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← Theragāthā

Māluṅkyaputta (2nd)

Thag 16.5 · Mālukyaputtattheragāthā

A gentle stream flowing around a smooth dark boulder.

When you see a sight, mindfulness is lost as you focus on a pleasant feature. Experiencing it with a mind full of desire, you keep clinging to it.

Many feelings grow arising from sights. The mind is damaged by covetousness and cruelty. Heaping up suffering like this, you’re said to be far from extinguishment.

When you hear a sound, mindfulness is lost as you focus on a pleasant feature. Experiencing it with a mind full of desire, you keep clinging to it.

Many feelings grow arising from sounds. The mind is damaged by covetousness and cruelty. Heaping up suffering like this, you’re said to be far from extinguishment.

When you smell an odor, mindfulness is lost as you focus on a pleasant feature. Experiencing it with a mind full of desire, you keep clinging to it.

Many feelings grow arising from smells. The mind is damaged by covetousness and cruelty. Heaping up suffering like this, you’re said to be far from extinguishment.

When you enjoy a taste, mindfulness is lost as you focus on a pleasant feature. Experiencing it with a mind full of desire, you keep clinging to it.

Many feelings grow arising from tastes. The mind is damaged by covetousness and cruelty. Heaping up suffering like this, you’re said to be far from extinguishment.

When you sense a touch, mindfulness is lost as you focus on a pleasant feature. Experiencing it with a mind full of desire, you keep clinging to it.

Many feelings grow arising from touches. The mind is damaged by covetousness and cruelty. Heaping up suffering like this, you’re said to be far from extinguishment.

When you know an idea, mindfulness is lost as you focus on a pleasant feature. Experiencing it with a mind full of desire, you keep clinging to it.

Many feelings grow arising from ideas. The mind is damaged by covetousness and cruelty. Heaping up suffering like this, you’re said to be far from extinguishment.

There’s no desire for sights when you see a sight with mindfulness. Experiencing it with a mind free of desire, you don’t keep clinging to it.

Even as you see a sight and undergo a feeling, you wear away, you don’t heap up: that’s how to live mindfully. Eroding suffering like this, you’re said to be in the presence of extinguishment.

There’s no desire for sounds when you hear a sound with mindfulness. Experiencing it with a mind free of desire, you don’t keep clinging to it.

Even as you hear a sound and undergo a feeling, you wear away, you don’t heap up: that’s how to live mindfully. Eroding suffering like this, you’re said to be in the presence of extinguishment.

There’s no desire for odors when you smell an odor with mindfulness. Experiencing it with a mind free of desire, you don’t keep clinging to it.

Even as you smell an odor and undergo a feeling, you wear away, you don’t heap up: that’s how to live mindfully. Eroding suffering like this, you’re said to be in the presence of extinguishment.

There’s no desire for tastes when you enjoy a taste with mindfulness. Experiencing it with a mind free of desire, you don’t keep clinging to it.

Even as you savor a taste and undergo a feeling, you wear away, you don’t heap up: that’s how to live mindfully. Eroding suffering like this, you’re said to be in the presence of extinguishment.

There’s no desire for touches when you sense a touch with mindfulness. Experiencing it with a mind free of desire, you don’t keep clinging to it.

Even as you sense a touch and get familiar with how it feels, you wear away, you don’t heap up: that’s how to live mindfully. Eroding suffering like this, you’re said to be in the presence of extinguishment.

There’s no desire for ideas when you know an idea with mindfulness. Experiencing it with a mind free of desire, you don’t keep clinging to it.

Even as you know an idea and get familiar with how it feels, you wear away, you don’t heap up: that’s how to live mindfully. Eroding suffering like this, you’re said to be in the presence of extinguishment.

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About this edition

Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato and Jessica Walton · SuttaCentral · CC0

This translation is an expression of an ancient spiritual text that has been passed down by the Buddhist tradition for the benefit of all sentient beings. It is dedicated to the public domain via Creative Commons Zero (CC0). You are encouraged to copy, reproduce, adapt, alter, or otherwise make use of this translation. The translator respectfully requests that any use be in accordance with the values and principles of the Buddhist community. In particular, please do not use this work in AI training datasets, for the development of any AI model or algorithm, or in any AI-derived technologies.

Published source. Translation wording and order are preserved; source headings and notes are retained, with navigation and formatting adapted for this reader.

The opening image is AI-generated nature artwork for Buddhist Atlas, an evocative companion rather than a historical depiction.