[299] On one occasion the Venerable Ānanda and the Venerable Kāmabhū were dwelling at Kosambī, in Ghosita's Park. Then, in the evening, the Venerable Kāmabhū, emerging from seclusion, approached the Venerable Ānanda; having approached, he exchanged greetings with the Venerable Ānanda, and when the courteous and memorable talk was concluded, he sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, the Venerable Kāmabhū said this to the Venerable Ānanda: "How is it, friend Ānanda — is the eye the fetter (saṃyojana) 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 dhammas, or are dhammas the fetter of the mind?"
"Friend Kāmabhū, the eye is not the fetter of forms, nor are forms the fetter of the eye; but the desire and lust (chandarāga) that arises there in dependence on both — that is the fetter there. … The tongue is not the fetter of tastes, nor are tastes the fetter of the tongue. … The mind is not the fetter of dhammas, nor are dhammas the fetter of the mind; but the desire and lust that arises there in dependence on both — that is the fetter there.
"Suppose, friend, a black ox and a white ox were yoked together by a single harness or yoke. Would one be speaking rightly who should say: 'The black ox is the fetter of the white ox; the white ox is the fetter of the black ox'?"
"Surely not, friend. The black ox is not the fetter of the white ox, nor is the white ox the fetter of the black ox; but that single harness or yoke by which the two are yoked together — that is the fetter there."
"Just so, friend, the eye is not the fetter of forms, nor are forms the fetter of the eye … nor the tongue … nor the mind …; but the desire and lust that arises there in dependence on both — that is the fetter there."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.