Paṭhama Nōassāda Sutta (5)
On Rejecting the “Benefit” and the “Danger” of the Sense Bases
[17] Bhikkhus, if there were no assāda (appealing quality, gratification) in the eye (cakkhu), beings would not delight in the eye. But because there is assāda in the eye, beings do delight in the eye.
If there were no ādīnava (danger, drawback) in the eye, beings would not grow disenchanted with the eye. But because there is ādīnava in the eye, beings do grow disenchanted with the eye.
If there were no nissaraṇa (escape, letting-go) from the eye, beings would not abandon the eye. But because there is nissaraṇa from the eye, beings do relinquish the eye.
So too with the ear, nose, tongue, and body.
Bhikkhus, if there were no assāda in the mind (mano), beings would not delight in the mind. But because there is assāda in the mind, beings do delight in the mind.
If there were no ādīnava in the mind, beings would not become disenchanted with the mind. But because there is ādīnava in the mind, beings do become disenchanted.
If there were no nissaraṇa from the mind, beings would not abandon the mind. But because there is nissaraṇa from the mind, beings do relinquish the mind.
Bhikkhus, as long as beings do not know, as they truly are, the assāda as assāda, the ādīnava as ādīnava, and the nissaraṇa as nissaraṇa of these six internal āyatanas— the sense bases of eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind— they are not freed, not liberated, not released from the world together with the worlds of devas, Māra, and Brahmā, not freed from beings together with ascetics, brahmins, devas, and humans, their minds remaining under bondage and influence.
But when beings do know, as they truly are, the assāda as assāda, the ādīnava as ādīnava, and the nissaraṇa as nissaraṇa of these six internal āyatanas, then they are freed, liberated, released from the world together with the worlds of devas, Māra, and Brahmā, from beings together with ascetics, brahmins, devas, and humans— their minds no longer overpowered.
End of the Paṭhama Nōassāda Sutta (5)
Short Pāli Glossary (concise · intensive)
āyatana — sense base; the six internal bases: cakkhu, sota, ghāna, jivhā, kāya, mano. assāda — attractiveness, gratification, the appealing side of experience. ādīnava — danger, drawback, inherent defect in phenomena. nissaraṇa — escape, release, letting-go; the “way out.” cakkhu — the eye; eye-base. sota — the ear. ghāna — the nose. jivhā — the tongue. kāya — the body. mano — mind as the sixth sense-base; cognizing faculty. sabba-loka — “the whole world”: includes human and divine realms. Māra — personification of delusion and bondage. Brahmā-loka — subtle heavenly worlds. saṃvara / virāga / vimuccana — restraint, dispassion, liberation (implied themes).