United with the Six Spheres of Touch
[EXCERPT]

Translated from the Pāḷi
by
Michael M. Olds

[1][pts][bodh] I Hear Tell:

Once upon a time, Bhagava,
Sāvatthī-town revisiting,
Anāthapiṇḍika's Jeta grove.

There to the Beggars gathered round, Bhagava said this:

"These six spheres of touch, Beggars,
untamed,
unguarded,
unwatched,
unrestrained,
are pain-carriers.

What six?

The eye sphere of touch, beggars,
untamed,
unguarded,
unwatched,
unrestrained,
is a pain-carrier.

The ear sphere of touch, beggars,
untamed,
unguarded,
unwatched,
unrestrained,
is a pain-carrier.

The nose sphere of touch, beggars,
untamed,
unguarded,
unwatched,
unrestrained,
is a pain-carrier.

The tongue sphere of touch, beggars,
untamed,
unguarded,
unwatched,
unrestrained,
is a pain-carrier.

The body sphere of touch, beggars,
untamed,
unguarded,
unwatched,
unrestrained,
is a pain-carrier.

The mind sphere of touch, beggars,
untamed,
unguarded,
unwatched,
unrestrained,
is a pain-carrier.

"These six spheres of touch, Beggars,
well tamed,
well guarded,
well watched,
well restrained,
are pleasure-carriers.

What six?

The eye sphere of touch, beggars,
well tamed,
well guarded,
well watched,
well restrained,
is a pleasure-carrier.

The ear sphere of touch, beggars,
well tamed,
well guarded,
well watched,
well restrained,
is a pleasure-carrier.

The nose sphere of touch, beggars,
well tamed,
well guarded,
well watched,
well restrained,
is a pleasure-carrier.

The tongue sphere of touch, beggars,
well tamed,
well guarded,
well watched,
well restrained,
is a pleasure-carrier.

The body sphere of touch, beggars,
well tamed,
well guarded,
well watched,
well restrained,
is a pleasure-carrier.

The mind sphere of touch, beggars,
well tamed,
well guarded,
well watched,
well restrained,
is a pleasure-carrier."