SN35.98 — The Discourse on Restraint

Disciples, I will teach you about restraint and lack of restraint.

Listen to this.

And how is there lack of restraint?

There are forms cognizable by the eye that are desirable, lovely, agreeable, pleasing, connected with sensual desire, and enticing.

If a disciple delights in them, welcomes them, and remains holding on to them, it should be understood by the disciple that I am declining in wholesome states.

For this is called decline by the Blessed One...

There are tastes cognizable by the tongue...

There are mental phenomena cognizable by the mind that are desirable, lovely, agreeable, pleasing, connected with sensual desire, and enticing.

If a disciple delights in them, welcomes them, and remains holding on to them, it should be understood by the disciple that I am declining in wholesome states.

For this is called decline by the Blessed One.

Thus there is lack of restraint.

And how is there restraint?

There are forms cognizable by the eye that are desirable, lovely, agreeable, pleasing, connected with sensual desire, and enticing.

If a disciple does not delight in them, does not welcome them, and does not remain holding on to them, it should be understood by the disciple that I am not declining in wholesome states.

For this is called non-decline by the Blessed One...

There are tastes cognizable by the tongue...

There are mental phenomena cognizable by the mind that are desirable, lovely, agreeable, pleasing, connected with sensual desire, and enticing.

If a disciple does not delight in them, does not welcome them, and does not remain holding on to them, it should be understood by the disciple that I am not declining in wholesome states.

For this is called non-decline by the Blessed One.

Thus there is restraint.

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