imassa kho ahaṃ, bhante, bhagavatā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa evaṃ vitthārena atthaṃ ājānāmi.

“Sir, this is how I understand the detailed meaning of the Buddha’s brief statement:

2.5.17

Yathārūpaṃ, bhante, cakkhuviññeyyaṃ rūpaṃ sevato akusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, kusalā dhammā parihāyanti, evarūpaṃ cakkhuviññeyyaṃ rūpaṃ na sevitabbaṃ.

You should not cultivate the kind of sight known by the eye which causes unskillful qualities to grow while skillful qualities decline.

2.5.18

Yathārūpañca kho, bhante, cakkhuviññeyyaṃ rūpaṃ sevato akusalā dhammā parihāyanti, kusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, evarūpaṃ cakkhuviññeyyaṃ rūpaṃ sevitabbaṃ.

And you should cultivate the kind of sight known by the eye which causes unskillful qualities to decline while skillful qualities grow.

2.5.19

Yathārūpañca kho, bhante, sotaviññeyyaṃ saddaṃ sevato …pe…

You should not cultivate the kind of sound,

2.5.20

ghānaviññeyyaṃ gandhaṃ sevato …

smell,

2.5.21

jivhāviññeyyaṃ rasaṃ sevato …

taste,

2.5.22

kāyaviññeyyaṃ phoṭṭhabbaṃ sevato …

touch,

2.5.23

manoviññeyyaṃ dhammaṃ sevato akusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, kusalā dhammā parihāyanti, evarūpo manoviññeyyo dhammo na sevitabbo.

or idea known by the mind which causes unskillful qualities to grow while skillful qualities decline.

2.5.24

Yathārūpañca kho, bhante, manoviññeyyaṃ dhammaṃ sevato akusalā dhammā parihāyanti, kusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, evarūpo manoviññeyyo dhammo sevitabbo.

And you should cultivate the kind of idea known by the mind which causes unskillful qualities to decline while skillful qualities grow.

2.5.25

Imassa kho me, bhante, bhagavatā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa evaṃ vitthārena atthaṃ ājānato

Sir, that’s how I understand the detailed meaning of the Buddha’s brief statement.

2.5.26

tiṇṇā mettha kaṅkhā vigatā kathaṅkathā bhagavato pañhaveyyākaraṇaṃ sutvā”ti.

Hearing the Buddha’s answer, I’ve gone beyond doubt and got rid of indecision.”