[295] On one occasion the Venerable Sāriputta and the Venerable Mahākoṭṭhika were dwelling at Bārāṇasī, in the Deer Park at Isipatana. Then, in the evening, the Venerable Mahākoṭṭhika, having emerged from seclusion, approached the Venerable Sāriputta; having approached, he exchanged greetings with the Venerable Sāriputta, and when the courteous and memorable talk was concluded, he sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, the Venerable Mahākoṭṭhika said this to the Venerable Sāriputta:
"How is it, friend Sāriputta — is the eye the fetter (saññojana) of forms, or are forms the fetter of the eye? … Is the tongue the fetter of tastes, or are tastes the fetter of the tongue? … Is the mind the fetter of mental phenomena (dhammā), or are mental phenomena the fetter of the mind?"
"Friend Koṭṭhika, the eye is not the fetter of forms, nor are forms the fetter of the eye; but rather the desire and lust (chandarāga) that arises there in dependence on both of them — that is the fetter there. The tongue is not the fetter of tastes, nor are tastes the fetter of the tongue; but rather the desire and lust that arises there in dependence on both of them — that is the fetter there. … The mind is not the fetter of mental phenomena, nor are mental phenomena the fetter of the mind; but rather the desire and lust that arises there in dependence on both of them — that is the fetter there."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.