5.
The Discourse about Koṭṭhika
232.
On one occasion the Venerable Sāriputta and the Venerable Mahākoṭṭhika were dwelling at Bārāṇasī in the Deer Park at Isipatana.
Then the Venerable Mahākoṭṭhika, in the evening, having emerged from seclusion, approached the Venerable Sāriputta;
having approached, he exchanged friendly greetings with the Venerable Sāriputta.
Having concluded the pleasant and memorable talk, he sat down to one side.
Seated to one side, the Venerable Mahākoṭṭhika said this to the Venerable Sāriputta -
"Now what, friend Sāriputta, is the eye the mental fetter of forms, or are forms the mental fetter of the eye? Etc. Is the tongue the mental fetter of flavours, or are flavours the mental fetter of the tongue? Etc. Is the mind the mental fetter of mental phenomena, or are mental phenomena the mental fetter of the mind?"
"No indeed, friend Koṭṭhika, the eye is not the mental fetter of forms, nor are forms the mental fetter of the eye. Whatever desire and lust arises there dependent on both, that is the mental fetter therein. Etc. The tongue is not the mental fetter of flavours, nor are flavours the mental fetter of the tongue. Whatever desire and lust arises there dependent on both, that is the mental fetter therein. Etc. The mind is not the mental fetter of mental phenomena, nor are mental phenomena the mental fetter of the mind. Whatever desire and lust arises there dependent on both, that is the mental fetter therein.
"Just as, friend, a black ox and a white ox were tied together by a single rope or yoke. If someone were to say thus - 'The black ox is the mental fetter of the white ox, the white ox is the mental fetter of the black ox' - would he, speaking thus, speak rightly?" "No indeed, friend." "No indeed, friend, the black ox is not the mental fetter of the white ox, nor is the white ox the mental fetter of the black ox. That by which they are tied together by a single rope or yoke, that is the mental fetter therein.
"So too, friend, the eye is not the mental fetter of forms, nor are forms the mental fetter of the eye. Whatever desire and lust arises there dependent on both, that is the mental fetter therein. Etc. The tongue is not the mental fetter of flavours. Etc. The mind is not the mental fetter of mental phenomena, nor are mental phenomena the mental fetter of the mind. Whatever desire and lust arises there dependent on both, that is the mental fetter therein.
"If, friend, the eye were the mental fetter of forms, or forms were the mental fetter of the eye, this abiding by the holy life would not be evident for the complete elimination of suffering. But because, friend, the eye is not the mental fetter of forms, nor are forms the mental fetter of the eye; whatever desire and lust arises there dependent on both, that is the mental fetter therein, therefore abiding by the holy life is evident for the complete elimination of suffering. Etc.
"If, friend, the tongue were the mental fetter of flavours, or flavours were the mental fetter of the tongue, this abiding by the holy life would not be evident for the complete elimination of suffering. But because, friend, the tongue is not the mental fetter of flavours, nor are flavours the mental fetter of the tongue; whatever desire and lust arises there dependent on both, that is the mental fetter therein, therefore abiding by the holy life is evident for the complete elimination of suffering. Etc.
"If, friend, the mind were the mental fetter of mental phenomena, or mental phenomena were the mental fetter of the mind, this abiding by the holy life would not be evident for the complete elimination of suffering. But because, friend, the mind is not the mental fetter of mental phenomena, nor are mental phenomena the mental fetter of the mind; and whatever desire and lust arises there dependent on both, that is the mental fetter therein, therefore abiding by the holy life is evident for the complete elimination of suffering.
"By this method too, friend, it should be known how the eye is not the mental fetter of forms, nor are forms the mental fetter of the eye. And whatever desire and lust arises there dependent on both, that is the mental fetter therein. Etc. The tongue is not the mental fetter of flavours. Etc. The mind is not the mental fetter of mental phenomena, nor are mental phenomena the mental fetter of the mind. Whatever desire and lust arises there dependent on both, that is the mental fetter therein.
"There exists indeed, friend, the eye of the Blessed One. The Blessed One sees forms with the eye. There is no desire and lust in the Blessed One. The Blessed One is one with well-liberated mind. There exists indeed, friend, the ear of the Blessed One. The Blessed One hears sounds with the ear. There is no desire and lust in the Blessed One. The Blessed One is one with well-liberated mind. There exists indeed, friend, the nose of the Blessed One. The Blessed One smells odours with the nose. There is no desire and lust in the Blessed One. The Blessed One is one with well-liberated mind. There exists indeed, friend, the tongue of the Blessed One. The Blessed One tastes flavours with the tongue. There is no desire and lust in the Blessed One. The Blessed One is one with well-liberated mind. There exists indeed, friend, the body of the Blessed One. The Blessed One touches tangible objects with the body. There is no desire and lust in the Blessed One. The Blessed One is one with well-liberated mind. There exists indeed, friend, the mind of the Blessed One. The Blessed One cognises mental phenomena with the mind. There is no desire and lust in the Blessed One. The Blessed One is one with well-liberated mind.
"By this method, friend, it should be known how the eye is not the mental fetter of forms, nor are forms the mental fetter of the eye; and whatever desire and lust arises therein dependent on both, that is the mental fetter therein. Not the ear... not the nose... not the tongue is the mental fetter of flavours, nor are flavours the mental fetter of the tongue; and whatever desire and lust arises therein dependent on both, that is the mental fetter therein. Not the body... not the mind is the mental fetter of mental phenomena, nor are mental phenomena the mental fetter of the mind; and whatever desire and lust arises therein dependent on both, that is the mental fetter therein." The fifth.