Knowing and Seeing as Impermanent

Then a certain Monk approached The Perfectly Enlightened One and said to him:

‘Venerable Sir, is there one thing through the abandoning of which ignorance (unknowing of true reality) is abandoned by a Monk and true wisdom arises?’

Monk, when a Monk knows and sees the eye as impermanent, ignorance (unknowing of true reality) is abandoned by him and true wisdom arises. When he knows and sees forms as impermanent, when he knows and sees as impermanent whatever feeling arises with eye-contact as condition, ignorance is abandoned by him and true wisdom arises.

Monk, when a Monk knows and sees the ear as impermanent, ignorance (unknowing of true reality) is abandoned by him and true wisdom arises. When he knows and sees sounds as impermanent, when he knows and sees as impermanent whatever feeling arises with ear-contact as condition, ignorance is abandoned by him and true wisdom arises.

Monk, when a Monk knows and sees the nose as impermanent, ignorance (unknowing of true reality) is abandoned by him and true wisdom arises. When he knows and sees odors as impermanent, when he knows and sees as impermanent whatever feeling arises with nose-contact as condition, ignorance is abandoned by him and true wisdom arises.

Monk, when a Monk knows and sees the tongue as impermanent, ignorance (unknowing of true reality) is abandoned by him and true wisdom arises. When he knows and sees flavors as impermanent, when he knows and sees as impermanent whatever feeling arises with tongue-contact as condition, ignorance is abandoned by him and true wisdom arises.

Monk, when a Monk knows and sees the body as impermanent, ignorance (unknowing of true reality) is abandoned by him and true wisdom arises. When he knows and sees physical objects as impermanent, when he knows and sees as impermanent whatever feeling arises with body-contact as condition, ignorance is abandoned by him and true wisdom arises.

Monk, when a Monk knows and sees the mind as impermanent, ignorance (unknowing of true reality) is abandoned by him and true wisdom arises. When he knows and sees mental objects as impermanent, when he knows and sees as impermanent whatever feeling arises with mind-contact as condition, ignorance is abandoned by him and true wisdom arises.

When, Monk, a Monk knows and sees thus, ignorance (unknowing of true reality) is abandoned by him and true wisdom arises.

(Reference: SN 35.53)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares Teachings related to The Universal Truth of Impermanence helping Students understand that The Six Sense Bases and the feelings that arise as a result of The Six Sense Bases are impermanent.

A Practitioner who is able to observe this seeing the truth will acquire this wisdom and then is able to function differently through training the mind to not chase after the objects of its affections through The Six Sense Bases seeking pleasant feelings. This is a primary aspect of training the mind to attain Enlightenment and to eliminate the fetter/taint/pollution of sensual desire.

Knowing and being able to clearly see The Universal Truth of Impermanence will allow a Practitioner to acquire wisdom, working towards the elimination of ignorance (unknowing of true reality).

Detailed explanation of The Ten Fetters is available in this same book series found in Chapter 3 of the book “Developing a Life Practice: The Path That Leads to Enlightenment” (Volume 1).