[17] Bhikkhus, if there were no gratification (assāda) in the eye, beings would not become enamoured with the eye; but because, bhikkhus, there is gratification in the eye, therefore beings become enamoured with the eye. If there were no danger (ādīnava) in the eye, bhikkhus, beings would not become disenchanted with the eye; but because, bhikkhus, there is danger in the eye, therefore beings become disenchanted with the eye. If there were no escape (nissaraṇa) from the eye, bhikkhus, beings would not escape from the eye; but because, bhikkhus, there is an escape from the eye, therefore beings escape from the eye.
If, bhikkhus, there were no gratification in the ear … . If, bhikkhus, there were no gratification in the nose … . If, bhikkhus, there were no gratification in the tongue, beings would not become enamoured with the tongue; but because, bhikkhus, there is gratification in the tongue, therefore beings become enamoured with the tongue. If there were no danger in the tongue, bhikkhus, beings would not become disenchanted with the tongue; but because, bhikkhus, there is danger in the tongue, therefore beings become disenchanted with the tongue. If there were no escape from the tongue, bhikkhus, beings would not escape from the tongue; but because, bhikkhus, there is an escape from the tongue, therefore beings escape from the tongue.
If, bhikkhus, there were no gratification in the body … . If, bhikkhus, there were no gratification in the mind, beings would not become enamoured with the mind; but because, bhikkhus, there is gratification in the mind, therefore beings become enamoured with the mind. If there were no danger in the mind, bhikkhus, beings would not become disenchanted with the mind; but because, bhikkhus, there is danger in the mind, therefore beings become disenchanted with the mind. If there were no escape from the mind, bhikkhus, beings would not escape from the mind; but because, bhikkhus, there is an escape from the mind, therefore beings escape from the mind.
So long, bhikkhus, as beings had not directly known, as it really is, the gratification of these six internal sense bases (āyatana) as gratification, the danger as danger, and the escape as escape, for just so long, bhikkhus, beings did not dwell escaped, detached, and released from this world with its devas, its Māra, and its Brahmā, from this generation with its ascetics and brahmins, its devas and humans, with a mind free of boundaries. But when, bhikkhus, beings directly knew, as it really is, the gratification of these six internal sense bases as gratification, the danger as danger, and the escape as escape, then, bhikkhus, beings dwell escaped, detached, and released from this world with its devas, its Māra, and its Brahmā, from this generation with its ascetics and brahmins, its devas and humans, with a mind free of boundaries.
The Fifth.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.