[644] "All conditioned things (saṅkhārā), without qualification (anodhiṃ katvā), are hot embers (kukkuḷa)?"
"Yes."
"But was it not said by the Blessed One: 'It is a gain for you, bhikkhus; it is well gained by you, bhikkhus: the opportune moment (khaṇa) for living the holy life (brahmacariya) has been penetrated by you. I have seen, bhikkhus, the heaven named Chaphassāyatanikā — "that of the six bases of contact." There, whatever form one sees with the eye, one sees only what is desirable, not what is undesirable; one sees only what is lovely, not what is unlovely; one sees only what is agreeable, not what is disagreeable. Whatever sound one hears with the ear … one smells an odour with the nose … one savours a taste with the tongue … one touches a tangible object with the body … one cognizes a mental phenomenon (dhamma) with the mind: one cognizes only what is desirable, not what is undesirable; one cognizes only what is lovely, not what is unlovely; one cognizes only what is agreeable, not what is disagreeable'?¹ Is there indeed such a discourse (suttanta)?"
"Yes."
"Then indeed it should not be said: 'All conditioned things, without qualification, are hot embers.'"
¹ [Edition cross-reference:] SN Saḷāyatanavagga 291; AN Navakanipāta 119; Khu. Cūḷaniddesa 292.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.