The Cause of Discontentedness

There are, Migajāla, forms recognizable by the eye that are desirable, lovely, agreeable, pleasing, sensually enticing, tempting.

If a Monk seeks excitement (pleasant feelings) in them, welcomes them, and remains holding to them, excitement arises. When there is excitement, there is craving and desire. When there is craving and desire, there is bondage. Bound by the fetter of sensual desire, Migajāla, a Monk is called one dwelling with a partner.

(In the case of sounds recognizable by the ear … odors recognizable by the nose ... flavors recognizable by the tongue ... physical objects recognizable by the body ... mental objects recognizable by the mind, the discourses are similar to that of forms recognizable by the eye.)

(Reference: SN 35.63)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he highlights his central Teaching of how craving/desire/attachment leads to discontentedness of the mind describing craving as a “partner”. One who has eliminated craving/desire/attachment is described as a “lone dweller”.

With craving/desire/attachment in the mind, a Practitioner’s mind will be unliberated experiencing continuous discontentedness. The mind will continue to chase after the objects of its affection in an attempt to please the craving. Never experiencing lasting satisfaction, the mind continues to long with a strong eagerness through The Six Internal Sense Bases of the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind for The Six External Sense Bases of forms, sounds, odors, flavors, physical objects, and mental objects.

The mind is “bound by the fetter of sensual desire”. The mind is inhibited, trapped, and bound to getting pleasure through The Six Sense Bases attempting to satisfy its “sensual desire” but never experiences lasting satisfaction due to the mind basing its inner feelings on impermanent conditions through The Six Sense Bases.

The unEnlightened mind wants “desirable, lovely, agreeable, pleasing, sensually enticing, tempting” forms, sounds, odors, flavors, physical objects, and mental objects at all times permanently. The unEnlightened mind is chasing pleasant feelings “seeks excitement in them, welcomes them, and remains holding to them, excitement arises”.

“When there is excitement, there is craving and desire” as the mind will be unable to be calm and peaceful while excitement arises and the mind obsesses with craving/desire.

Even though one may be alone, with craving/desire/attachment, a Practitioner “is called one dwelling with a partner”.

The Buddha explains, “there is bondage. Bound by the fetter of sensual desire” when there is craving/desire/attachment through The Six Sense Bases, the mind is bound, not liberated, it is stuck in The Cycle of Rebirth and the cycle of continuous discontentedness.

A Practitioner who has trained the mind to eliminate craving/desire/attachment is released from the fetter of sensual desire.

Sensual desire is just one of The Ten Fetters that needs to be eliminated to experience Enlightenment. Liberating the mind from all of The Ten Fetters a Practitioner will experience peace, calmness, serenity, and contentedness with joy - permanently.

Detailed explanation of The Six Sense Bases is available in this same book series found in the book “The Six Sense Bases” (Volume 9).