7.
The Discourse on Impermanence with Koṭṭhika
162.
Then the Venerable Mahākoṭṭhika approached the Blessed One, etc.
Seated to one side, the Venerable Koṭṭhika said this to the Blessed One -
"It would be good, venerable sir, if the Blessed One would expound to me the Teaching in brief, so that having heard the Teaching from the Blessed One, I might dwell alone, withdrawn, diligent, ardent, and resolute."
"Whatever, Koṭṭhika, is impermanent, therein your desire is to be abandoned. And what, Koṭṭhika, is impermanent? The eye, Koṭṭhika, is impermanent; therein your desire is to be abandoned. Forms are impermanent; therein your desire is to be abandoned. Eye-consciousness is impermanent; therein your desire is to be abandoned. Eye-contact is impermanent; therein your desire is to be abandoned. Whatever feeling arises with eye-contact as condition - whether pleasant or unpleasant or neither-unpleasant-nor-pleasant - that too is impermanent; therein your desire is to be abandoned, etc. The tongue is impermanent; therein your desire is to be abandoned. Flavours are impermanent; therein your desire is to be abandoned. Tongue-consciousness is impermanent; therein your desire is to be abandoned. Tongue-contact is impermanent; therein your desire is to be abandoned. Whatever feeling arises with tongue-contact as condition - whether pleasant or unpleasant or neither-unpleasant-nor-pleasant - that too is impermanent; therein your desire is to be abandoned, etc. The mind is impermanent; therein your desire is to be abandoned. Mental phenomena are impermanent; therein your desire is to be abandoned. Mind-consciousness is impermanent; therein your desire is to be abandoned. Mind-contact is impermanent; therein your desire is to be abandoned. Whatever feeling arises with mind-contact as condition - whether pleasant or unpleasant or neither-unpleasant-nor-pleasant - that too is impermanent; therein your desire is to be abandoned. Whatever, Koṭṭhika, is impermanent, therein your desire is to be abandoned." The seventh.