The Obsession of the Mind (AN 1.1-10)

Thus have I heard - At one time the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in the Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's park. There, the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus."

"Venerable Sir," those bhikkhus replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this:

"I do not see any other form, bhikkhus, that so completely obsesses a man's mind as the form of a woman. The form of a woman, bhikkhus, obsesses a man's mind."

-- AN 1.1

"I do not see any other sound, bhikkhus, that so completely obsesses a man's mind as the sound of a woman. The sound of a woman, bhikkhus, obsesses a man's mind."

-- AN 1.2

"I do not see any other scent, bhikkhus, that so completely obsesses a man's mind as the scent of a woman. The scent of a woman, bhikkhus, obsesses a man's mind."

-- AN 1.3

"I do not see any other taste, bhikkhus, that so completely obsesses a man's mind as the taste of a woman. The taste of a woman, bhikkhus, obsesses a man's mind."

-- AN 1.4

"I do not see any other touch, bhikkhus, that so completely obsesses a man's mind as the touch of a woman. The touch of a woman, bhikkhus, obsesses a man's mind."

-- AN 1.5

"I do not see any other form, bhikkhus, that so completely obsesses a woman's mind as the form of a man. The form of a man, bhikkhus, obsesses a woman's mind."

-- AN 1.6

"I do not see any other sound, bhikkhus, that so completely obsesses a woman's mind as the sound of a man. The sound of a man, bhikkhus, obsesses a woman's mind."

-- AN 1.7

"I do not see any other scent, bhikkhus, that so completely obsesses a woman's mind as the scent of a man. The scent of a man, bhikkhus, obsesses a woman's mind."

-- AN 1.8

"I do not see any other taste, bhikkhus, that so completely obsesses a woman's mind as the taste of a man. The taste of a man, bhikkhus, obsesses a woman's mind."

-- AN 1.9

"I do not see any other touch, bhikkhus, that so completely obsesses a woman's mind as the touch of a man. The touch of a man, bhikkhus, obsesses a woman's mind."

-- AN 1.10

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Related Teachings

Sensuality is subject to time, of much stress (SN 1.20) - A deity tries to persuade a monk to first enjoy sensual pleasures and then go forth.

The Fever of Sensual Pleasures (from MN 75) - Accused by a hedonist of being too negative, the Buddha recounts the luxury of his upbringing, and his realization of how little value there was in such things. Through renunciation he found a far greater pleasure.

The well-composed Mind (AN 9.26) - Venerable Sāriputta clarifies on a teaching on how enlightenment is to be verified. He shares a visual simile of the stone pillar.