Saṁyutta Nikāya:
III. Khandhā Vagga:
27: Kilesa Saṁutta

Kindred Sayings on the Corruptions

Sutta 6

Saññā Suttaṁ

By Perception

 

---

 

Thus have I heard:

The Exalted One was once staying near Sāvatthī
at the Jeta Grove in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.

And there the Exalted One addressed the brethren, saying:

"Brethren!"

"Master!" responded those brethren.

The Exalted One said:

"Brethren, the desire-and-lust that is in perception^ed1 of visible shape
is a corruption of the heart.

The desire-and-lust that is in perception of sound
is a corruption of the heart.

The desire-and-lust that is in perception of scent
is a corruption of the heart.

The desire-and-lust that is in perception of savour
is a corruption of the heart.

The desire-and-lust that is in perception of tangibles
is a corruption of the heart.

The desire-and-lust that is in perception of things
is a corruption of the heart.

But, brethren, when in a brother
the heart's corruption
in these six points
is put away,
and his heart is bent on renunciation,
then, compassed about with renunciation,
his heart is seen to be pliable
for penetrating those things
that are to be realized.'

 

---

^ed1 As in SN 3.26.6, here Woodward has apparently mistakenly used 'consciousness' for 'perception.' This must be just a careless oversight as he uses 'perception' for the title, 'consciousness' for §3 here and 'perception' for §6 in the previous set. Doubt remains however because of the use here where he has changed his translation of 'rūpa' to 'visible shape' which means he must have at least looked at this translation. I have changed the translation or corrected the mistake because it is pretty much a consensus opinion that the translation is 'perception.' See Glossology: Saññā