Without Restraint One Dwells Negligently With Restraint One Resides Diligently

And how, Monks, does one dwell negligently?

If one dwells without restraint over the eye sense base, the mind is soiled among forms recognizable by the eye.

If the mind is soiled, there is no gladness.

When there is no gladness, there is no joy.

When there is no joy, there is no tranquility (calm).

When there is no tranquility, one dwells in discontentedness.

The mind of one who is discontent does not become concentrated.

When the mind is not concentrated, experiences do not become easily recognizable or clear in the mind.

Because experiences do not become easily recognizable or clear in the mind, one is considered as ‘one who dwells negligently’.

(Similar discourses are spoken in the case of the ear sense base, the nose sense base, the tongue sense base, the body sense base, and the mind sense base.)

It is in such a way, Monks, that one dwells negligently.

And how, Monks, does one reside diligently?

If one resides with restraint over the eye sense base, the mind is not soiled among forms recognizable by the eye.

If the mind is not soiled, gladness is born.

When one is gladdened, joy is born.

When the mind is uplifted by joy, the body becomes tranquil (calm).

One tranquil in body experiences contentedness.

The mind of one who is content becomes concentrated.

When the mind is concentrated, experiences become easily recognizable or clear in the mind.

Because experiences become easily recognizable or clear in the mind, one is considered as ‘one who resides diligently’.

(Similar discourses are spoken in the case of the ear sense base, the nose sense base, the tongue sense base, the body sense base, and the mind sense base.)

It is in such a way, Monks, that one resides diligently.

(Reference: SN 35.97)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares how a Practitioner can dwell negligently or reside diligently based on whether they have restraint of The Six Sense Bases.

If a Practitioner dwells without restraint over The Six Sense Bases, the mind is considered to be soiled or unclean. When the mind is soiled, there is no gladness, joy, tranquility (i.e. calm), and one dwells in discontentedness. When the mind is discontent, there is no concentration or clarity of mind. Thus, a Practitioner who dwells in discontentedness with an unconcentrated mind is being negligent in their approach to actively training the mind towards the attainment of Enlightenment.

Conversely, if a Practitioner resides with restraint over The Six Sense Bases, the mind is considered to not be soiled or unclean. When the mind is not soiled, there is gladness, joy, tranquility (i.e. calm), and one resides in contentedness. When the mind is content, there is concentration or clarity of mind. Thus, a Practitioner who resides in contentedness with a concentrated mind is being diligent in their approach to actively training the mind towards the attainment of Enlightenment.

If you are interested in the attainment of Enlightenment, you will need to actively train the mind to be able to restrain The Six Sense Bases.