One Dwelling with Craving As A Partner

‘Venerable Sir, in what way is one dwelling with a partner?’

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

If a Monk seeks excitement in them, welcomes them, and remains holding to them, excitement arises.

When there is excitement, there is obsession of mind.

When there is obsession of mind, there is bondage.

Bound by the fetter of sensual desire, Migajala, a Monk is called one dwelling with a partner.

There are, Migajala, 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 that are desirable, lovely, agreeable, pleasing, sensually enticing, tempting. If a Monk seeks excitement in them…he is called one dwelling with a partner.

Migajala, even though a Monk who dwells thus resorts to forests and groves, to remote lodgings where there are few sounds and little noise, unoccupied, hidden from people, appropriate for seclusion, he is still called one dwelling with a partner.

For what reason?

Because craving is his partner, and he has not abandoned it; therefore he is called one dwelling with a partner.

‘Venerable Sir, in what way is one a lone dweller?’

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

If a Monk does not seek excitement in them, does not welcome them, and does not remain holding to them, excitement is eliminated.

When there is no excitement, there is no obsession of mind.

When there is no obsession of mind, there is no bondage.

Released from the fetter of sensual desire, Migajala, a Monk is called a lone dweller.

There are, Migajala, 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 that are desirable, lovely, agreeable, pleasing, sensually enticing, tempting. If a Monk does not seek excitement in them...he is called a lone dweller.

Migajala, even though a Monk who dwells thus lives in the vicinity of a village, associating with male and female Ordained Practitioners with male and female Household Practitioners, with Kings and Royal Ministers, with Sectarian Teachers and their disciples, he is still called a lone dweller.

For what reason?

Because craving is his partner, and he has abandoned it; therefore he is called a lone dweller.

(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 obsession of mind” as the mind will be unable to be calm and peaceful while excitement arises and obsesses the mind.

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

The Buddha then provides the opposite to reinforce the elimination of craving/desire/attachment as the goal of these Teachings and what leads to Enlightenment.

If a Practitioner “does not seek excitement in them, does not welcome them, and does not remain holding to them, excitement is eliminated”. “When there is no excitement, there is no obsession of mind”. “When there is no obsession of mind, there is no bondage” as the mind is liberated from craving/desire/attachment.

A Practitioner who has trained the mind to eliminate craving/desire/attachment is “released from the fetter of sensual desire” and “is called a lone dweller”.

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.